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How to Coach Clients Through Weight Gain Without Prescribing Weight Loss Tactics Or Fear

How to Coach Clients Through Weight Gain Without Prescribing Weight Loss Tactics Or Fear

How to Coach Clients Through Weight Gain Without Prescribing Weight Loss Tactics

 

How do I coach a client who gains weight without selling a diet?

If you’ve ever asked yourself that, you’re not alone.

When your client gains weight during coaching, it can feel like the sky is falling—for them and for you.

They’re panicking. You might be panicking. And if you’re not careful, diet culture will sneak into your session and try to “fix” the situation by prescribing weight loss.

Let me be clear: weight gain is not a coaching emergency.

It’s a coaching opportunity.

And this blog will show you exactly how to navigate that moment powerfully, ethically, and without betraying your values.

 

First, Let’s Talk About You, Coach

It’s completely normal to feel shaken when a client wants to quit because of weight gain. You might feel like you failed them. Like you’re not a good enough coach. Like this weight gain is your fault.

It’s not.

Clients gaining weight isn’t a failure of your method—it’s a reflection of what happens when we untangle people from years of restriction, weight obsession, and diet trauma.

Before you coach your client through weight gain, you need to coach yourself. That means regulating your nervous system, noticing your thoughts, and holding your own discomfort with compassion.

You’re the container. Get grounded before you hold space for theirs.

 

Rather listen to the audio version of this blog? We’ve got you…

 

7 Steps to Coach Clients Through Weight Gain

This is the same process I teach inside the Non-Diet Coaching Certification. It’s trauma-informed, grounded in cognitive-behavioral principles, and built for real-world coaching.

 

1. Neutralize Weight Gain

Weight gain is not good or bad. It’s a neutral circumstance—just like your hair growing or your nails getting longer.

Start the conversation by helping your client see weight gain as neutral. Use analogies. Validate their distress without reinforcing fatphobia.

“What are you making this weight gain mean about you?”

 

2. Normalize the Distress (Without Colluding)

Yes, weight gain feels intense. Especially for those socialized as women. But your job is not to make it go away.

Your job is to hold space for the emotion without co-signing the belief that weight gain is inherently bad.

Acknowledge their despair. Then gently explore where it comes from.

“How has your identity shaped your beliefs about weight gain?”

 

3. Deconstruct Catastrophizing Thoughts

Fear tells your client that 15 pounds today means 500 pounds tomorrow. That’s catastrophizing. And it keeps them stuck.

Help them unpack their beliefs and fears one by one. Gently question the “truth” of their assumptions.

“Is it true that all these things will happen if your body changes?”

 

4. Regulate the Nervous System

No coaching breakthrough happens in a state of panic. Teach your client how to ride the wave of their emotion, not suppress it.

Use breathing, somatic grounding, and co-regulation to help them move from reactivity to response.

“Where do you feel that fear in your body? Let’s sit with it together.”

 

5. Offer New Solutions (Beyond Weight Loss)

Once they’re grounded, co-create new options:

  • Body image healing (ex: body neutrality)
  • Health-promoting behaviors without a weight focus
  • Confidence work that isn’t body-dependent

This is the moment to remind them: their goals are still valid. And weight loss was never the goal of this coaching relationship.

Learn more: How to coach clients who still want weight loss

And if you need help navigating these conversations? Download my free guide: What to Say When Clients Want to Lose Weight

 

6. Hold Space for Their Decision

This is where you step back. Don’t push. Don’t fix.

Let them choose how they want to move forward. Your job is to create the safest possible container for their autonomy—not your opinion.

“Which of these options brings you closer to the life you want?”

 

7. Coach Yourself, Too

Your client gaining weight will bring up your own fears: about money, credibility, retention, results. You need tools to regulate your nervous system and coach your own thoughts.

This is why self-coaching is part of our certification. Because how you experience a coaching rupture determines how safely you can guide your client through one.

Listen to the episode: How to coach weight loss desire

 

Weight Gain Isn’t a Threat—It’s a Gateway

Most clients come to coaching because they’re stuck in a cycle. Weight gain is usually the trigger that got them to finally reach out.

When that fear shows up again during the work? That’s your moment.

This is where the transformation happens.

Can you meet them there, without flinching? Without trying to fix it with food rules or smaller-pants promises?

If yes, that’s the mark of a confident coach.

 

Ready to Coach Without Fear?

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.

Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become a Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.

read more
How to Coach Clients Who Still Want Weight Loss (without co-opting diet culture)

How to Coach Clients Who Still Want Weight Loss (without co-opting diet culture)

How to Coach Clients Who Still Want Weight Los

When a client says, “But I want to lose weight,” do you freeze up? Get a little panicky? Feel unsure how to respond without compromising your values?

You’re not alone.

If you’re a non-diet health coach, nutritionist, or therapist, these moments are inevitable. Weight loss will come up. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

What you do in that moment? That’s what defines your impact. And your client’s outcome.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to navigate those conversations without persuasion, shame, or silence. Instead, we’ll coach into the desire to lose weight—with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

 

Rather listen to the audio version of this blog? We’ve got you…

 

What Drives the Desire to Lose Weight?

The desire to lose weight isn’t a character flaw. It’s not even an objective fact. It’s a thought — one shaped by culture, identity, past experiences, and systemic oppression.

Clients don’t wake up one morning and randomly decide they should shrink their bodies. That desire emerges from layers of conditioning: diet culture, fatphobia, patriarchy, and healthism. Add to that personal history (like weight gain experiences or medical shaming), and it’s easy to see how the belief “I need to lose weight” becomes automatic.

The result? Thoughts like:

  • I’ll get sick.
  • I won’t fit in my clothes.
  • My partner deserves better.
  • People will think I’m lazy.

Which then trigger shame, disgust, or rejection, often driving clients right back into dieting, obsessing, or abandoning intuitive eating.

This cycle is powerful—but it can be interrupted. And that’s where coaching comes in.

How to Coach Clients Who Still Want Weight Loss

This visual framework captures how weight loss desire gets created and reinforced. It’s not proof that your client must lose weight. It’s a map showing the cultural, emotional, and behavioral forces at play. As coaches, we don’t fight the thought directly. We explore what’s underneath it.

 

From Panic to Curiosity: How to Respond

Your job is not to talk your client out of wanting to lose weight. It’s to explore why they want it.

Here are questions that move the conversation from fear to clarity:

  • What are you hoping weight loss will do for you?
  • If weight weren’t a factor, what would feeling good look like?
  • What would being in a smaller body make possible?
  • What do you think would change if weight wasn’t an issue anymore?
  • Can we talk about what weight loss represents for you?

