In this podcast episode, host Brittany Allison interviews her past client Emily about her experiences with disordered eating, celiac disease, and her healing journey with food and body image. They discuss Emily's travels, her current work as a data engineer, and the importance of stability and career growth. Emily shares her struggles with disordered eating, the impact of family dynamics and undiagnosed ADHD, and how she coped with control issues through food.

She also discusses her process of healing, reconnecting with her inner child, and embracing natural fluctuations in hunger levels. Tune in for advice on dealing with body image struggles and the importance of healing your inner child, creativity and self-acceptance.

Time stamps

[00:08:51] The experience of outgrowing clothes and developing fat phobia.

[00:09:45] Using food as a coping strategy - exploration of how the speaker turned to food as a way to gain control over her life during a challenging time.

[00:13:57] Shifting mindset towards enjoying food and new experiences - transformation in the Emily’s relationship with food, from using it as a means of control to embracing new tastes and experiences.

[00:16:55] The inner child and finding balance, embracing playfulness, and the balance between adult responsibilities and the inner child's needs.

[00:18:14] Understanding hunger fluctuations in the menstrual cycle and the importance of accepting and understanding these fluctuations.

[00:20:14] Changing relationship with food and taste preferences, enjoying food without criticism, and developing new taste preferences.

[00:27:34] How self-forgiveness allowed Emily to accept their coping strategies and develop healthier alternatives.

[00:33:04] Sensory adaptation and hunger cues - how the body stops sending hunger signals when they are consistently ignored.

[00:43:03] The importance of embracing creativity to help with body image and self-criticism.

Reconnecting with Emily

I hadn't seen Emily in over a year, so it was a delight to reconnect with her. Emily, who is currently based in Santa Monica, shared her experiences with the nomadic community and how she realized the importance of stability and career growth. She's now working as a data engineer for a pediatrics and maternal health care company.

Emily's Journey with Disordered Eating

Our conversation took a deeper turn as Emily opened up about her experiences with disordered eating. She shared how her fear of gaining weight started during her junior high and high school years, a time when she was going through a growth spurt and constantly outgrowing her clothes. This fear was further fuelled by comments from her mother and her own high expectations, leading her to develop a fatphobic mindset.

The Healing Process

Emily's healing journey involved reconnecting with her inner child and finding a balance between playfulness and responsibility. She also learned to understand and accept the natural fluctuations in hunger levels that come with a woman's 30-day cycle. This understanding helped her to stop criticizing herself for being hungrier on certain days and to start listening to her body's hunger cues.

Emily shared how engaging in creative fun and exploration helps her avoid self-criticism. She has developed a bigger toolbox of coping mechanisms and alternative strategies, which include controlling her reactions, taking space to breathe, listening to her body's needs, and engaging in alternative coping mechanisms.

Emily's relationship with food has significantly changed. She now takes the time to pause and enjoy the taste of food, appreciating the pleasure it brings. She no longer obsesses over her body or restricts herself, and she listens to her body's natural cues.

Advice for Dealing with Body Image Struggles

When asked for advice on how to deal with body image struggles and a negative relationship with food, Emily suggested embracing creativity. She believes that finding outlets for creativity, such as drawing, painting, singing, or dancing, allows for healing and acceptance of our inner child.

Emily's journey is a testament to the power of self-love, acceptance, and the importance of listening to our bodies. It's a reminder that our bodies know where they want to be and that we don't need to control them.

I hope Emily's story inspires you as much as it inspired me. Remember, the journey to food freedom is a personal one, and it's okay to take it at your own pace. Stay tuned for more insightful conversations in future episodes.

For those who want to experience a transformation as Emily did, my group coaching program, Food Freedom University gets started again September 18 & 20. This small-group coaching program designed to not only break you out of binge eating, overeating, poor body image and emotional eating patterns, but to also kickstart your journey to food freedom so you can cultivate a healthful life with balance and ease with food and exercise. If you are feeling alone in your struggle, if you thrive hearing from others and want to form a community around healing and empowering yourself to break free from these patterns for good, group coaching is for you. We get started on September 18th or 20th - finish off your summer right and feel supported during the holidays with food and body image. Head to brittanyallisonrd.com/group-coaching to learn more and book a free consult to see if it’s a good fit and enrol.

Until next time,

Britt