Welcome to
Beyond the Food Blog
A catalog of evidence-based articles written by Stephanie Dodier Clinical Nutritionist on all topics supporting the non-diet approach to health.
Welcome to
Beyond the Food Blog
A catalog of evidence-based articles written by Stephanie Dodier Clinical Nutritionist on all topics supporting the non-diet approach to health.
Our Most Recent Articles
3 Steps to Making Money in a Coaching Business
Are you a woman entrepreneur looking to make good money in your coaching business without compromising your values? You’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll explore three essential steps to create a thriving coaching practice that feels aligned with who you are and what you stand for.
The Truth About Making Money in Coaching
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: it’s okay to want to make money. In fact, it’s more than okay—it’s necessary. We live in a capitalist society where financial stability equates to safety and a better quality of life. So, let’s normalize the desire to increase our income.
The real challenge lies not in wanting to make money, but in figuring out how to do it in a way that feels good and aligns with our values. That’s where the concept of building a *GOOD* business comes into play.
What is a GOOD Business?
A GOOD business is one that:
– Serves people with high-quality coaching
– Generates a healthy income
– Aligns with your personal and professional values
By focusing on creating a GOOD business, you can make money in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling. Let’s dive into the three crucial shifts you need to make to achieve this balance.
Shift #1: From “Earning Money” to “Making Money” Mindset
The Employee vs. Entrepreneur Mindset
Many coaches transition from traditional employment to entrepreneurship carrying an “employee mindset.” This perspective can significantly hinder your ability to create wealth in your coaching business.
Key Differences:
– Employees earn a set salary
– Entrepreneurs create their own income
To succeed as a coach, you need to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. This involves intentionally nurturing thoughts that generate feelings of:
– Confidence
– Courage
– Resilience
– Bravery
– Determination
These emotions are crucial when it comes to selling your services and growing your income.
Action Step:
Identify one limiting belief you have about making money as a coach. Replace it with an empowering thought that aligns with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Shift #2: From “As Long As” to “Even When” Mindset
The Danger of Conditional Thinking
Many coaches approach mindset work with an “As Long As” mentality. They’re willing to change their thoughts about money… as long as it works immediately. This conditional approach is similar to clients who are willing to try intuitive eating… as long as they don’t gain weight.
The Power of Unconditional Commitment
To truly succeed in your coaching business, you need to adopt an “Even When” mindset. This means committing to your goals and mindset work:
– Even when nobody books a consult
– Even when you’re not meeting your financial targets
– Even when you have zero clients
Action Step:
Write down three “Even When” statements that reinforce your commitment to your coaching business, regardless of immediate results.
Shift #3: Releasing the 6 or 7-Figure Business Ideal
The Parallel Between Business Revenue and Body Image
Just as many women struggle with the “thin ideal” in body image, coaches often grapple with revenue ideals in their businesses. Whether it’s the allure of a 6-figure or 7-figure business, these arbitrary benchmarks can create unnecessary pressure and shame.
The Reality Check
Consider this statistic: In 2019, 88% of women-owned businesses made less than $100,000 per year. This doesn’t mean these businesses weren’t successful or impactful. It simply highlights the need to redefine success on your own terms.
Deconditioning from Toxic Business Culture
To truly make GOOD money in your coaching business, you need to:
1. Recognize and release shame around your current revenue
2. Decondition yourself from toxic business culture that equates success with a specific income level
3. Define success based on your values and impact, not just your bank account
Action Step:
Reflect on this question: Are you subconsciously co-opting toxic business culture and taking action based on those beliefs? How can you redefine success in a way that feels authentic to you?
Embracing a New Approach to Making Money in Your Coaching Business
By implementing these three shifts, you’re setting the foundation for a coaching business that not only generates good income but also aligns with your values and brings you joy. Remember, making money doesn’t have to come with shame, guilt, or overwhelm. It’s about creating a business that serves others while honoring your worth and well-being.
Key Takeaways:
1. Develop an entrepreneurial “Making Money” mindset
2. Commit to your business “Even When” times are tough
3. Define success on your own terms, free from toxic business ideals
Are you ready to make GOOD money in your coaching business? It’s time to embrace these shifts and create a practice that feels authentic, impactful, and financially rewarding.
Remember, making good money in your coaching business is not just possible—it’s your right. By aligning your money-making strategies with your values, you’re not only setting yourself up for financial success but also creating a business that truly makes a difference in the world.
Want to transform your approach to making good money in your coaching business?
You can access all of our services on our work with us page. We have a number of programs and service levels enabling us to serve most women:
Free Resources and Masterclasses: Get started and get to know us better!
Private coaching with Stephanie and her team Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches are waiting to support you in a one-to-one setting with an individualized plan.
Undiet Your Life group coaching program is for women to learn how to eat intuitively, become body neutral, and learn self-coaching at their own pace while being supported in a group setting by Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches.
Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.
The Secret to Achieving a Health Goal for Women
The Secret to Achieving a Health Goal for Women
As women, we’re often bombarded with messages about self-improvement and the need to “fix” ourselves. This constant pressure can make setting and achieving health goals feel daunting, especially when we’ve been conditioned by diet culture. But what if I told you there’s a better way? A way that empowers you to set health goals without falling into the traps of diet culture and patriarchy? Let’s explore how we can revolutionize our approach to achieving goals as women.
The Diet Culture Dilemma in Goal Setting
Before we dive into the secret of achieving health goals, we need to address the elephant in the room: diet culture. Many of us have been led to believe that an anti-diet approach means abandoning all health goals. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
The real problem isn’t setting health goals; it’s how we think about them. Diet culture has infiltrated our self-concept, affecting how we approach not just food and body image, but also our careers, relationships, and yes, goal setting.
Breaking Free from the “Fix It” Mentality
Society often encourages women to exist in a perpetual state of self-improvement. We’re constantly told what’s wrong with us, with the promise that fixing these “flaws” will lead to happiness and self-confidence. This mindset teaches us to undervalue ourselves and hold ourselves back.
As a result, many women associate goals with reminders of their “not good enoughness.” We see goals as a way to fix our perceived deficiencies, avoid pain, and seek approval. Unsurprisingly, this approach feels terrible and often leads to goal avoidance.
Achieving a Goal for Women: The Liberated Goal-Setting Process
So, how can we set health goals that empower rather than diminish us? The answer lies in the Liberated Goal Setting Process. This approach combines a weight-neutral perspective on health with a fresh take on goal setting. Here are the key components:
1. Constraint: Focus on One Goal at a Time
In our fast-paced world, it’s tempting to pursue multiple goals simultaneously. However, this often leads to overwhelm and burnout. The Liberated Goal Setting Process emphasizes focusing on one goal at a time. This constraint allows you to channel your energy and attention more effectively, increasing your chances of success.
2. Clean: Embrace Imperfect Action
Many women avoid setting goals because they fear they won’t achieve them perfectly. The “clean” aspect of this process involves understanding that the point of a goal is never perfection. Instead, it’s about building the habit of taking consistent, imperfect action toward something you want to create.
3. Courting: Develop a Relationship with Your Goal
Goal-setting isn’t just about the end result; it’s about the journey. The “courting” phase involves developing a deep relationship with your goal. This means learning to trust yourself throughout the process, celebrating small wins, and using setbacks as learning opportunities.
Reframing Health Goals for Women
Now that we understand the Liberated Goal Setting Process let’s explore how to apply it specifically to health goals:
Creating Instead of Fixing
Instead of setting goals to fix perceived flaws, focus on creating something new. Ask yourself: “What do I want to create in my life?” This shift in perspective can transform goal-setting from a draining experience to an exciting opportunity for growth.
Using Goals to Expand Your Self-Concept
View your health goals as containers for acquiring new skills, habits, and ways of thinking. Each goal becomes an opportunity to expand your self-concept and challenge your limitations. As you work towards your goal, pay attention to how you’re growing and changing as a person.
Achieving a Goal for Women: Making Health Goals Safe for Women
Combining the Liberated Goal Setting Process with a weight-neutral approach to health makes setting health goals safe and empowering for women. Here’s how:
1. Choose goals that align with your values, not societal expectations.
2. Focus on behaviors and habits rather than outcomes like weight loss.
3. Celebrate non-scale victories and internal changes.
4. Practice self-compassion throughout the process.
The Power of Self-Belief in Achieving Goals
As women, we often underestimate the importance of believing in ourselves. How much time do you spend convincing yourself that you can be successful? Becoming a woman who decides what she believes in, without seeking permission from others, is a powerful step in achieving your goals.
