For a long time I thought my eating struggles were about willpower. I believed that if I could just “be more disciplined” everything would fall into place. But what I eventually realised thanks to learning how to become an intutive eater was that my overeating wasn’t about lack of control at all. It was actually a very normal response to restriction. When your body believes food is scarce or forbidden, it naturally pushes you to eat more whenever you can. Once I understood that, something shifted. Instead of fighting my body, I started learning how to listen to it. That was the beginning of making peace with food. Question: Did you ever feel like your eating struggles were about willpower?

I am absolutely shattered after a full weekend of work and honestly… cooking, life admin, all of it has just gone out the window today and that is okay 😂 I think sometimes it's important to just say — this stuff is hard. Fitting everything in, nourishing yourself when you're tired, keeping on top of life… it's a lot. On nights like this I lean on my back up plans — easy meals, asking my partner to help, keeping it simple 🤗 And honestly? I used to find it really hard to ask for support so the fact that I can do that now feels like a big deal. Sending a big hug to anyone else who's just doing their best right now ❤️ How are you all doing this weekend?

I was 18, I remember it really clearly, having never really thought about my weight up until that point, I went to university and started to feel very inferior compared to other girls around me who I thought were much thinner and prettier than me. I decided to do a strict calorie counting diet by a well known public figure at that time in the late nighties, the weight came off quickly but went back on equally as quickly when I started to crave foods that weren’t on the plan, this resulted in a cycle of overeating the ‘forbidden’ foods and a starting again every Monday mentality, which contributed to a 20 year battle with food and body image, constantly chasing the next diet, and what I thought as my future happiness, which was never the outcome no matter how much weight I lost, which also became harder to achieve with each diet attempt. I became socially isolated, anxious, depressed at times; and with very low self esteem, food ultimately affected many of my everyday plans, it delayed me finding love ‘until I was thinner’, and stopped me experience the richness of social connections because I felt too self conscious to go out at times, so ultimately I was very lonely during the peak of my dieting obsession. In my twenties. What has been your experience with diets in the short and long term? What did you hope to achieve physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, and what was the lived reality of that experience you?

I just wanted to share something with you today. If your relationship with food feels messy right now…If you're feeling frustrated with yourself…If you feel like you should be further along… Please know this: you are not alone. Healing your relationship with food is not a straight line. There are days where things feel peaceful and easy, and days where old patterns show up again. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Every time you pause and notice what’s going on with your body, your emotions, or your eating — you are building awareness. And awareness is where real change begins. You’re learning to trust your body again. And that takes time. I’m really glad you’re here.🤍 Question: What’s one small shift or moment of awareness you’ve noticed recently with food?

Food wins don’t have to be huge. Sometimes a win looks like: • Eating when you were hungry• Stopping when you felt satisfied• Allowing a food without guilt• Noticing a binge urge and pausing• Speaking kindly to yourself after eating These small moments are actually where healing happens. Let’s celebrate them. Question: What’s one small food win you’ve had this week?