Are You Ready To Lose Weight, Keep It Off And Feel Happy, Whole And At Ease?

Have you lost and regained the same 10, 20, 50 or 100 pounds multiple times? Do you feel trapped in the diet game and on a never-ending mental, emotional and physical rollercoaster that becomes increasingly frustrating each time around? Maybe you’re tired of restrictive diets that force you to buy and consume nutritionally questionable packaged foods, diet drinks and pills that can potentially cause you harm, and you’re seeking a natural way to lose weight, integrate whole foods into your diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Or perhaps you’re overwhelmed by the constant media messages that tell you that the muffin top must go in order for you to feel happy and healthy, and you’re ready to shift your perspective into one that celebrates your uniqueness and inherent beauty. It might be that you feel like you’ve lost control over how you eat and maybe even over your life, and you desperately want to foster whole-body health and feel mentally, emotionally and spiritually balanced. Maybe due to health problems your physician has recommended that you exercise and eat a healthy diet, but you have no idea where and how to start. Do you want to stop obsessing over food and engage in a beautiful and radical process of self-love and self-compassion? Are you ready to develop the tools and skills needed to lose weight, keep it off and look and feel fabulous?

You Are Not Alone

Research shows that 95 percent of all people who lose weight on a diet regain most or all of it back, just to get back on the rollercoaster again. It’s estimated that 45 million Americans go on a diet each year, collectively spending more than $33 billion on weight loss products alone. And, still, roughly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, many suffering from chronic health conditions triggered by poor diet and excess weight.

We live in a food-centric, consumer culture in which we are constantly bombarded with mass-marketed messages about how, why and what we should and/or should not eat, look and feel. With so much conflicting and often self-damaging information, it’s no wonder that so many Americans have a broken relationship with food and are confused about what is healthy and what is not. And, with hidden calories in nutritionally bankrupt food, the option to supersize fast foods and so many of us eating on the run, we’ve essentially become a society of mindless eaters who feel increasingly unhappy mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. So many of us have lost connection with where our food comes from. And, our values, which we might adhere to in other aspects of our lives, don’t enter into our relationship with food. Self-care (and eating well which is a key aspect of self-care) often takes a backseat in our busy lives. Stress heightens, the pounds creep on and we feel less and less happy, healthy and alive in our bodies.

As someone who was once on the diet train, I know personally how frustrating and self-defeating the rollercoaster of losing and gaining weight repeatedly can feel. After having successfully lost 50 pounds many years ago and kept it off, I learned that sustainable weight loss happens when we feel good about ourselves—body, mind and spirit. With increased self-compassion and improved overall self-esteem, it becomes possible to love all parts of yourself, let go of perfectionistic thinking and replace harsh and punishing diet regimes with a weight loss and weight maintenance plan that is based in optimal, holistic health and implemented with loving kindness.

Decades later as a certified nutritionist, licensed dietitian and psychotherapist, I know that a holistic approach to weight loss and wellbeing is what works. It’s my ongoing passion to help clients lose weight, maintain a healthy weight and feel good about themselves for the rest of their lives. It’s wonderful to witness sustainable change in action and the increased energy and mobility, heightened confidence and intrinsic joy that comes when we feel healthy and balanced inside and out.

Holistic Weight Loss Counseling Promotes Sustainable Weight Management And Whole-Body Health

My approach to weight loss counseling is practical, holistic, based in proven science that promotes whole-body health and customized to your specific body type, lifestyle, needs and personal goals. This comprehensive approach considers all aspects of your life—from thoughts and behaviors that either promote or hinder weight management and ongoing life stressors to medical concerns and even past or present trauma—and helps regulate your nervous system through stress management and somatic techniques so it becomes receptive to losing weight. Rather than focus on yet another specific diet, the goal of our work is changing the relationship you have with food. While shifting ingrained patterns usually isn’t a quick fix and requires a strong commitment to change, this holistic approach is highly effective, successful and sustainable over time.