Coaching Women to Believe in Themselves
If you’re a coach working with women, you have the opportunity to guide them in believing in themselves through their health goals. Help your clients:
1. Identify limiting beliefs that hold them back.
2. Reframe negative self-talk into empowering statements.
3. Visualize success and the person they’ll become through achieving their goals.
4. Develop resilience in the face of setbacks.
Reconciling Health Goals with the Anti-Diet Approach
For those who have embraced the anti-diet approach, it’s important to understand that setting health goals doesn’t contradict these principles. The key is in how you approach those goals:
1. Focus on adding healthy behaviors rather than restricting.
2. Set goals based on how you want to feel, not how you want to look.
3. Prioritize mental and emotional health alongside physical health.
4. Use goals as a tool for self-discovery and growth, not punishment.
Conclusion: Empowering Women Through Goal Setting
Achieving health goals as a woman doesn’t have to be a battle against yourself. By reframing how we think about goals, embracing the Liberated Goal Setting Process, and focusing on creation rather than fixing, we can transform goal-setting into an empowering and exciting journey.
Remember, the secret to achieving a health goal for women lies not in the goal itself, but in how we approach it. By believing in ourselves, embracing imperfection, and viewing goals as opportunities for growth, we can create lasting change that feels authentic and empowering.
Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to health goals? Start by choosing one area of your health you’d like to improve, and apply the principles we’ve discussed. You might be surprised at how different goal-setting can feel when you approach it from a place of self-love and curiosity rather than criticism and fear.
Let’s rewrite the narrative around women’s health goals, one empowered step at a time.
Need help learning how to achieve a health goal? Or Coach others with health?
You can access all of our services on our work with us page. We have a number of programs and service levels enabling us to serve most women:
Free Resources and Masterclasses: Play Bigger: A 4-part Masterclass series to help you learn the process of making Good Money in a way that feels damn good!
Good Money Business Mastermind A business mentorship and a collective of ambitious, driven and empowered anti-diet culture providers and coaches on a mission to dismantle diet culture and make GOOD money doing it!
How to Start with Body Image Healing
How to Start with Body Image Healing
Are you ready to embark on a journey of body image healing? As a body image coach, I’ve guided countless women through this transformative process. Today, I’m sharing my insights on how to start with body image healing, offering a fresh perspective that goes beyond conventional wisdom. Let’s dive in and explore a path to body neutrality that can truly liberate you from the constraints of diet culture and societal pressures.
The First Step: Asking the Right Question
When it comes to body image healing, many people think it’s all about learning to love every inch of their bodies. But I’m here to challenge that notion. The first and most crucial step in this journey is to ask yourself a powerful question:
Why do you have a body?
Take a moment to sit with this question. Let it sink in. Your initial response might surprise you, and that’s okay. This simple yet profound inquiry sets the stage for a paradigm shift in how you view your body and its purpose.
Moving Beyond Traditional Body Image Coaching
In our programs, we take a unique approach to body image coaching. Instead of focusing directly on the body itself, we use the Cognitive Behavioral Model to address the root of body image issues: beliefs and thoughts. This approach allows us to go beyond the size of your pants and dive into the core of how you perceive your body’s role in your life.
The Truth About Your Body’s Purpose
Here’s a revolutionary idea that might shake up everything you’ve been taught: Your body’s purpose isn’t to be loved or beautiful. I know, this might sound counterintuitive, especially if you’ve been immersed in the world of body positivity. But hear me out.
Women weren’t given bodies to be beautiful objects or to seek constant approval and love. The truth is far more empowering:
Humans have bodies to experience life. Yes, women too.
Your body is the incredible vehicle through which you navigate this world. It allows you to:
– Move and explore
– Feel emotions
– Think and create
– Connect with others
– Laugh, cry, and express yourself
– Nourish yourself
– And so much more
Understanding this fundamental truth is the cornerstone of body image healing. It shifts the focus from how your body looks to what your body enables you to do and experience.
The Problem with “Loving Your Body”
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. As a coach, I believe it’s unethical and even oppressive to teach women that they must love their bodies. Here’s why:
1. It sets an unrealistic expectation
2. It still places value on appearance
3. It doesn’t address the root of body image issues
Instead of striving for constant body love, which can be exhausting and often unattainable, I propose a different approach: body neutrality.
Embracing Body Neutrality
Body neutrality is the key to liberating yourself from diet culture and patriarchal beauty standards. But what exactly is it?
Body neutrality recognizes that:
– You don’t have to love every part of your body all the time
– Your worth as a person is not tied to your appearance
– Your body is a functional tool, not an ornament
The goal of body neutrality is to accept your body for what it is – nothing more, nothing less. It’s about becoming an ally to your body, respecting it for its capabilities rather than its aesthetic qualities.
Why Body Neutrality Works
Body neutrality is powerful because it:
1. Relieves the pressure to constantly feel positive about your body
2. Focuses on function over form
3. Challenges societal conditioning about women’s bodies
4. Leads to body respect, a more sustainable and empowering mindset
By adopting body neutrality, you’re actively resisting the harmful messages that patriarchy and diet culture have ingrained in us – messages that tell women their bodies exist to be pleasing, compliant, and a measure of their worth.
Practical Steps to Start Your Body Image Healing Journey
1. Reflect on the question: “Why do I have a body?”
2. Identify beliefs you hold about your body’s purpose
3. Challenge thoughts that tie your worth to your appearance
4. Practice gratitude for what your body allows you to experience
5. Focus on how your body feels rather than how it looks
6. Surround yourself with diverse body representations
7. Engage in activities that connect you with your body’s capabilities
Remember, body image healing is a process. It takes time to unlearn years of conditioning and develop a new relationship with your body. Be patient with yourself as you navigate this journey.
The Impact of Body Image Healing
As you progress in your body image healing journey, you’ll likely notice positive changes beyond just how you feel about your appearance. Many women report:
– Increased confidence in various areas of life
– More mental energy for pursuits beyond appearance
– Improved relationships with food and exercise
– Greater overall life satisfaction
These benefits underscore why starting your body image healing journey is so crucial. It’s not just about changing how you see your body – it’s about transforming how you experience life itself.
In Conclusion
Remember, your body is not an ornament – it’s the vehicle through which you experience the richness of life. By shifting your focus from appearance to experience, you open the door to true body image healing and a more fulfilling relationship with yourself.
Starting your body image healing journey might feel challenging, but it’s a path worth taking. Embrace body neutrality, challenge harmful societal messages, and reconnect with your body’s true purpose. You have the power to rewrite your body story – and it begins with asking yourself that one crucial question: “Why do I have a body?”
Do you need help getting started with healing your body image?
You can access all of our services on our work with us page. We have a number of programs and service levels enabling us to serve most women:
Free Resources and Masterclasses: Get started and get to know us better!
Private coaching with Stephanie and her team Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches are waiting to support you in a one-to-one setting with an individualized plan.
Undiet Your Life group coaching program is for women to learn how to eat intuitively, become body neutral, and learn self-coaching at their own pace while being supported in a group setting by Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches.
Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.
Fatphobia Coaching and Gaslighting: How I Overcome Fatphobia as a Fat Woman
Fatphobia Coaching and Gaslighting: How I Overcame Fatphobia as a Fat Woman
As a fat woman, I’ve heard it all. “Just change your thoughts about the layer of fat on your body.” “Don’t worry about what other people think of you.” These well-intentioned but misguided pieces of advice aren’t coaching – they’re gaslighting. And they’re a prime example of how fatphobia permeates our society, even in spaces meant to be supportive and empowering.
Today, I want to share my personal journey of overcoming fatphobia and how I learned to navigate a world that often seems designed to make people in larger bodies feel less than. This isn’t just my story – it’s a call to action for coaches, mentors, and anyone working with fat individuals to understand the complexities of fatphobia and how to truly support their clients.