Remember: People don’t want the process of losing weight. They want the outcome they imagine is on the other side.

Confidence. Comfort. Acceptance. Health. Safety.

That’s the real coaching work.

 

What Putting Weight Loss “On the Back Burner” Actually Means

You’ve probably heard this advice before: “Put weight loss on the back burner.”

But here’s the nuance:

You’re not ignoring their desire. You’re just removing it from center stage.

Use This Analogy:

Imagine your client’s desire to lose weight is a pot of soup on the front burner. It’s been there for years, taking all the attention. What we do is move that pot to the back burner—still warm, still present—so we can cook something else at the front. Something like energy, joy, or freedom.

Use this coaching prompt:

“What if we gave the desire to lose weight less airtime? Not because it’s wrong—but because there’s more to you than your weight.”

Note: We teach this exact model inside the Non-Diet Coaching Certification, where coaches learn to meet this moment with skill, not silence.

 

The Motivation Trap: Why Weight Loss Goals Backfire

When weight loss is the motivator for behavior change, the client is stuck in an “if-then” trap:

  • If I don’t lose weight, then it wasn’t worth it.

This type of extrinsic motivation is unsustainable. In contrast, intrinsic motivators like stress relief, energy, or joy drive long-term change.

A 2006 study on midlife women found that those who exercised for weight loss walked 2.5 times less than those motivated by energy or stress relief [Segar et al., 2006].

So when we shift the focus, we don’t just preserve body autonomy. We increase the likelihood of meaningful, lasting change.

For more on this, explore:

🎧 Listen here: How to be healthier without losing weight

How to be healthier without losing weight

🎧 Listen here: Weight neutral health pro and cons

Weight neutral health pro and cons

 

Your Client Wants What’s on the Other Side of Weight Loss

Here’s the truth:

Your client doesn’t want the diet. They want what they think the weight loss will give them.

That’s what we coach.

Here are some common “other side of the river” desires:

  • Less physical pain
  • Better mobility
  • More energy
  • Emotional safety
  • Confidence
  • Peace around food
  • Social belonging
  • Control over health

Help your clients see that these outcomes are available without shrinking their bodies.

And if you need a clear, harm-reducing way to frame this in session or consults, I created a free script for you: Download the guide.

Going Beyond The Food Method

This is the foundation of our work: shifting from body control to behavior change. From managing appearance to cultivating resilience, energy, and trust.

 

Final Thoughts: This Is Our Coaching Moment

If we don’t meet the desire to lose weight with nuance and skill, someone else will. And likely with a diet plan.

We don’t coach bodies. We coach behaviors, beliefs, and the stories beneath them.

So let’s do it well.

If you’re ready to lead conversations that empower rather than persuade—to coach at the root instead of react to the symptom—join us inside the Non-Diet Coaching Certification.

That’s where we train professionals to do this work.

 

Need Help in Coaching Clients Who Still Want Weight Loss? 

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.

Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become a Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.

read more
The GLP-1 Dilemma: A Weight-Neutral Coaching Approach

The GLP-1 Dilemma: A Weight-Neutral Coaching Approach

GLP-1 weight-neutral coaching

 

In today’s cultural climate, weight loss dominates nearly every health-related conversation. Whether it’s doctor recommendations, social media ads, or celebrity interviews, the pressure to shrink is ever-present. Now, with the soaring popularity of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, that pressure has intensified.

For non-diet, weight-inclusive professionals, this can feel like an existential moment. Many are asking: How do I support my clients through this without abandoning my values? Can I remain weight-neutral while honoring someone’s interest in GLP-1s?

These questions mark a pivotal coaching evolution. Enter GLP-1 weight-neutral coaching—a framework that centers client autonomy, informed consent, and emotional safety.

The Moment We’re In

GLP-1 medications were originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes. However, when Wegovy received FDA approval for weight management in 2021, the conversation changed. These drugs began making headlines for their weight loss effects, prompting a rush of public interest.

Now in 2025, GLP-1s are everywhere. Many clients—even those who previously rejected diet culture—are reconsidering weight loss through a new, medicalized lens.

This shift is leaving many non-diet coaches feeling confused, silenced, or unsure how to respond. Some view it as a betrayal. Others retreat from the conversation altogether.

But avoidance isn’t neutral. Silence doesn’t serve your clients. And judgment won’t help them heal.

Rather listen to the audio version of this blog? We’ve got you…

 

What Is GLP-1 Weight-Neutral Coaching?

GLP-1 weight-neutral coaching provides an alternative path—one rooted in clarity, nuance, and respect. It rejects the binary of being “for” or “against” these medications. Instead, it offers tools to support clients in making truly autonomous health decisions.

This model is anchored in five key principles:

1. Anti-Oppression Lens

Coaching must recognize the social and systemic forces at play. Fatphobia, classism, and racism influence access to care and drive many people toward weight loss solutions. A weight-neutral coach works to resist these forces.

2. Bodily Autonomy

Every client has the right to make decisions about their body without coercion. Your role is not to approve or disapprove of their choice—it’s to create a safe space for exploration.

3. Intersectionality

Clients exist at the intersection of multiple identities. Race, gender, body size, disability, and financial status all shape their relationship to food and health. A GLP-1 conversation without acknowledging those realities is incomplete.

4. Collaboration

GLP-1 weight-neutral coaching is a shared process. Coaches don’t tell clients what to do. Instead, they co-create space for reflection, insight, and forward movement.

5. Cognitive-Behavioral Foundation

Instead of focusing solely on behavior (e.g., starting or stopping a drug), we examine the beliefs and emotions that drive it. What does the client hope to gain? What are they afraid will happen if they don’t lose weight?

The Coaching Opportunity Within the GLP-1 Conversation

Many coaches feel pressure to take a stance on GLP-1s. But that binary framing—approve or disapprove—misses the point. The real coaching opportunity lies in helping clients unpack the why.

What fear is driving the desire for weight loss? What past experiences are shaping their health choices today? What vision of wellness do they truly want to create?

Coaching questions that guide this inquiry may include:

  • “What are you hoping GLP-1 will solve for you?”

  • “If weight weren’t a factor, what would feeling good in your body look like?”

  • “Can we explore the possibility that you already know what you need?”

By helping clients move from fear into clarity, you offer them far more than a yes-or-no answer. You help them reclaim agency.

What the Research (Actually) Says

Most of the mainstream information about GLP-1s comes from pharmaceutical-funded studies. That means the data is often framed in ways that favor drug use.

Independent review shows:

  • Weight loss typically plateaus after one year of use.

  • Sustained weight loss requires continued medication use. Stopping often results in rebound weight gain.

