Understanding this concern:

When we are in a place where we feel like the food is in control (I’m speaking from past experience btw 😉), we feel like we need to exert more force over the food.

For example, we feel we need to have more willpower, or “just say no”, or “just get it together.”

When in reality, it’s actually these mindsets that are making our relationship with food worse…making us have less control over our eating.  

Because becoming in control of our eating has nothing to do with forcing anything 😊

When we have true control over our food, it feels very natural and balanced…it just feels like an extension of who we are and how we live…

Not like we’re trying to force ourselves to do something (or not do something.)

But, to get to this place of balance and control over our eating, we first need to look at the reasons we do it…

The 2 biggest reasons I see people overeat (and have lived them myself) are:

1.    

The ‘All or Nothing’ Mindset

2.    

Lacking an Awareness of the Physiology of Food

Let’s talk about what each of these mean in more detail…

1.   

The ‘All or Nothing’ Mindset

The dieting culture in our country has created a mindset with food where to be healthy OR lose weight, we need to be “perfect” with our eating.  

When in reality, this is absolutely not true.

But, this mindset leads us to having a very black and white relationship with food. Because we start labeling foods ‘good and bad.’  

When we do this, and we have a ‘bad’ food, we now feel like WE’RE bad…like we’re not good enough because we didn’t have the willpower to say no. 

 This belief and feeling is now what has true control over our eating. 

This is why, in order to create control around food, we need to create emotional neutrality around it. 

It needs to be thought about more like science (ie. “How is this food going to breakdown in my body? Is it going to cause cravings or not?”) versus “I’m being good or bad for eating this food.”

 Yes, some foods are healthier than others. But, all foods can fit into a healthy or even fat loss life style. It’s just the amounts that need to be watched.

 But, when we have shame around food, we no longer are in control of how much we’re eating.

Having balance and control with food lies in managing the nuances of eating without shame (and other negative feelings) attached to our food choices.   

 2.   

Lacking an Awareness of the Physiology of Food

 Creating control around our eating isn’t just about the mindset piece. It’s also about the biological side of eating as well. 

Meaning, when we start eating cake and have a hard time stopping, we may think to ourselves “See, I just don’t have any willpower.”  

But, is this actually true??? 

Because there is a HUGE scientific piece to overeating that people usually miss… 

And that is how certain foods, and certain combinations of food affect our hunger and cravings.  

And this is with the foods we’re eating in the moment AND the foods we ate earlier in the day. 

For example, when we choose meals or snacks that only have processed starch (like pancakes, crackers, white toast etc.), or ones that don’t have the protein and fiber, and fat combination, we significantly increase our chances of being hungry sooner and having cravings later in the day.  

Believe it or not, our meals are not actually separate…when it comes to what influences our nutritional choices (and how much of the food we eat.)

This is why we want to be choosing foods and food combinations (most of the time) that satiate our hunger and stabilize our cravings.

Otherwise, it will feel like we’re hungry and craving all the time-and that we have no willpower.  

So, to make this process of creating balance with food MUCH easier (and more natural), we want to be working WITH the biology of our body…not against it 😊

Also, We Need Sound Strategies for Dealing with Cravings 

The other thing we need to talk about here is the need for having sounds strategies for dealing with cravings.  

This is the thing, no matter how well we eat, we will still have occasional cravings-and this is fine AND normal! 

But, when our ONLY strategy is to “just say no” and white knuckle our way through…this usually backfires at some point, because it causes deprivation.

Sometimes just saying no is the right answer.

 But, other times it causes deprivation…

We need sound strategies that help us work through our cravings without feeling like we’re being deprived, and also without eating more than we truly need.  

So, in a nutshell, to create balance with food and minimize overeating, we need to: 

-Create emotional neutrality around food (aka work through the ‘All or Nothing mindset.)

-Understand how food breaks down in our body, and affects our hunger and cravings- along with creating more mindfulness around our eating behaviors.

-And implement sound strategies for dealing with cravings.

And these are exactly what I help you do in coaching :)

Important Note:

If you say to yourself, or have said to yourself in the past (like I had).. 

“I’m just an ‘All or Nothing’ eater.” 

Know, the reality is, this is not WHO you are… 

WHO you are is a normal human being, that currently struggles with ‘All or Nothing’ tendencies because of things you have learned in the past… 

Things that can be unlearned, and tendencies that can be transformed. 

And that is exactly what I want to help you do :)

If you would like to learn more about the coaching process:

Visit the coaching page here:

If you are ready to set up your free consult,

Click the green button below.

If you think you may overeat for other reasons than I listed above, keep scrolling this page :)

“I had a very bad, unhealthy relationship with food.

I would eat things I didn't even want simply because "I wasn't supposed to."

I ate that fourth slice of tasteless pizza, even though my stomach was already aching. I easily spiraled into dark funks when I went out to eat and devoured the entire plate-while my "skinny" friends split their dishes.

But, working with Ashley, we got to the bottom of my emotions. We figured out why I was doing what I did, and felt the way I did. Her approach and training has completely altered the way I look at (and interact with) food.

Honestly, I feel like I've broken out of a food prison…

No, better yet, I feel like I was given a pardon and released from my shackles.

Now I can be completely satisfied with 2 slices of pizza. And I am confident and excited when I go out to eat with my friends.These are only two examples I am providing. Ashley offers SO. MUCH. MORE.

After Ashley's guidance, I am now in control.”

-Meg B.

To read all testimonials, visit the testimonials page here

What If You Think You Overeat for Other Reasons Than Discussed Above?

In this section, we will discuss two other big reasons for overeating, and how I suggest they be handled.

They are:

1.     Past life trauma/emotional eating

2.     The relationship a woman has with her body

If you would like to learn more about the coaching process:

Visit the coaching page here:

“Ashley is so supportive, caring, and compassionate.

She does an amazing job of supporting you (as an individual) to meet your unique goals and be your personal best.”

- Jenn O.