Fatphobia Coaching and Gaslighting: Understanding Fatphobia and Gaslighting
Before we dive deeper, let’s clarify what we mean by fatphobia and gaslighting. Fatphobia is the fear, stigma, and discrimination against people with larger bodies. It’s a systemic issue that affects nearly every aspect of life for fat individuals.
Gaslighting, on the other hand, is a form of psychological manipulation where someone denies another person’s reality, making them question their own perceptions and experiences. In the context of fatphobia, gaslighting often looks like dismissing the very real challenges and discrimination fat people face daily.
When someone tells a fat person to “just love yourself more” or “ignore what others think,” they’re essentially denying the reality of living in a fatphobic society. This isn’t helpful – it’s harmful.
Coaching Fat Women Can Be Challenging
As I mentioned earlier, coaching people who are marginalized by systemic oppression can be incredibly challenging. Without the right skills and tools, even well-meaning coaches can inadvertently cause harm to their clients.
Let me illustrate this with my own experience. As a woman living in a large body, I’m acutely aware that people form opinions about me based solely on my appearance when I enter a room. For years, I internalized this and believed that I was the problem. I tried diet after diet, attempting to conform to society’s unrealistic and oppressive standards.
Eventually, I decided to say “f*ck off” to the system and accept my body. But this wasn’t an easy journey, and it certainly wasn’t as simple as just changing my mindset.
Fatphobia Coaching and Gaslighting: The Pitfalls of Simplistic Body Positivity
My first attempt at body acceptance came through an online body positivity course. The coach’s main message was, “If you love yourself enough, it will get better.” Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.
This approach, while well-intentioned, falls into the trap of gaslighting. It puts the entire burden on the individual to change their thoughts and feelings, without acknowledging the very real societal pressures and discrimination they face.
A New Approach to Overcoming Fatphobia
Realizing that simplistic body positivity wasn’t the answer, I decided to tackle the problem of fatphobia differently. Here’s how I approached it:
1. Stop Gaslighting Myself
The first step was to acknowledge the reality of fatphobia. Yes, it exists. Yes, it’s unfair. And yes, it impacts nearly every aspect of my life – from healthcare access to job opportunities to social interactions. Denying this reality wasn’t helping; accepting it was the first step towards real change.
2. Accept the Long-term Nature of the Challenge
I had to come to terms with the fact that fatphobia isn’t likely to disappear entirely in my lifetime. While things may improve, it will continue to impact me. This realization was crucial in shifting my focus from trying to change society to learning how to navigate it effectively.
3. Choose How to Respond
With this acceptance came a choice: how did I want to live the rest of my life? Did I want to pretend fatphobia doesn’t exist, hide away, and live a small life? Or did I want to learn how to experience fatphobia differently and live fully despite it?
4. Practice Self-Consent
I made a conscious choice to change my approach. This involved practicing self-consent – acknowledging that I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to do, including conforming to societal expectations about my body.
5. Build Safety for My Choice
Change is scary, especially when it involves going against societal norms. I acknowledged my fear and the challenges ahead, building a sense of safety and support for myself as I embarked on this journey.
6. Change My Thoughts About Fatphobia
Finally, I began the process of changing my thoughts about fatphobia. This wasn’t about denial or forced positivity. Instead, it was about acceptance and empowerment. I did the thought work from a place of acknowledging reality while also recognizing my power to shape my response to it.
Fatphobia Coaching and Gaslighting: The Power of Intersectional Coaching
This approach to overcoming fatphobia is rooted in what’s known as intersectional coaching. It’s a holistic framework that acknowledges how an individual’s various identities – including body size, race, gender, and more – impact their reality.
Intersectional coaching is the truest form of empowerment coaching because it doesn’t deny or minimize the challenges faced by marginalized individuals. Instead, it provides tools and strategies to navigate these challenges effectively.
This approach is at the heart of the Non-Diet Coaching Certification, which I now offer to other coaches. It’s why Certified Non-Diet Coaches never gaslight their clients, no matter the circumstances. We acknowledge the reality of fatphobia and other systemic issues while empowering our clients to live fully and authentically.
In Conclusion
Remember, overcoming fatphobia isn’t about denying its existence or forcing yourself to “just think positively.” It’s about acknowledging the reality of living in a fatphobic society, choosing how you want to respond, and empowering yourself to live fully despite societal prejudices.
My journey from internalized fatphobia to empowerment wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. And if I can do it, so can you. Whether you’re struggling with fatphobia yourself or you’re a coach looking to better support your clients, remember: real change starts with acknowledging reality, not denying it. From there, anything is possible.
Ready to Take the Next Steps and Dismantle Fatphobia?
If you’re inspired by my journey and want to learn more about overcoming fatphobia or providing empowering, intersectional coaching, there are several ways to get involved.You can access all of our services on our work with us page. We have a number of programs and service levels enabling us to serve most women:
Free Resources and Masterclasses: Get started and get to know us better!
Private coaching with Stephanie and her team Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches are waiting to support you in a one-to-one setting with an individualized plan.
Undiet Your Life group coaching program is for women to learn how to eat intuitively, become body neutral, and learn self-coaching at their own pace while being supported in a group setting by Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches.
Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.
I’m Sharing Our Business Revenue in This One
It’s Supposed to Take Time
Transformation takes time. Creation takes time. It’s supposed to take time to make peace with food, to build a business, and to become a great coach. The claim that these things can happen fast if you “do it right” is an oppressive marketing tactic that sets unrealistic expectations.
We’ve been conditioned by our culture of instant gratification to want results quickly. But true personal growth and business success can’t be rushed. It requires patience, perseverance, and doing the hard inner work over years, not months.
Business Revenue: The Claim That Transformation and Creation Can Happen Fast is an Oppressive Marketing Tactic
Promises like “Make 6 figures in 6 months” or “Lose 15 lbs in 30 days” prey on our desires for a quick fix. And the truth is, they work – at least for making sales. These marketers know that dangling the prospect of rapid results in front of people is highly effective at prying open their wallets.
But very few leaders are willing to emphasize the reality that real, lasting results require years of consistent effort. That’s not as sexy of a sales pitch. So instead, the quick fix narrative gets pushed relentlessly.
It’s an oppressive tactic that sets people up for disappointment, self-blame when the rapid results don’t materialize, and a cycle of moving from one program to the next, always chasing that elusive quick transformation.
That’s why years ago, I committed to no longer using the “fast results to business revenue” marketing approach. It didn’t align with my values of honesty and compassion.
Programs Designed for Lasting Transformation
To create true transformation, my programs are designed to play out over a realistic timeframe:
The Undiet Your Life Coaching Program is a year-long program because that’s how long it takes for most women to fully embrace intuitive eating and body neutrality. Decades of food and body struggles can’t be undone overnight.
The Non-Diet Coach Certification lasts 6 months because beginning to embody coaching skills and mindset takes that long. But even after that, becoming a masterful coach requires years of practice.
Business Revenue: I’d Like My Journey to Normalize Taking Years to Build a 6+ Figure Business
Building a successful online coaching business at a 6-figure or higher level is a long-game endeavor, similar to establishing a career in the corporate world. Let’s normalize:
– Not feeling like a failure if you don’t make millions right away
– The reality that 88% of female entrepreneurs earn less than 6 figures annually
It takes years to build a solid coaching business from the ground up through hard work, skill development, mindset shifts, and consistent marketing. Expecting to replace an average “middle-class” income quickly is statistically unrealistic.
Reflecting on my own privileges is important context too:
– I had 15 years of prior business coaching & sales experience that gave me a head start
– I could invest personal savings higher than the average income into my business
– As a white, cisgender, straight woman with a supportive circle, I faced less systemic barriers to risk-taking
Business Revenue: My “Average” 6-Year Journey to a Sustainable Business
2016 – Closed my Oakville nutrition clinic; the online business was born.
2017 – Revenue of $21K
My first full year online was brutal. I felt lost constantly and doubted myself weekly, but persisted. Most living expenses came from savings. To new coaches, don’t quit your day job the first year!
2018 – Revenue of $36K
Invested $10K in my first mastermind from personal savings, which was a major financial risk. I lacked business/marketing skills so year 2 was still hard. But I learned how lacking alignment between personal and business values breeds anxiety – my wake-up call to reject “bro marketing” tactics.