In our initial therapy session, we’ll engage in a comprehensive assessment that considers all aspects of your life. Based on information, needs and goals, I’ll devise a customized plan designed to help you think differently about food and feeding. Together, we’ll identify obstacles or resistances that could get in the way of goals and address any issues that come up as you heal your relationship with food and, ultimately, yourself. As an expert in mood and food issues, I can help and support you in resolving feelings of anxiety, depression and unresolved trauma, continually working toward regulating your mood as well as repairing your relationship with food. Everything is interconnected and to truly make peace with food, you get to make peace within yourself.

In sessions, we’ll also bring the sacred back into eating as you identify eating patterns that no longer serve you and begin to shift the way you think about food. You’ll learn mindfulness techniques and practices that help you build awareness, slow down and truly savor nourishing, whole foods. Those who eat mindfully tend to be more successful in managing weight over time, and taking the time to consider how your food tastes, where it came from, and the processes that got it from the Earth to your plate can help you both appreciate what you’re eating and tether food to your values.

I will also help you develop tools to mitigate stress and regulate your nervous system, including breathing techniques and exercise which help to improve mood. While you can’t outrun your fork, and many people overeat after exercising thinking that they burned enough calories and have “earned” the extra food, moving your body in joyful ways supports long-term success. It’s also important that you chose activities that you love. When you feel better—mind, body and spirit—you are more likely to feel more connected to your body, make better food choices and move toward optimal whole-body health.

This process of healing isn’t easy, but it works. And, if you are truly ready for sustainable change and committing to self-care and your long-term happiness, you can let go of obsessive thoughts and fear, permanently repair your relationship with food and experience comfort within your body. You can stop feeding the diet business and, rather, start nourishing yourself, feeling present, healthy and fully alive in all aspects of your life.

You still might wonder if working with a holistic weight loss specialist is right for you…

Is there a requirement for how often or how long I should/need to come?

There is no set timestamp or expiration date for our work together. Everything I do is highly customizable, and how often or little we meet is based on your goals, how quickly you want to reach them and what works best with your schedule and budget. What’s important is that we devise a weight loss plan specific to you that is realistic, nutritious and effective.

For those with time, mobility or other travel limitations, I offer online counseling sessions that you can take from the comfort and convenience of your home or office. And, regardless of how often or in what form we meet, it’s always my goal to empower you with a plan, positive shift in perspective and the mindful awareness needed to thrive on your own.

I feel like I’ve tried everything to lose weight and keep it off. My metabolism is slowing down, and I’m starting to feel doomed.

You are not doomed. And, no matter how old, frustrated or hopeless you may feel right now, there are empowering ways to achieve success through developing new habits to replace the old, ineffective ones. While it does take time, patience and persistence to develop a new perspective and way of taking care of yourself, there is a path to healing and whole-body health for everyone. Together, we’ll figure out what works specifically for you and customize a plan that helps you reach and maintain your weight loss goals.

I’ve been an emotional eater my whole life, which makes sustaining a healthy body weight almost impossible. Can you help?

We all have difficulties in life, and a great many of us use food as a way to cope. What’s great is that you recognize your pattern of emotional eating. That awareness is the first step in facilitating change. In our counseling sessions, I’ll encourage you to deepen your awareness and engage in mindfulness practices, which can help you notice when you’re turning to food, what kinds of food you crave (such as cool and crunchy, salty, sweet, creamy, etc.) and if you’re really hungry for food or if it’s something else entirely that you need. This process of slowing down, as well as other simple tips and techniques—such as stocking your home with healthy foods that satisfy cravings—can help you replace unwanted patterns with new ones that take you closer to reaching your goals. Also, as a psychotherapist, we can address any feelings of anxiety and/or depression that may trigger your emotional eating and discuss holistic practices, such as yoga, meditation and breathing, that can help regulate your nervous system, uplift mood, reduce stress and promote whole-body wellbeing.

Feel Great Mind, Body and Spirit!

If you’re in Scottsdale, AZ, the surrounding area or interested in online weight loss coaching and counseling, I can help. I invite you to contact me through the website or at 480-675-4568 to schedule a no-obligation call or meeting to discuss your needs and goals and determine if we’re a good fit. Due to the mind-heart-body-spirit centered quality of this work, I’m not the right fit for everyone; however, I truly love working with clients who are committed to change, seek whole-body healing and are ready to do the work needed to foster sustainable results and optimal health.