  • 74% of users report side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.

  • Serious side effects—such as intestinal blockage or suicidal ideation—though rare, have been reported.

  • There is no unbiased long-term safety data for GLP-1s in general populations.

  • Cardiometabolic improvements appear to be linked to calorie restriction, not the drug alone.

Clients deserve access to this context. Tools like the patient-facing informed consent document created by Medical Students for Size Inclusivity can support this education process.

Coaching in Action: From Fear to Autonomy

Take the example of “Julie,” a 51-year-old woman recently diagnosed with prediabetes. Her doctor told her she had six months to “get it together,” or he’d prescribe GLP-1s. Terrified, she turned to coaching—not because she wanted a prescription, but because she didn’t want to become like her mother, who lives with chronic illness and limited mobility.

Julie’s fear wasn’t about vanity. It was about loss—of freedom, of identity, of life quality.

Through coaching, we unpacked her fear, discussed GLP-1 research, and explored weight-neutral health strategies. What emerged was a deeper understanding of her triggers, diet history, and emotional pain. Eventually, Julie chose a path of behavior change grounded in self-respect, not desperation.

This kind of transformation is only possible when coaching centers the person, not the medication.

The Business Side: Are You Reaching the Right Audience?

If your feed feels full of clients obsessed with GLP-1s, you may be speaking to people in the pre-contemplation or contemplation stages of behavior change. These individuals are still rooted in diet culture and may not be ready to explore weight-neutral frameworks.

Effective marketing for weight-neutral professionals speaks to people in the preparation or action stages—those who are curious, skeptical of the mainstream, and ready for something different.

This doesn’t mean you need to change your message. It means your messaging strategy might need refining.

GLP-1 as a Gateway, Not a Threat

GLP-1s are not the enemy. They are a gateway to deeper questions—questions about body trust, internalized beliefs, autonomy, and healing.

Your clients don’t need you to save them from GLP-1s. They need you to hold space for complexity, fear, and agency. They need you to help them find their voice again in a system that tells them they don’t know what’s best for their body.

That’s what GLP-1 weight-neutral coaching makes possible.

Final Thoughts

We are in a pivotal moment—one where weight loss is being rebranded as medicine, and autonomy is increasingly hard to hold. As coaches, we are uniquely positioned to resist coercion and champion client sovereignty.

GLP-1 weight-neutral coaching is not just a skill set. It’s a liberatory stance. It’s how we show up for our clients, for ourselves, and for the future of inclusive care.

If you’re ready to coach with nuance, courage, and clarity, this approach is for you.

Need Help with Weight-Neutral Coaching? 

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.

Non-Diet Coaching Certification for professionals ready to integrate the Going Beyond The Food Method™️ in their practice and for women wanting to become a Certified Coach and build a business coaching other women beyond the food.

read more
How to Have Weight Conversation in Health Coaching

How to Have Weight Conversation in Health Coaching

weight conversation in health coaching

 

As health coaches committed to a non-diet approach, one of the most challenging conversations we face is when a client says: “But I need to lose weight.” Whether it’s during a consultation or mid-way through a coaching relationship, this statement can trigger fear, avoidance, or a rush to provide research.

Let’s reframe this moment. Instead of dreading the weight conversation in health coaching, let’s see it as an opportunity for deep, transformational work.

Why Talking About Weight Matters in Non-Diet Coaching

Many professionals freeze, intellectualize, or shut down when a client mentions weight. This reaction is normal—but not useful. We cannot guide our clients toward body acceptance and sustainable health if we can’t hold space for their real concerns.

Weight, for most clients, isn’t the problem. It’s the symbol of deeper emotional and social pain—fear of rejection, desire for belonging, or hope for improved health. Our role as coaches is not to convince them otherwise with science but to create space for their truth and gently guide them toward self-discovery.

Rather listen to the audio version of this blog? We’ve got you…

 

Step 1: Recognize Weight Talk as a Portal, Not a Problem

When clients express concerns about weight—be it weight loss or gain—it’s rarely about the number on the scale. Rather, it’s a surface symptom of deeper discomfort: a desire to feel safe, accepted, healthy, or less judged. The key is recognizing that weight talk is a symbol of underlying emotional, social, or physical distress. Avoiding it only reinforces shame. Instead, lean in.

Coaching isn’t about correcting beliefs with facts. It’s about exploring and unraveling them with empathy.

Step 2: Examine Your Own Relationship With Weight

Before you can effectively coach others through their body image struggles, you must unpack your own. Do weight-related comments from clients trigger discomfort, defensiveness, or judgment in you? That reaction is a cue—not a flaw. It points to areas within yourself that are still healing.

Until you can hold space for your client’s desires without attaching moral value, your nervous system will likely transmit subtle cues of discomfort. And clients are incredibly perceptive.

Step 3: Normalize, Then Get Curious

When a client says, “I need to lose weight,” your role is not to correct or convince, but to inquire. Start by normalizing their experience:

“It makes total sense that you feel this way, given what you’ve been taught about bodies and health.”

Then, dig deeper. Powerful coaching questions help clients uncover the true motives and fears driving their desire for weight change:

  • What does losing weight mean to you?

  • What do you believe will change when your body is smaller?

  • What makes this desire feel urgent right now?

  • What are you making this weight gain/loss mean about who you are?

These questions do more than gather information—they shift the client from reacting to reflecting.

Step 4: Identify the Real “Why”

As clients unpack their thoughts, patterns emerge. Most often, the weight concern isn’t about weight at all. It’s about:

  • Wanting to feel confident in public

  • Fear of rejection or not being loved

  • A need to avoid illness or reverse chronic symptoms

  • Pressure from medical providers or family

  • Wanting to reclaim energy and vitality

Weight becomes a scapegoat for these fears, because diet culture has conditioned us to believe it is the root of all suffering—and that changing our body is the solution.

Step 5: Lead with Compassion, Not Correction

Once the deeper drivers are revealed, mirror them back. Not as a rebuttal, but as recognition:

“If I’m hearing you correctly, it sounds like the desire to lose weight is really about wanting to feel in control of your health and avoid judgment from others.”

This is your opening to gently introduce new perspectives—around health at every size, intuitive eating, and body neutrality—without invalidating the client’s lived experience. This isn’t about preaching. It’s about offering an alternative lens.

Step 6: Explore the Pattern, Not Just the Problem

Rather than trying to change the client’s mind, guide them through examining past attempts:

  • When was the last time you successfully lost weight?

  • How did you do it?

  • Did it last?

  • Did you enjoy the process?

This helps clients see their own patterns and gently question whether weight loss is truly the solution—or just a familiar cycle with predictable disappointment.

