Body Image Issues & Disordered Eating Coaching
Body Image Coaches for Emotional Eating, Stress Eating, Comfort Eating, High Pressures, and Body Image Issues in Missouri
You have been searching for an answer, but everything feels like it only works temporarily, or maybe not at all. When you try to search for night eating on Google or how to manage stress levels, it feels like you are just getting a one size fits all approach.
When the solutions don’t work out and the stress levels just keep evolving, the judgments keep coming, and the demands to constantly improve your body don’t stop, It’s easier to manage the stress and high demands with food.
Now, it’s creating other issues you don’t know how to solve. The cycle just keeps repeating and the feeling of inadequacy, control, and disgust just keep flowing.
At this point, you don’t know which came first was it the anxiety, the food struggles, then body dysmorphia, or the stress? Perhaps, body image coaches could be of help?
What is body image?
Body image is the way we see ourselves, feel about ourselves, and as a result, choose to treat ourselves. Body image is impacted by the relationships we are in, the environments we habitat, as well as by the caregivers, and peers we grew up with. Social media and body image are also very intertwined as we see influencers and content creators who highly edit their own bodies to create an unrealistic way of how we should look. As creatures of conformity, we feel obligated to change rather than choose love and acceptance. This results in poor body image and leads to low self-esteem which creates dissatisfaction and an effort to change and distort our body in ways that can be harmful. For example, you may end up restricting, over-exercising, talking down to yourself, and overall acting unloving toward yourself as a result. You may also experience bouts of anxiety, body anxiety, and depression.
Stressors That Contribute to Disordered Eating and Body Anxiety
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Pressures from Others
Whether you have become a high achiever who holds yourself to high standards, or you have always been this person, we can all acknowledge the positives and negatives. On the one hand, you reach for the stars, but on the other, your anxiety is at an all-time high, nothing you do is ever good enough, and when you do succeed, it feels like you don’t get to celebrate. It’s on to the next goal, success, or feat.
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Unresolved Hurts and Traumas
No matter where we come from, messages, values, and rules we grew up with impact us now. That includes unresolved traumas, child emotional neglect, abuse, gaslighting, and traumatic events. While as a coach I do not work to address these on a deep level ( that’s what therapy is for), I would be amiss if I didn’t acknowledge the impact.
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Microaggressions, Internalized Racism, and Bias
Whether we are calling it out as it is or trying to push it out of our brains. We cannot ignore the impact BIPOC women have seen in this area. It can lead to burnout, exhaustion, depression, stress, anxiety, and trauma.
Food rules and myths around disordered eating and body image can be damaging.
People may believe that certain foods are 'bad' or 'unhealthy' when in reality there is no such thing. Eating a wide variety of foods, including those we enjoy, will provide our bodies with the nutrition they need to function properly. Restricting foods or eating in a disordered way can lead to feelings of guilt and shame, as well as physical health problems. It is important to challenge these food rules and myths by learning more about our bodies' needs and nourishing ourselves without judgment or restriction. Eating should be an enjoyable experience that fuels us for life's activities.
Common Food Myths We Hold:
Eating late at night will make me gain weight.
I should only eat when I'm hungry.
Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.
All processed foods are bad for me.
Eating a lot of carbohydrates will make me fat.
Eating fats will make me fat.
I should only eat fruits and vegetables.
Juice is a healthy substitute for water.
Eating too much sugar will make me sick.
Exercise Myths We Hold:
I need to work out for at least an hour a day.
I can’t do any kind of physical activity unless it involves sweating.
The more I exercise, the better my body will look.
If I don’t exercise, I won’t be healthy.
Strength training is only for men.
Cardio is the best way to lose weight.
I have no motivation to exercise.
It’s too late for me to start working out now.
My body isn’t made for exercising.
These myths and food rules can be damaging, so it's important to challenge them
Working with a Black life coach in Mid-Missouri can help people overcome the damaging effects of food rules and body image myths. By providing compassion, understanding, and an experience that honors their identity, Black life coaches can support individuals in developing positive approaches to eating as well as self-care practices that promote mental wellness. The relationship between a client and their Black life coach can provide hope and resilience to break free from restrictive and damaging beliefs while nurturing self-love and appreciation. Together, they create an empowering space that helps to shape a more positive relationship between food and body image.
Additional Considerations of Body Image and Disordered Eating as A High-Achieving BIPOC Woman
High-achieving BIPOC women are especially vulnerable to developing disordered eating and body anxiety. This is due in part to a number of environmental stressors that they may face, such as:
- Racism and its associated microaggressions, which can lead to feelings of shame or worthlessness
- A lack of access to mentors or other supportive networks
- Negative stereotypes about BIPOC individuals that may be perpetuated in the media, popular culture, etc.
