From guilt ridden doughnuts to this ❤️

My angel client Simona - Photo with permission

September 2024 “I overate on doughnuts” 

March 2025 “I just ate a doughnut that was delicious”

Simona joined Thrive in Autumn on 2024, after struggling with her thyroid, and feeling out of control with her diet. 

It seems to be a trend, attracting the type of people I genuinely want to spend time with. 

We hit it off from the start, and while a lot of our coaching was based on the support and healing of Simonas food and body relationship, we formed a bond that meant she trusted me with anything, being honest and open about her feelings, emotions and triggers - Inspiring. 

Simona, like many of the people I have the honour of working with, knew how to diet, she knew it was “Reduce your calories and increase your expenditure” but was finding it challenging to stick to. 

While I do like James Smith, the simplicity that came out of “A calorie deficit” really has caused some negativities with those who aren’t in a place to diet… YET! 

It was a case of being ‘on it’ for a few days, 

But followed closely by binges, overeating, a weekly cycle of guilt and shame. 

Trying to find some balance with her thyroid, plus the challenges of her food relationship, it was safe to say Simona thought she was broken, and I’m sure she would agree she hated herself, and would regularly blame herself. 

Fast forward 6 months, Simona finished coaching this week, at the airport sent me a video note of her eatng a doughnut enjoying it, followed by a message;

“You’ve honestly changed my life I will be forever grateful 🙏🏽”

I’d be lying if I didn’t say this was a ride for Simona, 

We explored things that she hadn’t considered before in her dieting realm. 

There were times we sat with some difficulties, hurdles we had to overcome, but with the support and guidance, Simona sat with the uncertainty, trialled new behaviours and subsequently has gotten to a place of freedom and balance with her food and body relationship.

You see, the issue was never food for Simona. 

As a typical millennial there were a number of things impacting her eating behaviours;

• Overworking

• People Pleasing

• Perfection

• High Expectations

• Zero stress management 

Consequently, Simona regularly felt burnt out, exhausted and back then, attributing her worth to her body, felt a constant pull to shrink herself (thanks so much patriarchy) which perpetuated the cycle of overeating and body shame. 

We took a new course of direction, 

One that would guarantee healing, 

I even recall Simona some months in feeling pretty shocked at her self compassion and new found body acceptance, it felt alien to her.

We began to understand what food was serving in the moments of overeating.Unlike previous diets that had pushed avoidance, removal, restriction, 

We began to recognise how limiting beliefs were impacting behaviours, how they were confirming a core belief of worthlessness., 

We began to acknowledge how expectations were causing a level of overwhelm and mental fatigue that heightened cravings, impacted stress levels, nervous system regulation, 

We began to open up to the awareness of how being for everyone meant there was nothing for herself, and how kindness was something that could be offered inwardly.

We began to realise how self objectification was impacting her body image. 

This meant we were able to implement change, 

Coming through the 6 core pillars of Thrive with Life, in a subjective way, because we ONLY promote person centred coaching, we were able to end the cycle of overeating for Simona. 

We went from;

No stress management -> Self regulation on the daily

Food avoidance -> Inclusion of all foods without overeating

Fearing social events -> Multiple social events with compromise

Body hatred -> Body acceptance 

Overworking -> Implementing boundaries & calling herself out when these slipped 

Perfection -> Trusting herself and removing the level of control that led to a loss of control

One of the most beautiful journeys, after suffering with an eating disorder some years ago, Simona never had the full spectrum of acceptance and confidence in herself. 

The missing piece was understanding WHY she was overeating and building alternative coping strategies to help her in the moment. 

When I got a check in response that read this;

“This week I practised fierce compassion with myself. I meditated, read my book, connected to my body, I used my breath when I was having a difficult conversation at work to make sure I stayed regulated”

“Despite some difficult emotions & feeling ill I still did not use food as a coping strategy”

It was evidently clear how much Simona had healed, that she had the coping strategies to manage situations, openly, with compassion and understanding.

She stopped trying to diet away her poor relationship with food and instead faced it head on, which meant she then was able to diet, lost 6cm off her waist, and now isn’t struggling with her thyroid or overeating. 

I know reading this you want to diet too, the weather is getting warmer which isn’t brings out a seasonal dieting trend, 

Let Simonas success story be an inspiration to you, despite feeling like you’ll never not be consumed by food, remind yourself that change is possible, 

But to change things have to change. 

As Simona has ended coaching this week, because she doesn’t need me anymore, we have one space open, I am offering it to my email list first, you guys are the ones most invested in this process. 

If you’re ready to end the war with food and your body, stop the cycle of shame and guilt, end the all or nothing, follow the below, we can have a chat about the bespoke 1-1 support we offer. 

Thrive with Life Coaching Application