From here, you can offer a radical alternative:

“What if you could feel more confident, energized, and in control—without having to change your body?”

This reclaims the conversation and offers clients a sense of possibility they may not have considered.

Embracing the Discomfort to Facilitate Change

The weight conversation in health coaching is not a detour—it’s the work. Holding space for clients’ weight concerns with empathy, curiosity, and skill allows for true transformation. When clients feel seen and heard—not shamed or dismissed—they’re far more open to shifting perspective. If you’d like to see how I facilitate this conversation, I created this guide: What To Say When Clients Want to Lose Weight.

This framework doesn’t eliminate discomfort. But it equips coaches to move through it with grace, purpose, and confidence. In doing so, we not only support our clients’ healing—we deepen our own.

Need Help with Weight Conversation in Health Coaching? 

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.

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.

read more
Health Coach—Should You Stop Selling Weight Loss?

Health Coach—Should You Stop Selling Weight Loss?

Health Coaching Selling Weight Loss

 

As a health coach, the question of whether to stop selling weight loss is one that touches not just your business but also your values and ethics. For many, weight loss programs seem like a natural fit because “it’s what sells” or “it’s what clients want.” But is selling weight loss really aligned with what you believe in?

This guide is for health coaches considering the transition to non-diet health coaching. We’ll dive into the ethical and emotional challenges of stepping away from weight loss-focused programs, share real conversations from the field, and provide a roadmap for creating a business that’s values-aligned and impactful.

 

Health Coaching Selling Weight Loss: Why It Feels Safe

Let’s start by acknowledging the reality: in a fatphobic society, weight loss is seen as a desirable outcome. From social media influencers to healthcare professionals, the pervasive message is that shrinking your body equals success, health, and happiness.

As coaches, we’re taught to “sell people what they want and give them what they need.” For many of us, that’s meant marketing weight loss programs to draw clients in, even if we later shift the focus to sustainable, non-diet approaches.

But here’s the thing: this model perpetuates harm.

Every time you market weight loss, you reinforce the narrative that something is wrong with your clients’ bodies. You’re not just selling a program—you’re upholding the oppressive systems of diet culture and fatphobia.

 

A Conversation That Changed Everything

During a recent body image coaching mentorship, I had a powerful conversation with a client about this very topic:

Client: “I wish I could join the Non-Diet Certification, but you don’t accept people who sell weight loss.”
Me: “Interesting. Why do you sell weight loss?”
Client: “Well, you know, that’s what sells. That’s what women want.”
Me: “Do you believe in the process of dieting and the sustainability of intentional weight loss long term?”
Client: “No, I don’t, and that’s why I give them the Non-Diet approach when they start working with me.”
Me: “I see. May I ask then why you are here learning from me about body image coaching?”
Client: “Well, it’s because my clients really struggle with accepting their bodies. I need to get better at helping them.”
Me: “So let me make sure I understand: you don’t believe in dieting or intentional weight loss. You don’t coach your clients to use dieting tactics. You’re here learning from a fat nutritionist and interested in advancing your skills. The only thing between you and your desires is releasing weight loss as a promise. Why do you think you’re resisting?”
Client: Silence. “I’m afraid of what will happen.”

 

Health Coaching Selling Weight Loss: The Fear of Letting Go

That fear is real—and valid. We live in a culture that rewards weight loss marketing with clicks, sign-ups, and praise. Moving away from selling weight loss can feel like stepping off a cliff without a safety net.

For many, the fear stems from internalized fatphobia and the belief that clients won’t invest in programs that don’t promise weight loss. This fear often manifests as:

  • Worry about losing clients.
  • A dip in revenue during the transition.
  • Uncertainty about how to market non-diet services.

 

A Personal Journey: Trusting Your Values

I’ve been there. Eight years ago, I was a nutritionist selling weight loss programs despite not believing in their long-term effectiveness. I felt stuck, scared, and unsure of how to move forward without compromising my integrity.

But I made the leap. I stopped selling weight loss, embraced non-diet health coaching, and built a business rooted in my values. Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

  • Trusting your intuition and aligning with your values is the foundation for sustainable success.
  • Your ideal clients—the ones ready to do meaningful work—will find you.
  • Stepping away from weight loss programs allows you to create deeper, more fulfilling client relationships.

 

What Happens When You Stop Selling Weight Loss

When coaches transition to non-diet health coaching, they often report significant positive shifts in their business and personal fulfillment:

  • “I’m calling in my ideal clients who are ready to do the work.”
  • “I stopped selling weight loss, and my program packages are selling better.”
  • “I’m working with clients who are fun to coach and aligned with my values.”
  • “I feel confident and clear in my business decisions.”

 

Why Non-Diet Coaching Works

Non-diet health coaching isn’t about ignoring health or behaviors—it’s about focusing on sustainable changes that don’t hinge on weight loss. Clients learn to:

  • Build healthier relationships with food.
  • Explore movement that feels joyful, not punishing.
  • Develop self-compassion and body acceptance.

By shifting the focus away from weight loss, you empower clients to make changes rooted in self-care, not shame.

 

Health Coaching Selling Weight Loss: Practical Steps to Transition to Non-Diet Coaching

If you’re ready to stop selling weight loss, here’s how to begin:

  1. Clarify Your Values: What do you stand for as a coach? Write down your values and let them guide your decisions.
  2. Educate Yourself: Learn the principles of non-diet coaching and health at every size (HAES).
  3. Audit Your Marketing: Remove language that promises weight loss and replace it with messaging about sustainable health and well-being.
  4. Address Your Fears: Reflect on what’s holding you back and seek support from mentors or peers.
  5. Lean into Community: Surround yourself with other non-diet professionals who can offer guidance and encouragement.

 

Health Coaching Selling Weight Loss: Is It Time to Stop Selling Weight Loss?

Ultimately, the decision to stop selling weight loss is deeply personal. It requires courage, reflection, and a willingness to disrupt the status quo. But the rewards—both for your clients and your business—are profound.

By letting go of weight loss as a promise, you free yourself to build a coaching practice that aligns with your values and supports lasting change.

Are you ready to make the leap?

 

Need Help Transitioning to Non-Diet Health Coaching? 

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.

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.

read more
We Need Thin Weight Neutral Health Coaches and Providers

We Need Thin Weight Neutral Health Coaches and Providers

Weight Neutral Health Coaches

 

The weight-neutral health coaching space is a movement that’s transforming how we approach health and well-being. At its core, this philosophy embraces health at every size, rejecting the traditional focus on weight loss as a measure of success.

