Weight Hope supports a holistic treatment approach to weight management, placing value in health over weight or size. When weight loss is the primary goal without consideration for mental health and wellness, this can pave the way for disordered eating and compulsive exercise.
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Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin
Learn all that Dr. Nina offers to help you overcome weight and body image struggles
Treatment Tools for Resolving Weight & Body Image Struggles
Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating is a practice that has the power to transform your relationship with food
and your body. In the past, you might have started a diet, been successful for a bit, then given up and regained any lost weight. This “dieter’s dilemma” becomes a vicious cycle. That cycle ends today.
The term “in
tuitive eating” was first made popular by Evelyn Tribole, M.S., RD, and Elyse Resch, M.S., RDN, CEDRD, Fiaedp, FADA, in their book titled Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works. This practice involves listening to your natural hunger and fullness cues to determine when to eat and when to stop.
When you are struggling with diets and related weight fluctuations, you have likely lost touch with your natural hunger and fullness signals. Part of the process is relearning these responses and honoring what your body needs.
Mindful Exercise
Engaging in mindful exercise can be helpful for those re-evaluating their relationship with food and their bodies. Many falsely assume that an extreme exercise regimen is necessary for you to be happy with your body. This is largely because of the cultural attitude that having body satisfaction requires a “perfect body.”
In reality, the “perfect body” does not exist. All bodies are perfectly imperfect. Being happy with your body means being at peace with it and doing what you can to help it pump blood and stay strong so you can lead the kind of life you deserve. Finding a form of exercise that you enjoy can help.
Be mindful of your physical needs and limitations. Similar to intuitive eating, listen to your body and do not push it while exercising if something feels wrong. This, too, might be antithetical to what you have heard in the past. Just remember that are not training to be an Olympic athlete, but rather exercising so you can be heart healthy and strong for many years to come.
Professional Help
Meeting with a registered dietitian (RD) can be a good first step in developing a healthy relationship with food and exercise. Depending on your situation, you might want to start your new journey on a meal plan as you learn to listen to and honor your hunger and fullness. Being monitored by a dietitian can serve as accountability, as well as provide guidance to make sure behaviors do not become too restrictive or compulsive.
Consulting with a professional counselor can also aid you in your journey. Most people who struggle with any form of disordered eating have learned to use food as a coping mechanism. Whether this comes in the form of bingeing, purging, restricting, emotional eating, or a combination therein, addressing the root of your issues will improve your chances of success as you make peace with food.
Similarly, seeking professional help can also address any co-occurring anxiety, depression, or related mental health concerns you are facing. Chances are these are inextricably related to your issues with food and body image.