2019 – Revenue of $56K
The year the business started feeling sustainable. I discovered feminist mindset coaching which changed my approach as a human and entrepreneur. By doing intense mindset work (not business tactics), my income doubled in 6 months.
2020 – Revenue of $119K
The year I embodied the belief “I’m enough and innately worthy.” Again, through mindset work alone, I doubled income by becoming a better coach.
2021 – Revenue of $136K
I simplified by eliminating 7 programs and focused solely on what worked and lit me up. Streamlining allowed me to work less but earn more.
This is fairly typical path to building a sustainable online coaching business over 5-6 years. It wasn’t until after 2021 that my revenue exceeded the average for female entrepreneurs, so I’ve chosen to stop publicly sharing income details.
As I launch a new business mastermind for anti-diet entrepreneurs, I’ve carefully examined my values around using income claims for marketing. I’ve decided to try that approach for now while being fully transparent about the realistic timeframe for results.
I’d Still Be Doin’ This if I Wasn’t Doin’ This
More than just building a business, entrepreneurship has been the greatest personal development journey of my 48 years. It’s where I’ve found the deepest fulfillment by discovering my life’s purpose.
The hardships I’ve overcome gave my life meaning – they put me on this path of helping others heal from diet culture and move beyond their own struggles with food and body image.
I believe I was born for this “beyond the food” mission of being part of a revolution to dismantle oppressive societal norms. To me, that’s far more precious than achieving some hyped-up “7-figure coaching business” milestone.
I want to live a life of service. And even if I never made another dollar from this work, I’d still be doin’ this if I wasn’t doin’ this. This work is my soul’s calling and my greatest joy.
How we can help
You can access all of our services on our work with us page. We have a number of programs and service levels enabling us to serve most women:
Free Resources and Masterclasses: Get started and get to know us better!
Private coaching with Stephanie and her team Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches are waiting to support you in a one-to-one setting with an individualized plan.
Undiet Your Life group coaching program is for women to learn how to eat intuitively, become body neutral, and learn self-coaching at their own pace while being supported in a group setting by Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches.
Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.
Good Money Business Mastermind A business mentorship and a collective of ambitious, driven and empowered anti-diet culture providers and coaches on a mission to dismantle diet culture and make GOOD money doing it!
6 Signs Diet Culture Has Infiltrated Your Business
As an entrepreneur in the non-diet space, you’re likely familiar with the harmful effects of diet culture on individuals. But have you ever considered that these same oppressive tactics might be seeping into your business practices?
In this article, we’ll explore the uncanny parallels between diet culture and what I call “oppressive business culture.” We’ll dive into six telltale signs that diet culture has infiltrated your business and how this infiltration might be holding you back from the success and impact you deserve.
There are uncanny parallels between oppressive business culture and diet culture
Just as diet culture promises rapid weight loss and one-size-fits-all meal plans, oppressive business culture dangles the carrot of “6 figures in 6 months” and “the right strategy for everyone’s success.” Both rely on external solutions, implying that you’re not good enough or smart enough on your own. Let’s break down these parallels:
1. Quick Fixes: Diet culture says, “Lose 30lbs in 30 days.” Similarly, oppressive business culture claims, “Make 6 figures in 6 months.” Both are unrealistic and can lead to burnout.
2. One-Size-Fits-All: Diet culture preaches, “The right meal plan makes everyone healthy.” In business, it’s “The right strategy will make anyone successful.” Both ignore individual needs and circumstances.
3. Focus on Externals: Diet culture declares, “Thinner is better.” Oppressive business culture echoes, “Bigger bank account is better.” Both overlook personal well-being and fulfillment.
6 signs that Diet Culture has infiltrated your business:
Now, let’s dive into a checklist. If you find yourself nodding along to these signs, it’s likely that diet culture has snuck into your business mindset:
1. You believe there’s a “right way” to do business
Just as there’s no single diet that works for everyone, there’s no universal “right way” to run a business. If you’re constantly chasing the perfect strategy, pricing structure, or marketing plan, you might be under the influence of oppressive business culture.
2. You’re afraid to fail
In diet culture, “failing” means gaining weight or not sticking to the plan. In business, it might mean not hitting a revenue goal or losing a client. This fear can paralyze you, preventing you from taking risks that could lead to growth.
3. You experience imposter coach syndrome
Do you feel like you need just one more certification to be “credible”? This is akin to dieters thinking they need just one more supplement or workout to be “healthy.” Your expertise comes from your unique experiences and the impact you have on clients.
4. You compare yourself to colleagues in despair
Just as dieters compare their bodies to others, you might be comparing your business to your colleagues’. Remember, their journey is not yours, and comparison often leads to self-doubt and inaction.
5. You’re “all in” one week, then “nothing” for two
This sounds like yo-yo dieting, doesn’t it? One week, you’re hustling 24/7; the next, you’re burnt out and can’t look at your business. Sustainable success requires consistent, balanced effort.
6. You spend too much time trying to do things “perfectly”
In diet culture, perfectionism might mean never missing a workout or eating a “forbidden” food. In business, it’s obsessing over every email or social media post. Perfection is a myth that steals your time and energy.
It’s not your fault if Diet Culture has infiltrated your business
Here’s the truth: just as you didn’t create diet culture, you didn’t create oppressive business culture. These systems are pervasive, and it’s no wonder they’ve seeped into your entrepreneurial journey. Remember when you couldn’t believe that diet culture was the problem, not your body? Now, it’s the same with your business.
What your brain labels as a “problem” in your business often isn’t a problem at all. The real issue is the oppressive business culture that overwhelms us with endless to-dos, “right way” thinking, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. It’s not you; it’s the system.
The Solution
The solution isn’t another strategy, course, or certification. It’s the same thing that freed you from diet culture: self-trust.
The solution: Self-Trust
What if you could trust yourself with your business decisions as implicitly as you now trust your body’s hunger and fullness cues? Imagine the freedom, confidence, and growth that would unfold. Just as intuitive eating transformed your relationship with food, intuitive business practices can revolutionize your entrepreneurial journey.
The key is to focus on reshaping your business mindset, not just your tactics. When you change how you think about your clients, your offers, and yourself as a coach, you’ll operate from a place of integrity. This shift leads to higher-value actions and, ultimately, a business that creates what I call “Good Money” – income that aligns with your values and serves your mission.
The Good Money Business Mentorship
This is where my Good Money Business Mastermind comes in. It’s not just a business mentorship; it’s a collective of ambitious, driven, and empowered anti-diet culture providers and coaches. We’re on a mission to dismantle diet culture – both in our clients’ lives and in our own business practices.
In this mastermind, we don’t chase arbitrary revenue goals or push “quick fix” tactics. Instead, we focus on building businesses that reflect our values, serve our communities, and yes, make good money. Because making an impact and making an income are not mutually exclusive.
Conclusion: Your Business, Your Rules
Remember, it’s supposed to take time to build a great business, just like it takes time to make peace with food. The claim that business success should be fast if you “do it right” is as oppressive as the diet industry’s rapid weight loss promises.
I’ve shared my own business journey to normalize this reality. It took me years to build a six-figure business, and each stage was marked by personal growth, not just revenue growth. Your journey will be unique, but the principles remain the same: trust yourself, align with your values, and reject the oppressive narratives.
If you’re ready to build a business that feels as good as it performs, I invite you to join us in the Good Money Business Mastermind. Together, we’ll dismantle diet culture in all its forms and create businesses that truly nourish – our clients, our communities, and ourselves.
Remember, you’re not just building a business; you’re part of a revolution. And that, my friend, is worth far more than any “7-figure coaching business” ideal.
How we can help
You can access all of our services on our work with us page. We have a number of programs and service levels enabling us to serve most women:
Free Resources and Masterclasses: Get started and get to know us better!
Private coaching with Stephanie and her team Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches are waiting to support you in a one-to-one setting with an individualized plan.
Undiet Your Life group coaching program is for women to learn how to eat intuitively, become body neutral, and learn self-coaching at their own pace while being supported in a group setting by Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches.
Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.
Good Money Business Mastermind A business mentorship and a collective of ambitious, driven and empowered anti-diet culture providers and coaches on a mission to dismantle diet culture and make GOOD money doing it!