While the space has grown significantly, an important conversation remains: the role of thin weight-neutral health coaches and providers. This essay explores why we need people of all body sizes in this space, especially thin providers, and how they can use their position to create meaningful change.

 

What Does It Mean to Be a Weight-Neutral Health Coach?

Weight-neutral health coaches prioritize behaviors over outcomes. Instead of promoting weight loss, they focus on sustainable habits like intuitive eating, joyful movement, and stress management. This approach helps clients improve their health and relationship with their bodies without fixating on the scale.

For weight-neutral coaching to truly thrive, it requires diversity among its providers. That means welcoming coaches of all body sizes—thin, fat, and everything in between.

 

Why Thin Coaches Are Vital to the Weight-Neutral Space

There’s a misconception circulating that thin coaches don’t belong in weight-neutral spaces because they benefit from thin privilege. However, this perspective oversimplifies the impact thin coaches can have.

1. Representation Matters: Clients entering the weight-neutral space for the first time may feel more comfortable with a thin coach, especially if they have internalized fatphobia. For some, seeing someone they perceive as “acceptable” can create a bridge to understanding.

2. Leveraging Privilege for Good: Thin coaches have a unique ability to acknowledge and challenge the privileges they benefit from, creating safer spaces for clients in larger bodies.

3. Expanding the Movement: The inclusion of thin coaches helps normalize the idea that weight-neutral approaches are for everyone, not just people in larger bodies.

 

Rather watch the video version of this blog post? We’ve got you…

I recorded a podcast episode a few years back where we discuss thin privilege in health coaching with Alissa Rumsey and Julie Duffy Dillon.

 

Understanding Thin Privilege in Weight-Neutral Coaching

Thin privilege is the societal advantage people in smaller bodies have simply because they fit the cultural ideal. It shows up in ways like:

  • Being accommodated in public spaces.
  • Having access to clothing that fits.
  • Not facing discrimination from healthcare providers.

In weight-neutral health coaching, thin privilege can impact the client relationship. To foster trust, it’s essential for thin coaches to acknowledge and address this dynamic openly. Doing so creates an environment where clients in larger bodies feel seen and respected.

 

My Personal Journey with Thin Coaches

Nine years ago, as I began recovering from diet culture, I was hesitant to work with a fat coach. My internalized fatphobia was so strong that I couldn’t face my own body reflected back to me during coaching sessions.

Instead, I found my first weight-neutral health coach in a thin-bodied woman. She had never struggled with body image the way I had, but she held a safe space for me when I couldn’t do that for myself. She taught me to process emotions, practice self-compassion, and confront my internalized fatphobia.

That coach was the catalyst I needed to eventually work with someone in a larger body. Without her, I wouldn’t have been ready to take the next step in my journey.

 

How Thin Weight-Neutral Coaches Can Support Clients of All Sizes

If you’re a thin coach or provider entering the weight-neutral space, here are actionable steps to ensure you’re creating inclusive, empowering spaces for your clients:

1. Acknowledge Your Privilege: Be transparent about the advantages you’ve experienced in your body. Naming this privilege helps build trust.

2. Hold Safe Space: Learn how to create an environment where clients feel supported and validated, regardless of their size.

3. Educate Yourself: Understand the unique challenges faced by people in larger bodies, including systemic fatphobia and weight stigma.

4. Use Your Voice: Advocate for body diversity and weight-neutral approaches in professional spaces and on public platforms.

5. Practice Self-Compassion: If you feel guilt about your privilege, channel it into positive action instead of self-criticism.

 

Training Weight Neutral Coaches: The Skills That Matter

To be an effective weight-neutral health coach, whether thin or fat, you need more than good intentions—you need skills. Some essential coaching skills include:

  • Understanding Belief Systems: Helping clients uncover and change harmful thoughts about their bodies.
  • Nervous System Regulation: Teaching clients how to manage stress and emotions in a way that supports long-term health.
  • Creating Safe Spaces: Building environments where all clients feel respected and empowered.
  • Intersectional Coaching: Recognizing how factors like race, gender, and socioeconomic status intersect with body size and health.

The journey to becoming a skilled weight-neutral coach begins with doing the work on yourself first. By examining your own biases, beliefs, and behaviors, you can show up authentically for your clients.

 

Why Diversity Strengthens the Weight-Neutral Movement

Diversity in coaching bodies isn’t just a bonus—it’s a necessity. Having coaches of different sizes, experiences, and backgrounds enriches the movement and ensures it meets the needs of all clients.

Thin weight-neutral coaches bring the ability to bridge gaps for clients who might not be ready to confront internalized fatphobia. Fat coaches offer lived experience and insights that thin coaches simply can’t replicate. Together, they create a more inclusive, powerful movement.

 

Weight Neutral Health Coaches: A Call to Action

If you’re a thin coach considering entering the weight-neutral space, know this: your presence matters. You have the potential to make a profound impact on your clients’ lives by challenging diet culture and promoting true health.

Likewise, if you’re a client seeking a weight-neutral coach, remember that the right coach for you might not look the way you expect. What matters most is their ability to create a safe, supportive space for your journey.

The weight-neutral health coaching movement needs all of us—thin, fat, and everything in between. Together, we can challenge societal norms, reject diet culture, and create a world where health is accessible to everyone, regardless of body size.

 

How We Can Help You Become a Weight-Neutral Coach

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.

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.

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Thinking About Going Back on a Diet to Lose Weight? Read This!

Thinking About Going Back on a Diet to Lose Weight? Read This!

Thinking about going back on a diet

 

A Guide for Women Triggered by Diet Culture

This guide is for every woman who’s felt triggered by diet culture recently and are thinking about going back on a diet:

  • The influencer flaunting their “healthy lifestyle transformation.”
  • The gym windows showcasing “before and after” photos.
  • Aunt Janice bragging about her miracle weight loss program.

If you’ve caught yourself thinking about going back on a diet, know this: your thoughts are valid and expected. You’re not broken or weak. You’re simply living in a world that constantly reinforces the idea that your body needs to change.

Let’s unpack these triggers together, so you can move past the noise of diet culture and reclaim your power.

 

Thinking about Going Back on a Diet: How To Coach Yourself When Triggered by Diet Culture

When you think about dieting, it’s often your brain’s way of seeking safety in a fatphobic society. The messaging around us equates thinness with happiness, success, and health. It’s no wonder you feel compelled to change your body—it’s what you’ve been taught for years.

But here’s the truth: a thought is not a fact.

That fleeting desire to lose weight? It’s not an absolute truth about your worth or what you need to feel fulfilled. It just reflects the conditioning you’ve absorbed from diet culture.