-- A lack of diverse representation and role models in academia and professional fields
On top of these societal stressors, high-achieving BIPOC women may also experience additional pressures related to their unique identities. For instance, you may feel obligated to prove yourself as capable and successful in order to combat any existing negative stereotypes or prejudice against your group. This pressure can lead to an intense need for perfectionism and control, which in turn can contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviors and body anxiety.
With Black. Bold& Learning, BI&POC women can finally find the support they need to understand their bodies and gain control over the stress in their lives.
How Do We Reframe This?
As you can see negative body image, low self-esteem, and lack of self-love leads to a lot of dissatisfaction. There are things that influence this that we do not create in our space. Such as the policing of black bodies, microaggressions, and racism. However, once a behavior is learned or a mindset is gained, we get into a cycle of maintaining it, and that does not lead to success. It paints the way we see everything. There are a few approaches we can take. Body positivity, body neutrality, and body kindness.
- Body positivity: An approach that promotes the acceptance and celebration of all body types, including those that fall outside of societal beauty standards (Piko BF, et.al 2020).
- Body neutrality: An approach that encourages individuals to view their bodies objectively, without assigning a value judgment of good or bad (Baceviciene M.et.al 2020).
- Body Kindness: An approach that emphasizes self-compassion, self-care, and treating one's body with respect and appreciation (Schaefer LM, et.al 2017).
Work with a Body Image and Eating Disorder Mental Health Coach!
Are you tired of feeling insecure about your body and struggling with negative self-talk? It's time to take control of your body image and overall well-being with the help of a body image coach. Through personalized coaching sessions, you'll learn practical tips for self-care, positive affirmations, and healthy eating habits to improve your body image and boost your confidence.
As a body image coach, I specialize in helping individuals just like you overcome body image issues and achieve their goals. I use a range of coaching techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness, to address the root causes of negative body image and help you develop a positive self-image.
But don't just take my word for it - hear from some of my clients who have transformed their lives through body image coaching. They have gained a new perspective on their bodies, improved their relationships, and increased their self-esteem. If you're ready to start your own success story, contact me today to schedule a coaching session.
FAQ
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When you sign up you get a 30-minute discovery call as a part of the course to talk about goals, what barriers you foresee, and to address whether you are a good candidate. During this program, you will go at your own pace and review homework, skills, and video modules about body image and disordered eating. The goal is to develop a better understanding of yourself and find healthier ways to cope. You will also have the option for a mid-program check-in via Zoom, and a final check-in call after finishing the program. As of right now, there is not a Facebook group or discord space to connect with members, but if interest is decided in the future, this will be created.
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If you qualify for an eating disorder or have been diagnosed, this may be a good supplement for you but is not recommended as a substitute for talking with a licensed clinician. Information in the program is based on the most recent eating disorder and body image research for women of color and any individual struggling right now.
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Body image and disordered eating therapy is a way of changing your self-concept by providing you with a therapeutic environment that allows you to express your feelings, thoughts, and concerns about the way you look.
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If you are looking to work on your body image and feel like you are ready for a body image coaching program, there are a few things you should know. First, the program will likely be one-on-one which can be intimidating at first but it is actually more personal and helps you feel more confident. The program will also be long-term and focus on your specific needs. If you are ready for a program like this, then you are ready for a body image coaching program like this.
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If you are looking for a month 4-12 week comprehensive coaching package and you want to get ongoing support and learn about the support you need, then working with a life coach can help. Coaching packages range from 500-1,200 based on the number of sessions you book and the ongoing needs you have.
Black. Bold& Learning is one of the only resources for BIPOC women who want to learn about body image and disordered eating. This resource provides women with the tools they need to understand themselves and gain control over their stress.
Want to See if a Body Image and Disordered Eating Program and Coaching is Right for You?
As a high-performing woman, I know you have work, school, relationships, and much more on your plate. However, that is why we must ensure that we care for ourselves. We truly cannot pour from an empty cup. If we spend all our time stress eating, not moving our body, or ignoring our stress triggers. These things will affect our physical and mental well-being if you’re ready to start working with a skilled online health coach at Black. Bold. & Learning. Who cares about helping strong and empowered women of color take care of their health and well-being first? If you’re ready to take that leap, follow these simple steps.
Begin achieving your goals
Looking for something else?
With health coaching, I offer a self-paced program, love your bod-ease. I also offer curated coaching packages. Additionally, if you’re looking to do a collaboration or have a question, please reach out. Lastly, check out the Bold. Black. & Learning blog for some free resources and support. Try my free mindfulness journal.