How to Coach Eating Behaviors
Do you feel trapped in an endless cycle of dieting, restrictive eating, and guilt? You’re not alone.
In this article, you’ll learn a compassionate, non-diet approach to developing a healthier relationship with food and your eating behaviors. Say goodbye to rigid rules and hello to sustainable strategies that align with your values and goals.
Many of us struggle with emotional eating, binge eating, or restrictive patterns that leave us feeling frustrated and disconnected from our true hunger cues. This vicious cycle can take a toll on our physical and emotional well-being, leading to feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and a preoccupation with food. But there is a way out – a path towards a more balanced, intuitive approach to eating.
Coaching Eating Behaviors: What to do instead?
The Cognitive Behavioral Coaching method enables you to explore your motivations, triggers, and patterns surrounding food. It helps cultivate self-awareness, mindfulness, and self-compassion, empowering you to make choices that truly nourish your mind, body, and soul. Prepare to break free from the diet mentality and embrace a healthier, more fulfilling way of living.
Instead of restrictive diets or one-size-fits-all rules, the CBC method encourages a more holistic and personalized approach to developing a healthy relationship with food. It’s about understanding your unique motivations, triggers, and patterns, and finding strategies that work for you – not against you.
Coaching Eating Behaviors Using CBC Coaching
The CBC approach is rooted in the principles of cognitive behavioral coaching, which recognizes that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected. By exploring and understanding these connections, we can identify areas for change and develop more constructive patterns.
Step 1: Understanding How Human Behavior is Generated
The first step in the CBC process is to gain insight into the fundamental drivers of human behavior. Our actions are influenced by a complex interplay of thoughts, emotions, physiological states, and environmental factors. By developing self-awareness and mindfulness, clients can begin to observe these influences without judgment, creating a foundation for lasting change.
Step 2: Investigate the Environment
Our physical and social environments play a significant role in shaping our eating behaviors. This step involves exploring the various cues, triggers, and situations that may contribute to unhealthy patterns. For example, a client may notice that they tend to overeat when stressed at work or when socializing with friends who encourage indulgence. By identifying these environmental factors, we can develop strategies to create a more supportive and conducive environment for healthier choices.
Coaching Eating Behaviors: 6 coaching questions
1. “What does a healthy relationship with food mean to you?”
This deceptively simple question encourages clients to reflect deeply on their values, priorities, and desired outcomes beyond just weight loss or adhering to food rules. A healthy relationship with food means different things to different people – it could mean feeling energized, nourishing their body with foods they enjoy, or setting an example of balance for their children. By defining what success looks like for them, clients can stay motivated and focused on their personal goals.
2. “How do your current eating behaviors align (or misalign) with your values and goals?”
Our actions often stem from deeply ingrained habits, emotions, or coping mechanisms that may no longer serve us. This question prompts clients to examine the alignment between their eating patterns and the things that truly matter to them. Perhaps emotional eating is causing feelings of guilt that conflict with their value of self-care. Or nighttime snacking might be hindering their goal of having more energy during the day. Exploring these disconnects can provide powerful motivation for change.
3. “What situations or emotions tend to trigger unhealthy eating patterns for you?”
Understanding personal triggers is crucial for interrupting unhealthy cycles. Clients may identify stress, boredom, loneliness, or even positive events like celebrations as common triggers for overeating or making poor food choices. Once these triggers are identified, we can co-create coping strategies and alternative behaviors to address them in a healthier way.
4. “How can you practice self-compassion when you experience setbacks or slip-ups?”
Change is rarely linear, and setbacks are an inevitable part of the process. This question encourages clients to treat themselves with kindness and understanding, rather than harsh self-criticism or shame. Self-compassion might involve reassuring self-talk, remembering that one lapse doesn’t undo all progress, or simply taking a moment to breathe and reset.
5. “What small, manageable steps can you take to move closer to your desired eating behaviors?”
Big, sweeping changes can often feel overwhelming and unsustainable. This question helps clients break down their goals into smaller, actionable steps that feel achievable. It could involve strategies like meal planning, trying new recipes, or finding alternative coping mechanisms for difficult emotions. Celebrating these small wins builds confidence and momentum.
6. “How can I best support and encourage you throughout this process?”
Every client is unique, with different needs, preferences, and circumstances. By asking this question, I ensure that my coaching approach is tailored to meet them where they are. Some may benefit from more accountability and structure, while others may need a softer, more self-compassionate style of support. Individualized coaching is key to lasting success.
Step 3: Show Why It’s Not About the Food
While food choices play a role, our relationship with eating often goes much deeper than what’s on our plate. This step involves exploring the underlying thoughts, beliefs, and emotional drivers that influence our behaviors around food. For some, food may serve as a coping mechanism for stress, loneliness, or difficult emotions. For others, deeply ingrained beliefs about body image, self-worth, or societal ideals may contribute to restrictive or binge eating patterns. By uncovering and addressing these root causes, we can begin to shift our relationship with food on a more profound level.
Step 4: Change the Thoughts/Beliefs
Once we’ve identified the unhelpful thoughts or beliefs driving unhealthy eating behaviors, the next step is to reframe and restructure these patterns of thinking. Cognitive-behavioral techniques, such as challenging cognitive distortions, reframing negative self-talk, and cultivating more compassionate inner dialogues, can be powerful tools in this process. For example, a client who believes they “don’t deserve” to eat certain foods might work on replacing that thought with a more balanced and self-accepting perspective. As our thoughts shift, so too can our behaviors and emotional responses to food.
Coaching Eating Behaviors: Key Takeaways
- Ditch the diets and embrace a kinder approach to eating that’s all about self-discovery, not self-denial.
- Get real with yourself about your motivations, triggers, and patterns around food so you can make choices that truly nourish your mind and body.
- Be your own bestie and practice self-compassion when you stumble – change is a journey, not a destination, and you’ve got this!
How we can help
You can access all of our services on our work with us page. We have a number of programs and service levels enabling us to serve most women:
Free Resources and Masterclasses: Get started and get to know us better!
Private coaching with Stephanie and her team Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches are waiting to support you in a one-to-one setting with an individualized plan.
Undiet Your Life group coaching program is for women to learn how to eat intuitively, become body-neutral, and learn self-coaching at their own pace while being supported in a group setting by Stephanie and her team of Certified Non-Diet Coaches.
$156,000 in Cash Revenue
**This is the copy of the email we sent on January 1st, 2023 to our Professional community.
In 2022 I created US $156 K in cash for my business.
Phew… I did it. I shared this publicly.
I’ve been sitting on this email for weeks. I did a LOTS of self-coaching about sharing this. Every part of me wanted NOT to do it… I felt a lot of shame not making 7 figures in my business while teaching and coaching.
And I knew this meant only one thing: I needed to do it.
I share this fact – $156K in cash revenue – to celebrate myself AND to model a new way to think about business.
I share this with you because I believe we all need to see more “normal” and “average” business results celebrated.
I’m sharing this to normalize not making millions in your coaching business.
I’m sharing this to show the BEAUTIFUL and FANTASTIC financial reality of 88% of female entrepreneurs.
I’m sharing this to break the “7 figure coaching business” ideal most of us are sold into by toxic & oppressive business culture. (thin ideal parallel here …)
I’m sharing this for the same reason I’m posting full-body pictures on social media… for my healing and to help normalize fat women making a living being a coach, nutritionist, or anything they want to be.
When I decided to close the nutrition clinic in 2016 and launch Beyond The Food online biz I made only one commitment to myself: never to quit.
And I want to acknowledge that I’m privileged to have been about to do this. I came to entrepreneurship with 15 years of business coaching & sales experience in the corporate world. Although not all the knowledge was transferable, most of it was.
Although I built both businesses by investing in my own money, I’m privileged that I had access to much higher than the average income for years. In contrast, most do not have access to personal wealth when they start the entrepreneurial journey.
Entrepreneurship requires a shit-ton of risk-taking, AND it’s a lot easier when you are white, cis-gendered, straight, and have a great support system. Yes, I have worked hard and had a huge advantage in making my business successful.
The year I took quitting off the table: 2017
2017- The new biz made 21K
My first full year with Beyond The Food online biz after closing in 2016 my first business, a nutrition clinic. I felt lost; honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. I thought about quitting almost every week but never did because of the one promise I made myself. The first year was hard.