Step 1: Normalize Your Thoughts

The first step in navigating these feelings is normalization. Remind yourself that it’s normal to think about dieting in a world obsessed with thinness.

Try saying this to yourself:

“It makes total sense that I feel this way. I live in a fatphobic, diet-culture-obsessed society.”

Place your hand on your heart, breathe deeply, and repeat it with compassion. This simple act can help shift your mindset from self-blame to understanding.

Step 2: Challenge Your Beliefs

After normalizing your thoughts, ask yourself:

  • What do I want to believe about my body, health, and happiness?
  • Do I want to keep believing that weight loss is the key to my happiness or health?

Diet culture thrives on three major lies:

  1. Smaller bodies are better and more valuable.
  2. Health is only accessible at a smaller weight.
  3. Your worth depends on how hard you work to shrink your body.

Now, let’s rewrite the narrative. Consider these alternative beliefs:

  • My body is a tool to experience life, not a sign of my worth as a woman.
  • Health-promoting behaviors are accessible at any weight.
  • My happiness comes from the way I think about myself, not my pant size.

Step 3: Choose Empowering Thoughts

Once you’ve identified the beliefs you want to hold, it’s time to train your brain to think them more often. This is where true transformation begins, but it requires practice and patience.

Here’s how:

  1. Write down your new beliefs.
  2. Place them somewhere visible—on your mirror, fridge, or phone wallpaper.
  3. Repeat them daily, even if they don’t feel true right away.

Over time, these new thoughts will become second nature, replacing the diet culture beliefs that once dominated your mind.

Why Going Back on a Diet Feels So Tempting

Dieting provides a sense of control, especially when life feels overwhelming. It offers a clear path with rules and promises of a better future. But here’s what diet culture doesn’t tell you:

  • Diets fail 91-95% of the time.
  • They create a cycle of weight loss and regain, leaving you feeling like the problem when the real issue is the unsustainable methods.
  • Dieting harms your relationship with food, your body, and your mental health.

You’re not the problem. Diet culture is.

Step 4: Reflect on What You’re Truly Seeking

When you think about dieting, it’s rarely just about the weight. Ask yourself:

  • What am I hoping to feel by losing weight?
  • Do I want confidence, happiness, ease, or acceptance?

The good news? You don’t need to shrink your body to feel those things. Confidence and happiness are already within reach—you just need to shift the focus from external validation to internal growth.

Step 5: Break Free with Self-Compassion

Breaking free from diet culture is not a one-time decision. It’s an ongoing process of self-coaching and self-compassion. Here’s how to stay grounded when triggers arise:

  1. Acknowledge Your Triggers: Recognize when a comment, ad, or thought activates your desire to diet.
  2. Pause and Breathe: Create space between the trigger and your response.
  3. Respond with Kindness: Remind yourself that it’s normal to feel this way, but you have the power to choose a different path.

 

Thinking about Going Back on a Diet: What to Do Instead 

Instead of focusing on weight loss, channel your energy into behaviors that genuinely improve your well-being.

1. Focus on Nourishment: Eat foods that satisfy and energize you, without labeling them as “good” or “bad.”

2. Move for Joy: Find activities that make you feel alive and connected to your body, rather than punishing workouts.

3. Prioritize Rest and Stress Management: Sleep and stress reduction are critical for physical and emotional health.

4. Celebrate Your Body: Practice gratitude for what your body allows you to do, rather than how it looks.

 

Remember: You Are Enough

When you feel the urge to go back on a diet, remind yourself:

  • You don’t need to fix yourself.
  • Your body is not a problem.
  • Diet culture doesn’t get to define your worth.

Choosing to reject dieting is a radical act of self-love in a world that profits from your self-doubt. By reclaiming your thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, you can liberate yourself from the endless cycle of dieting and finally live fully.

 

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.

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.

read more
Navigating Diet Talks and Comments about Weight & Body

Navigating Diet Talks and Comments about Weight & Body

Comments about Weight and Body

A Guide for Women

In a world preoccupied with appearance and weight, navigating diet culture and unsolicited body commentary can be challenging. Many women face these conversations in social, family, and professional settings, making it essential to develop strategies to maintain self-confidence and emotional well-being. This guide offers insights into understanding diet culture, managing emotional triggers, and setting boundaries to foster empowerment.

Understanding the Context of Diet Talks and Body Comments

The Pervasiveness of Diet Culture

Diet culture is a societal framework that equates thinness with health, morality, and success. This narrative often influences conversations about weight, food, and bodies, leaving many unaware of its insidious effects. Women, particularly, are often targeted, expected to conform to unrealistic body standards shaped by patriarchal norms.

Recognizing the systemic nature of diet culture can help shift perspectives. The comments you hear or the comparisons you make are products of a deeply ingrained belief system, not personal truths.

Rather listen to the audio version of this blog? We’ve got you…

 

Preparing for Diet and Body Discussions

Anticipate the Conversations

Diet-related discussions tend to surface during holidays, family gatherings, and even casual meet-ups. Rather than being caught off guard, anticipate these topics and prepare mentally. Understand that people may not have the same awareness of diet culture as you do, and many speak from a place of conformity rather than intent to harm.

Mindset Shift: View these interactions as predictable events rather than personal attacks. This reframing can lessen their emotional impact.

Managing Emotional Reactions to Body Comments

Recognizing the Source of Your Emotions

Emotional responses to body-related comments often stem from internalized beliefs rather than the words themselves. For instance, a remark about weight gain might trigger self-doubt because it aligns with existing insecurities. However, these emotions are self-generated by how we interpret others’ words.

Actionable Step: Pause when faced with triggering comments. Ask yourself, “What belief am I holding onto that makes this comment hurtful?” This reflection redirects focus to your own empowerment.

 

Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others

For Yourself

Acknowledge that reacting emotionally to body commentary is a conditioned response shaped by years of exposure to diet culture. Practice self-compassion by reminding yourself that these feelings are normal but can be reprogrammed over time.

intentional Thought: “I am more than my body. My worth is not defined by societal standards.”

For Others

Understand that those engaging in diet talk or commenting on bodies often operate from their own insecurities and limited understanding. Extend compassion, knowing they might not yet realize the harm of their words.

 

Establishing and Maintaining Boundaries

Internal Boundaries

Internal boundaries involve controlling your reactions and emotions. When encountering diet talk, remind yourself that these opinions are not reflections of your value. Mentally disengage from conversations that don’t align with your beliefs.

External Boundaries

External boundaries require clear communication. Examples include:

  • “I prefer not to discuss my body or weight.”
  • “Let’s talk about something other than dieting or weight loss.”
  • “I am focusing on a healthy relationship with food, and diet culture doesn’t align with that.”

If a conversation continues to infringe upon your comfort, physically remove yourself from the situation when possible.

 

Reprogramming Internal Beliefs for Long-Term Resilience

The Role of Self-Coaching

Self-coaching is a powerful tool to reshape the beliefs ingrained by diet culture. Start by identifying thoughts that no longer serve you. For example:

  • Replace “I need to lose weight to be healthy” with “Health is about habits, not size.”
  • Replace “She looks better than me” with “We all have unique bodies that serve us differently.”

Practicing these shifts regularly can rewire thought patterns, reducing the impact of external comments.

 

Practical Steps for Everyday Situations

  1. Create Intentional Thoughts: Before attending gatherings, prepare affirming thoughts. For instance:
    • “Comments about my body reflect their beliefs, not my worth.”
    • “My body is not a topic of public discussion.”
  2. Develop a Go-To Response: Having a polite yet firm reply ready can defuse awkward moments. For example:
    • “Thank you for your concern, but I’m focusing on a holistic approach to my health.”
  3. Engage in Supportive Communities: Surround yourself with people who respect and celebrate bodies of all shapes and sizes. Online groups or in-person communities can offer encouragement and validation.

 

The Power of Compassionate Boundaries

Setting boundaries isn’t about controlling others; it’s about protecting your energy and emotional well-being. While some may find this assertiveness surprising, over time, it fosters healthier relationships where mutual respect is prioritized.

Remember: Setting boundaries is a form of self-respect and empowerment.

 

Final Thoughts: Taking Responsibility for Your Journey

Ultimately, the power to navigate diet talks and body comments lies within. You cannot change others, but you can control how you respond. By shifting your beliefs, preparing for interactions, and setting compassionate boundaries, you reclaim your narrative and define your worth independently of societal standards.

As you embark on this journey, be patient and kind to yourself. Transforming your mindset takes time, but the freedom it brings is invaluable. You are more than your body. Embrace the full, authentic version of yourself.

 

Ready to Explore this Further?

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.

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.

read more
Healthism: The Desire to Be Healthy Gone Wrong

Healthism: The Desire to Be Healthy Gone Wrong

Healthism

Healthism: A Guide for Women

Health is undeniably important for overall well-being, but when the pursuit of health takes on an obsessive, moral, or judgmental tone, it can transform into something more harmful than helpful—this is what we call healthism. Especially for women, the pressure to embody an ideal of perfect health often becomes entangled with societal expectations, personal worth, and even consumer culture. This guide aims to unpack healthism, its impact, and how to recognize when your desire to be healthy has crossed a line.

What is Healthism?

Healthism is a belief system that places disproportionate value on individual health and views it as the ultimate measure of personal worth. In essence, it equates being healthy with being virtuous. Much like diet culture, which idealizes thinness, healthism idealizes optimal health and often disregards the societal, environmental, and genetic factors that influence it.

Key tenets of healthism include:

  • Health is entirely within individual control.
  • Health is a moral obligation.
  • Those who are healthy are perceived as superior to those who are not.

While prioritizing health seems positive on the surface, the ideology of healthism ignores the nuances of health, such as its natural fluctuations and the myriad external influences that are beyond personal control. For women, this is compounded by societal pressures to “do it all”—to be the ideal partner, parent, and professional while also being flawlessly healthy.

 

How Healthism Manifests in Women’s Lives

The societal push for women to prioritize health often begins with subtle messaging, such as:

  • Ads promoting “clean eating” or “wellness routines.”
  • Social media influencers showcasing unattainable standards of health.
  • Advice framing health behaviors as moral choices (e.g., “good” vs. “bad” foods).

Over time, these messages can lead to unhealthy behaviors disguised as wellness, including:

  • Over-reliance on supplements or detoxes: Women may feel compelled to spend exorbitantly on wellness products that promise perfection.
  • Perfectionism in diet and exercise: Strict regimens with no room for flexibility can result in burnout or disordered eating patterns.
  • Judging self-worth by health status: Women may feel inadequate or guilty for experiencing normal health fluctuations like menopause or illness.

For example, a woman going through menopause might believe her symptoms signify a failure to prepare her body adequately. This not only stigmatizes natural health transitions but also fosters feelings of guilt and inadequacy.

 

Rather listen the audio version of this blog? We’ve got you…

 

We also have a version of this podcast for health professional

 

The Link Between Healthism and Self-Worth

One of the most damaging aspects of healthism is how it ties health to self-worth. Many women internalize the belief that they must be healthy to be valuable. This can manifest as:

1. Internalized Shame: Feeling “less than” because of perceived health shortcomings.

2. Constant Anxiety: Obsessing over health choices and fearing judgment from others.

3. Never-Ending Pursuit: Chasing an ideal of health that is both unrealistic and ever-changing.

This fixation often leads to a cycle of striving and failure. When health is positioned as a moral responsibility, any deviation can feel like a personal shortcoming, triggering a fight-or-flight response to “regain” worth.

 

Recognizing Problematic Patterns in Your Health Journey

How can you tell if your pursuit of health has become problematic? Reflect on the following questions:

1. Do you feel guilty when you deviate from your health routine?

2. Are you spending excessive time or money chasing health ideals?

3. Do you tie your self-worth to your ability to follow strict health rules?

4. Are you ignoring external factors (like genetics, stress, or life circumstances) in your assessment of your health?

5. Do you delay happiness or self-acceptance until you achieve “perfect health”?

If you find yourself answering “yes” to many of these questions, it may be time to reassess your relationship with health.

 

Shifting Perspectives: A Balanced Approach to Health

Recognizing and addressing healthism requires a shift in mindset. Here are some steps to cultivate a healthier relationship with health:

1. Acknowledge Health as a Spectrum
Health is not binary—it is not something you either “have” or “lack.” It is a dynamic and multifaceted aspect of life that fluctuates due to factors both within and beyond your control.

2. Separate Health from Self-Worth
Your worth as a person is not determined by your health status. Practice self-compassion and recognize that being human involves imperfections, including health challenges.

3. Reclaim Autonomy in Health Choices
Shift from “I have to” to “I choose to.” Decide which health practices genuinely enhance your life rather than adhering to rigid rules imposed by societal pressures.

4. Challenge the Narrative of Personal Responsibility
Understand that you control only a small portion of the factors influencing your health. Research shows that external determinants like socioeconomic status, environment, and genetics play a far more significant role than individual choices.

5. Focus on Enjoyment, Not Obligation
Instead of forcing yourself into a strict health regime, explore activities and foods you genuinely enjoy. This reframes health as a source of pleasure rather than pressure.