Most of my living expenses came from saving. If you are a new coach, I recommend not quitting your full-time gig as most of us do not make a decent income during the first few years of business.
The year I invested in my first mastermind: 2018
2018- The biz made 36K
Transparency: The $10K mastermind investment was 100% coming from my savings. I invested money the business didn’t have: I bet on myself. Year 2 was hard.
I learned one of the most powerful lessons in entrepreneurship: not being in alignment between my personal and business value feels terrible and leads to massive anxiety. Although I didn’t have a name for it at the time: Bro Marketing and I had met.
The year I learned to blow my mind
2019 – The biz made 56K
I met the coach that would teach me what would forever change me as a human and an entrepreneur: come in Kara Lowentheil and the feminist mindset coaching. My business doubled in 6 months of coaching with her because I was in full alignment. Year 3 made it easy.
None of Kara’s teaching at the time was about business tactics, but instead, I learned how to “manage my mind,” and that’s what doubled my income.
The year I integrated mindset in every dam part of my life.
2020 – The biz made 119k
The year of me believing at the DNA level, “I’m enough & I’m innately worthy .”I kept working with Kara, and we coached hard… and I blew my mind. Again 100% mindset work, not biz tactics, and for the second year ago I doubled my revenue.
The year I shut down 7 programs and made more money
2021 – 136K
The year I simplified my business. I shut down 7 coaching programs. I took the risk to bet on what was working and what I loved doing. Undiet Your Life brand was born, and Non-Diet Mentorship amplified to be a professional skill program and business building.
The year of transforming my relationship to work
2022 – 156K
The year of letting go of “I have to”. The simplification of my business in 2021 exposed a lot of resistance to working being easy, and I knew I couldn’t keep growing my business with this work mindset. I hired a private coach 100% focused on healing past corporate career traumas and learning to work from “I choose to”…
2023 is about integrating the new identity I lovingly call “Grandioso”… the version of me that will take my business and life to the next level.
I do not have a financial goal for 2023 but I know that so far, for 2023 I have 45K in revenue secured (aka under contract).
Here’s what I know for sure: “I’d still be doin’ this if I wasn’t doin’ this .”(Lyrics from Luke Combs’s song -Doin’ This.)
Entrepreneurship has been the single most significant personal development platform I have experienced in 47 years of living and where I’ve been the happiest.
I’m a new person today because of my business. A version of me that I much enjoy being.
The Beyond the Food biz has given a sense to my life.
Everything that happened to me now has meaning. All the hardship I have experienced happened for a reason: to be here today, helping others move through their hardship.
To be of service.
I believe I was born to this “beyond the food thing”…to be part of a revolution, and to me, this is worth way more than the “7 figure coaching business” ideal.
Wishing you a beautiful 2023,
With love and excitement for what is to come for us.
xoxo,
Stephanie
Which diet is best for your health?
I was inspired to write this article based on a community member question, “Which diet is best for my health? I need to lose weight to be healthy… right?”
I hope this article helps you determine what is the best diet for you! (Hint: It may not be what you think.) Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
What does it mean to be healthy?
Does “obesity” cause one to be unhealthy?
Is health beyond dieting and weight loss possible?
What is a weight-neutral approach to health?
Sustainability and health beyond dieting
Who is an ideal candidate for weight-neutral approach to health?
Why It’s Hard to Change Your Beliefs About Weight and Health
The prevalent diet culture conditioned us to believe that thinner is better in all aspects of life including our health. Therefore, dieting is the answer to health so there has to be a “best diet” … right?
We’ve always heard that thin equals healthy, and that dieting is the way to a thinner body. It’s the same indoctrination that leads us into thinking that a thinner body is more attractive because it is associated with health.
What does it mean to be healthy?
We all grew up with the idea that health is the absence of illness. But the World Health Organization has a definition of health that’s different from what we’re all used to. WHO defines health as “a complete state of physical, emotional, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Good health is essential to being able to handle stress and live a long and active life. It doesn’t just refer to the absence of disease, but also to the ability to recover from illness, to adapt to life challenges in general.
Does “obesity” cause one to be unhealthy?
The keyword here is CAUSE. Before we can answer the question, we must first understand the difference between correlation and causation. For example, smoking is correlated with alcoholism, but it doesn’t cause alcoholism. However, smoking causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
For example, a research found that obesity does not affect the risk of having coronary heart disease and stroke “Metabolic status is relatively stable despite rising BMI”. (However, it does increase the risk of developing diabetes)
But if the question is, “Is obesity associated or correlated with health risks?” the answer would be yes. If the question is “Is obesity causing disease?” the answer would be no. That’s where the big difference lies.
Here’s where it gets interesting – one-third to three-quarters of people classified as obese are actually metabolically healthy. Being metabolically healthy means having your blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels, and other metabolic markers within the normal range. That’s me and millions of “overweight” women.
Is health beyond dieting and weight loss possible?
Yes, and scientific research proves it!
A 2016 study by researchers at UCLA studied 40,420 adult participants in the most recent U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Researchers looked at the participants’ health as measured by six accepted metrics (not including BMI). These metrics are blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin resistance, and C-reactive protein.
The study found that 47% of people classified as overweight by BMI and 29% of those qualified as obese were healthy based on at least five of those other metrics.
Meanwhile, 31% of normal-weight people were unhealthy by two or more of the same measures.
What is a weight-neutral approach to health?
A weight-neutral approach to health is based on the idea that your health status or risk level can’t be determined solely by your weight.
It acknowledges that your weight is determined by a complex set of genetic, metabolic, physiological, cultural, social, and behavioral determinants. Many of these factors are either difficult or impossible to change.
Instead of focusing on a weight-oriented outcome, weight-neutral programs teach you to take charge of the factors within your control. These factors include your thoughts and behaviors. Taking charge of these factors will help you improve your well-being, regardless of your weight.
Research have demonstrated the weight-neutral approach to health have significantly decreased body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and depression. They’ve also increased sustainable, enjoyable self-care behaviors such as eating and moving well in the long term.
The Going Beyond The Food Method️ is a weight-neutral and non-diet health framework composed of eight core elements. Our health framework is grounded in holistic principles and functional medicine approach to health. It’s a five-step process that includes mindset, emotional regulation, mindfulness, body neutrality, and intuitive eating.
The method️ is based on four core pillars: Body Wisdom, Body Trust, Body Respect, and Body Neutrality.
Sustainability and health beyond dieting
The single most powerful advantage of a weight-neutral and non-diet approach like the Going Beyond The Food Method️ is sustainability. It helps you develop the ability to sustain health-promoting behaviors throughout your life.
Certainly, when it comes to health, consistency is significantly more powerful than short-term results.
A 2015 study systematically reviewed a weight-neutral and no-diet approach to health. It determined the overall effects on factors including weight, biochemical measures, food, activity, behavior, body image, and mental health.
- Weight stability (in 5 yrs)
- Improved biochemical markers
- Cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, CRP
- Sustained healthy behaviors & Improvement in:
- Dietary quality
- Psychological states
- Disordered eating patterns
- Self-esteem
- Depression
Who is an ideal candidate for a weight-neutral approach to health?
Truly anyone! Individuals who’ll benefit most from this approach are:
- Chronic dieters
- Women who are overly concerned with weight and shape (a.k.a. body image issues)
- Those who are repeatedly trying to lose weight and restricting food for two years or more
- Women who have had enough of dieting and regaining the weight that they lost
- Women who are intuitive eaters
Why it’s hard to change your beliefs about weight and health
Your reptilian brain is the reason why it’s not easy to let go of beliefs. It’s the most primal part of your brain that has the survival instinct. It seeks to protect you from danger. Because the diet culture has programmed your reptilian brain into believing that fat people aren’t healthy, you’ve since associated health with thinness.
That’s why your approach to health must also include mindset and thought reprogramming tools to help you change your core beliefs and negative self-talk. That’s what we do first inside our Conquer & Thrive community… been there done that as they say.
You can view the methodology in more details here.
Get started with the weight-neutral approach to health
To help you get started with the weight-neutral approach to health and make peace with food and your body, I have created a free audio guide for you to know exactly what to do when you stop dieting, emotional eating, binge eating and body image issues. Claim your way to freedom now!