 

Moving Forward: The Bright Side of Wanting to Be Healthy

When approached from a place of self-love rather than fear or obligation, the pursuit of health can be empowering. By redefining health as a personal, flexible, and nonjudgmental practice, women can liberate themselves from the oppressive grip of healthism.

Imagine exercising not because you feel you must, but because your body craves movement. Or choosing foods based on satisfaction and nourishment rather than societal labels of “good” or “bad.” This shift fosters a sense of autonomy and well-being without the weight of perfectionism.

 

Final Thoughts: Liberating Yourself from Healthism

Healthism may present itself as a pursuit of wellness, but its darker side often brings stress, guilt, and dissatisfaction. For women, disentangling self-worth from health is not just a personal journey but also an act of defiance against societal norms that impose unattainable standards.

By recognizing the signs of healthism and adopting a balanced approach to health, you can reclaim your time, energy, and joy. Remember, your value is not determined by your health status—you are inherently worthy, just as you are.

 

Want to learn more about redefining health and cultivating self-compassion? 

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.

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.

 

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How to Love Yourself in Your Now Body

How to Love Yourself in Your Now Body

How to Love Yourself in Your Now Body

 

How to Love Yourself in Your Now Body

Have you ever felt like you’re waiting to reach some imaginary finish line before you can finally start loving yourself? For 25 years, I lived in that perpetual waiting room, believing that self-love was something I needed to earn. Today, I want to share my journey of learning how to love yourself exactly as you are, in your now body – no conditions attached.

 

Why Loving Yourself Feels So Hard Right Now

Let’s be honest – if you’ve spent years thinking your body isn’t “enough,” the idea of loving yourself probably feels like a stretch. I get it because I’ve been there. Through years of socialization, we’ve unknowingly become experts at criticizing ourselves, building an impressive skillset of finding reasons why we’re not worthy of self-love… yet.

Sound familiar?
– “I’ll love myself when I take better care of my body”
– “Once I fix this one thing, then I’ll be worthy”
– “If I could just change X, Y, or Z, self-love would come naturally”

Here’s the truth I wish someone had told me sooner: If you keep believing you have to change before you can love yourself, you’ll be stuck in that cycle forever. I know because I spent over 25 years trapped in that exact pattern.

 

My Personal Journey to Self-Love

Looking back, I can pinpoint exactly how this cycle manifested in my life. Every Monday, I’d start a new diet, convinced that this time would be different. I’d meticulously track every calorie, schedule every workout, and promise myself that once I reached my “goal weight,” I’d finally feel worthy of love.

But here’s what actually happened: Even when I did reach those arbitrary goals, the self-love I desperately sought remained elusive. I’d find new flaws to fix, new measurements to obsess over, and new reasons why I wasn’t “quite there yet.”

The turning point came during a particularly exhausting cycle of restriction and self-criticism. I realized I’d spent more time hating my body than I had loving any other aspect of my life. That thought stopped me cold. How many precious moments had I missed because I was too busy planning my next transformation?

 

The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

In my forties, exhaustion finally caught up with me. I was tired of trying to earn my way to self-love through “perfect” behavior. That’s when a coach asked me something that changed everything: “What if you took the risk to love yourself right now? Unconditional to your behaviors?”

This question stopped me in my tracks. I realized I had been trying to hustle my way to self-love, believing that:
– More “right” behaviors would earn me self-love
– Less “wrong” behaviors would make me worthy
– Self-love was something to achieve rather than choose

 

How to Start Loving Yourself in Your Now Body Today

The journey to self-love isn’t about changing your body – it’s about changing your mind. Here’s how to begin:

1. Make the Decision

Love, like any other feeling, is created by the thoughts we think, not the actions we take. You must actively decide to love yourself. This means consciously choosing to think thoughts that create feelings of love, even (and especially) when it feels uncomfortable.

 

2. Authorize Yourself

Stop waiting for permission. You need to self-authorize to think loving thoughts about yourself because that authorization won’t come from anyone else. You have the power to grant yourself this permission right now.

 

3. Embrace Discomfort

Learning to love yourself will feel uncomfortable at first. My inability to sit with this discomfort kept me in diet culture for decades. Being comfortable with discomfort is a crucial part of the journey.

 

What the Transformation Really Looks Like

The path to self-love isn’t linear – it’s more like a spiral staircase. Here’s what you can expect along the way:

 

The Early Days

In the beginning, you’ll catch yourself falling into old patterns of self-criticism. That’s normal. The difference is that now you’ll recognize these thoughts for what they are: learned behaviors, not truths. Each time you notice these thoughts, you have a new opportunity to choose differently.

 

The Middle Ground

As you practice self-love, you’ll start having more good days than bad. You might still struggle, but you’ll recover faster. I remember the first time I looked in the mirror and my first thought wasn’t about what needed to be “fixed” – it was a moment of genuine appreciation for my body’s strength and resilience.

 

The New Normal

Eventually, self-love becomes your default setting. For me, this means:
– Starting each day with acceptance rather than criticism
– Treating myself with the same compassion I offer others
– Seeing setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than proof of unworthiness
– Choosing clothes that feel good now, not waiting for some future version of myself

 

What Self-Love Looks Like Now

Today, loving myself is my default state of being. It’s not something I earn – it’s something I choose, regardless of what I do or don’t do. When I notice myself steering away from self-love, I see it as a signal to pause and reevaluate my thoughts, not my body.

Remember: You must love yourself to the future you want. Waiting until you’ve changed to start loving yourself is like waiting until you’ve reached your destination to put gas in your car – it just doesn’t work.

The path to loving yourself in your now body starts with a single decision – the decision to stop waiting and start loving yourself today. Are you ready to make that choice?

 

Ready to Transform Your Relationship with Self-Love?

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.

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.

 

read more
What To Say When Clients Want to Lose Weight

FREE GUIDE

What to say when a client want to lose weight

 

GET THE EXACT WORDS I USE IN REAL COACHING SESSIONS—WHEN WEIGHT LOSS COMES UP AND I’M HOLDING A WEIGHT-NEUTRAL STANCE

What To Say When Clients Want to Lose Weight

FREE GUIDE

What to say when a client want to lose weight

 

Get then exact word I use in real coaching session when weight loss comes up and I'm holding a weight-neutral stance

undiet your life

Welcome!

I’m Stephanie Dodier

I am a non-diet nutritionist, educator, and feminist business leader challenging everything we’ve been taught about food, health, and coaching.


I help health professionals confidently coach food and body without co-opting diet culture.

Join me in leading the health coaching revolution!

Ready? Let's do this!