What does it mean to be healthy?
Good health is essential to being able to handle stress and live a long and active life. It doesn’t just refer to the absence of disease, but also to the ability to recover from illness, to adapt to life challenges in general.
Does “obesity” cause one to be unhealthy?
The keyword here is CAUSE. Before we can answer the question, we must first understand the difference between correlation and causation. For example, smoking is correlated with alcoholism, but it doesn’t cause alcoholism. However, smoking causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Is health beyond dieting and weight loss possible?
Yes, and scientific research proves it!
A study found that 47% of people classified as overweight by BMI and 29% of those qualified as obese were healthy based on at least five of those other metrics. Meanwhile, 31% of normal-weight people were unhealthy by two or more of the same measures.
What is a weight-neutral approach to health?
A weight-neutral approach to health is based on the idea that your health status or risk level can’t be determined solely by your weight.
It acknowledges that your weight is determined by a complex set of genetic, metabolic, physiological, cultural, social, and behavioral determinants. Many of these factors are either difficult or impossible to change.
Who is an ideal candidate for a weight-neutral approach to health?
Truly anyone! Individuals who’ll benefit most from this approach are:
>> Chronic dieters
>> Women who are overly concerned with weight and shape (a.k.a. body image issues)
>> Women who are repeatedly trying to lose weight and restricting food for two years or more
>> Women who have had enough of dieting and regaining the weight that they lost
>> Women who are intuitive eaters
Why it’s hard to change your beliefs about weight and health
Your reptilian brain is the reason why it’s not easy to let go of beliefs. It’s the most primal part of your brain that has the survival instinct. It seeks to protect you from danger. Because the diet culture has programmed your reptilian brain into believing that fat people aren’t healthy, you’ve since associated health with thinness.
Overcoming Negative Body Thoughts
When I first set out in search of non-diet interventions that could change the course of my relationship to food and overcoming negative body thoughts, I came across a study about the impact of body satisfaction on healthy behaviors, including food & exercise. That blew my mind.
I will share that with you in this blog post that focuses on body image and how it impacts your relationship to food. I will also tackle the concept called body neutrality and how it is different from body positivity; as well as intuitive eating. I’ll also share with you a free tool that I created to get you started with body neutrality and intuitive eating so you can enjoy your full life now… regardless of your body size. Here’s what you’re going to learn from this article:
Overcoming negative body thoughts
Body neutrality versus body positivity
Body neutrality and intuitive eating
Overcoming negative body thoughts
A 2013 study published by the Journal of Obesity study found no link between body weight and the way women feel about themselves.
Yet, the findings show a link between how women feel about themselves and the healthy activities they engage in. Meaning, the better they felt about their bodies, the more likely they were to take care of themselves by eating well and being active. This allows them to create a positive cycle.
Likewise, dissatisfaction with their bodies discouraged the women from taking part in certain activities, eating properly to fuel their bodies, and could eventually lead to weight gain.
“Body satisfaction or dissatisfaction isn’t correlated with body weight,” the research concluded.
That blew my mind. That meant overcoming negative body thoughts and making peace with my body size could actually improve my health behaviors, eat better and ultimately be healthier now… unconditional of my body size.
That’s how body neutrality was born.
What is Body Neutrality and how it helps in overcoming negative body thoughts
Body Neutrality empowers you to embrace yourself as you are, including the parts you don’t like about yourself.
Its focus is to avoid self-hate while simultaneously relieving you from the pressure of having to love your body.
The goal is to respect and accept your body for what it is – and that’s it.
Body Neutrality recognizes that not everyone is going to love every part of themselves all the time because that’s an unrealistic expectation, to say the least.
The reality is that some days you’re going to look in the mirror like, “Damn it, yeah, thank you, legs for letting me travel. Thank you, arms, for allowing me to type this inspirational post and thank you, belly, for creating life!”
And then, there’ll be those days where you stand in front of the very same mirror, focusing on that cellulite you hate or the wrinkle that suddenly seems so obvious.
Body neutrality versus body positivity
Embracing Body Neutrality over Body Positivity allows you to experience negative feelings about yourself, but without the pressure that comes with having to be positive all the time.
In other words, it’s a middle ground between positivity and negativity (shaming) – that’s neutrality.
Body Neutrality is the safe bridge between body shaming and body positivity. It’s about being grateful for your body and everything it does for you because it does a lot. You are alive right now.
So, Body Neutrality is centric on the process of accepting your body.
Body Neutrality & Intuitive Eating
For many of us, we’ve had years of suffering through body shaming. Along the way, we’ve picked up coping behaviors to neutralize the pain associated with body image struggles.
Being the victim of body shaming, most of it from our own mind, is difficult, to say the least. So, no wonder that many of us have become, along the way, emotional eaters or binge eaters.
Combine the suffering that comes along with body shaming with the notion that food is the gateway to “loving our life and body,” food has become this enemy that we need to control in order to end the suffering.
Healing our relationship to food is necessary in order to make peace with our body. Intuitive eating is the way in which you can achieve both: body neutrality and peace with food.
Moreover, intuitive eating teaches you to respect your body.
Intuitive eating teaches you to respect your innate body messages. This includes hunger and fullness to have a healthy and respectful relationship with your body. This is what we teach the women inside our Conquer & Thrive community so they can live and enjoy their full life right now… unconditionally!
The bottom line
You can’t hate yourself to health or peace. Love always wins. Always.
Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up. It means seeing what is and adopting a non-judgmental perspective. Accepting allows you to improve and grow instead of obsessing about why it’s wrong and stress over the results.
Need help to get started with Body Neutrality and Intuitive Eating?
I have created a free audio guide for you to get started with body neutrality and intuitive eating and finally overcome negative body thoughts so you too can be on your way to freedom!
How to overcome negative body thoughts?
A 2013 study published by the Journal of Obesity study found no link between body weight and the way women feel about themselves. Yet, the findings show a link between how women feel about themselves and the healthy activities they engage in. Meaning, the better they felt about their bodies, the more likely they were to take care of themselves by eating well and being active, allowing them to create a positive cycle.
That meant overcoming negative body thoughts and making peace with my body size could actually improve my health behaviors, eat better and ultimately be healthier now… unconditional of my body size.
What is Body Neutrality?
Body Neutrality empowers you to embrace yourself as you are, including the parts you don’t like about yourself. Its focus is to avoid self-hate while simultaneously relieving you from the pressure of having to love your body. The goal is to respect and accept your body for what it is – and that’s it.
Body neutrality versus body positivity
Embracing Body Neutrality over Body Positivity allows you to experience negative feelings about yourself, but without the pressure that comes with having to be positive all the time. Body Neutrality is the safe bridge between body shaming and body positivity. It’s about being grateful for your body and everything it does for you because it does a lot. You are alive right now.
Body Neutrality & Intuitive Eating
Healing our relationship to food is necessary in order to make peace with our body. Intuitive eating is the way in which you can achieve both: body neutrality and peace with food. Intuitive eating teaches you to respect your innate body messages such as hunger and fullness to have a healthy and respectful relationship with your body.
Where do you start to make peace with food?
Throughout my research, I’ve discovered that there is more to overeating, emotional eating and even binge eating than just food.
Most patients & students with food struggle will have body image struggle, negative mindset, overthinking behaviors. They are overwhelmed with an emotional roller coaster, lack confidence with food choices, low self-esteem. Moreover, they put their life on hold until they “lose the weight once and for all”.
This article talks about how to start to make peace with food and your body. In addition, I share how you can end the diet cycle to empower you to be your own expert. Here’s what you’re going to learn from this blog post:
How I started to make peace with food
Free resource to get started to make peace with food
How I started to make peace with food
Eight years ago, that was me. I consulted with a variety of specialists and experts hoping they would find what was “wrong” with me and that I could finally find the solution. Each appointment or purchase resulted in a few hundred $ and a new diet or protocol.
I would follow the guidelines, and yet I was always back to the starting point within weeks and months. This went on for years…
You see… There’s nothing wrong with me that could be fixed with a diet or protocol. The approach made everything worse. It compounded the side effects, made me gain more weight and have a deeper emotional relationship to food.
There’s nothing wrong with you. In fact, emotional eating, overeating eating and weight gain are part of the diet model. The diet and weight loss industry wants you to believe there’s something wrong with you because that belief keeps you coming back. Likewise, it keeps you feeling broken… keeps you feeling unworthy. That’s what we call the diet culture.
What is Diet Culture?
Diet Culture is defined as the worship of thinness and equating it to health and moral virtue. If you’ve been part of this culture, you might have spent your whole life thinking that you’re broken just because you don’t look like the “thin ideal.”
Diet Culture promotes weight loss as a means of attaining what it perceived to be a higher status—the thin ideal. Certainly, it oppresses people who don’t match up with its supposed pictures of health and attractiveness.
It compels you to spend a massive amount of time, energy, and money trying to shrink your body, even though intuitive eating research clearly shows that almost no one can sustain intentional weight loss for more than a few years.
The good news is, it’s just a cultural movement. Belonging to a cultural movement is completely optional and something that you can say “no” to. Most importantly, you have the power to make the choice to be free from this oppressive culture.
How to break the diet cycle to make peace with food?
Breaking the Diet Cycle is possible and will come as a result of healing our relationship to food with acceptance and compassion. Moreover, it can be achieved by seeking to heal our relationship to food, respecting our natural hunger and fullness cue and accepting our bodies.
Intuitive Eating is a proven and well-researched self-care eating framework that teaches us to have a healthy relationship to food, therefore, empowering you to trust your ability to meet your needs, distinguish between physical and emotional hungers, and ultimately, develop body wisdom.
Intuitive Eating is the most effective approach to recover from years of dieting. In fact, that’s what changed my relationship to food and body and allowed me to start living my full life right away without having to lose weight.
This is what I teach women inside our Conquer & Thrive community so they, too can make peace with food and their body, and start living their full life now. Yes, it’s possible!
Free resource to get started to make peace with food
To help you get started to make peace with food and your body, I have created a free audio guide for you to know exactly what to do when you stop dieting, emotional eating, binge eating and body image issues. Claim your way to freedom now!
How I started to make peace with food
Eight years ago, that was me. I consulted with a variety of specialists and experts hoping they would find what was “wrong” with me and that I could finally find the solution. Each appointment or purchase resulted in a few hundred $ and a new diet or protocol.
The approach made everything worse. It compounded the side effects, made me gain more weight and have a deeper emotional relationship to food.
What is Diet Culture?
Diet Culture is defined as the worship of thinness and equating it to health and moral virtue. If you’ve been part of this culture, you might have spent your whole life thinking that you’re broken just because you don’t look like the “thin ideal.”
How to break the diet cycle to make peace with food?
Breaking the Diet Cycle is possible and will come as a result of healing our relationship to food with acceptance and compassion. It can be achieved by seeking to heal our relationship to food, respecting our natural hunger and fullness cue and accepting our bodies.
Free resource to get started to make peace with food
To help you get started to make peace with food and your body, I have created a free audio guide for you to know exactly what to do when you stop dieting, emotional eating, binge eating and body image issues. Claim your way to freedom now!
This Is Why You Struggle With Food
Whenever I meet new women and tell them about my mission of spreading awareness about how women can end their struggle with food and be at peace with food and their body without being on a diet. That we can be healthy without being thin and we can access optimal health and happiness unconditionally, women always say, “Wow, is that possible?” to which my response is…
“Yes. It’s actually our birth right, sister. You and I weren’t born to be on diet and hate our bodies.”
And then the conversation always turns to…. “Well, it’s different for me, Stephanie” or “I’m so “screwed” up when it comes to food not sure it can ever change” or “I’ve tried before”.
My answer: “First sister, there’s nothing wrong with you. The problem is not you, it’s what we’ve been taught about food and our bodies. The problem is the diet model, not you.”
This article tackles why you struggle with food and teaches you how you can make peace with food and your body. Also, I share how you can end the cycles of yo-yo dieting and empower you to be your own expert. Here’s what you’re going to learn from this blog post:
What’s the antidote to the eating pendulum swing
Innate body wisdom
You see humans were born with this innate wisdom that allows us to know what, when and how we should eat. If you have children, you know that… babies cry when they’re hungry and refuse to eat when they are full. They naturally know how to regulate their eating and accepting of their body. All of us women were once like that too, that is until we went on our first diet.
We were intuitive eaters and neutral with our bodies. Diet and diet culture did a “number” on our relationship to food and our body.
Research is clear that dieting has three main side effects:
- Short term weight loss and long term weight gain
- Major stressor to our mind and body
- Distort our relationship to food and body image
Why do we struggle with food?
I hope you’re ready for this because once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
You see, most women have been hypnotized by the societal narrative that says it’s NORMAL for women and even HEALTHY to be on a diet. (I was too for 25 years more.)
If you read that sentence and right away your brain says “Well, some diets are healthy”, if that’s you that’s a good sign that you are hypnotized, too.
I really, really, really want to get you to understand that diets do not work. But in order for me to do that, I need to show you something:
That was my life for 25 years…. dieting and then overeating. Cravings all the food I restricted to lose weight to regain the weight lost.
Diets don’t work
Studies after studies the results are clear: 95-98% of dieters regain all of their weight within 1-5 years Just like I did. Maybe just like you?
Diets don’t work because of how reptilian brain reacts to food restriction and deprivation. Our brain perceives dieting as a threat to our well-being and engage in a protective reaction. Cravings, emotional eating, overeating aren’t due to a lack of willpower or discipline rather a biological reaction.
Why does our eating swing like this? Simply our body is responding to the period of starvation (dieting) with a period of feasting. And no, we can’t get away from this primal survival behaviors hence why 95%of dieter experience it.
What’s the antidote to the pendulum swing?
Love. Respect and Trust.
Just as a pendulum won’t abruptly stop at center, you won’t either. You will probably swing back and forth between restriction and chaos a few times before your pendulum (mindset, feelings, thoughts, behaviors) gently settles into the middle. Is it uncomfortable? Yes, it can be. But not as uncomfortable as spending the rest of your life swinging wildly.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Honour your hunger even when you’re afraid of what that means. Strive for satisfying meals even when your brain is shouting “don’t eat those carbs!” Learn to listen to your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues. Remember no food is off-limits, so there’s never an emergency to finish eating what’s on your plate.⠀⠀⠀⠀
That’s what I call Going Beyond The Food. Helping women make peace with food and body. Ending the cycles of yo-yo dieting and empowering women to be their own expert. You being the boss of YOU. Learn how we do this by joining our Conquer & Thrive community.
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And know this calm and collected approach to eating is all possible for you, when you’re ready to stop restricting. 💗
Why do we struggle with food?
Most women have been hypnotized by the societal narrative that says it’s NORMAL for women and even HEALTHY to be on a diet. In short, we were socialized to be on a diet.
Why diets don't work
Diets don’t work because of how reptilian brain reacts to food restriction and deprivation. Our brain perceives dieting as a threat to our well-being and engages in a protective reaction. Cravings, emotional eating, overeating aren’t due to a lack of willpower or discipline rather a biological reaction.
The antidote to the pendulum swing
Love. Respect and Trust.
Just as a pendulum won’t abruptly stop at center, you won’t either. You will probably swing back and forth between restriction and chaos a few times before your pendulum (mindset, feelings, thoughts, behaviors) gently settles into the middle. Is it uncomfortable? Yes, it can be. But not as uncomfortable as spending the rest of your life swinging wildly.
Innate body wisdom
Humans were born with this innate wisdom that allows us to know what, when and how we should eat. If you have children, you know that… babies cries when they’re hungry and refuse to eat when they are full. They naturally know how to regulate their eating and accepting of our bodies. All of us women were once like that too that is until we went on your first diet.
Welcome!
I’m Stephanie Dodier
Non-Diet Nutritionist & Coach
I teach and coach women how to break free from the socialized thinking of diet culture and liberate yourself from unrelenting pressure to be thinner so that you can eat in a way that truly supports your well-being and start living the life you’ll look back on with no regrets.
Join me in leading the feminist health coaching revolution!
Ready? Let’s do this!
FREE QUIZ & GUIDE
Let’s see just how much diet culture has a grip on you!
I curated 3 questionnaires to evaluate your body image, eating behaviours and mindset to see if you have been just how much your life has been impacted by diet culture.
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