In the midst of a busy season where I don’t have the capacity to generate original content regulary, I’m opening up this space to share others’ stories of food freedom and true health. If it’s on your heart to share, email me at robyncoale@gmail. My hope is that these stories encourage + refresh you, breathe new life into your soul, drown out lies with truth, and flood your heart with unrelenting grace.
The beautiful Dana, a Nutshell client, emailed me with this fearlessly, vulnerable story and I can’t wait to share it with you all. She was a joy to work with and from the start, she was all gas, no brake. I hope her rich transparency and fierce transformation inspires and blesses you like crazy!
I can’t pinpoint how it started – the negative body image,
the over exercising and undereating – maybe it’s always been a part of who I
am? I’m admittingly all things Type A – obsessive, perfectionist, detailed.
the over exercising and undereating – maybe it’s always been a part of who I
am? I’m admittingly all things Type A – obsessive, perfectionist, detailed.
I remember “dabbling” in disordered thoughts and
some actions in high school. Trying diet pills (bought from the local dollar
general), trying to make myself throw up (but never actually succeeding),
trying to see how many hours I could go without eating or only eating carrot
sticks all day long. It never lasted though. .I just thought they were normal
thoughts of any young girl who thought they could stand to lose 5 pounds.
some actions in high school. Trying diet pills (bought from the local dollar
general), trying to make myself throw up (but never actually succeeding),
trying to see how many hours I could go without eating or only eating carrot
sticks all day long. It never lasted though. .I just thought they were normal
thoughts of any young girl who thought they could stand to lose 5 pounds.
The first actual disordered eating/calorie
counting/exercising actually happened in my later 20’s (26 to be exact – in July
of 2009) – before that I would just randomly diet but never anything I’d
consider an eating disorder (or as I’d rather refer to it: disorderly eating). I
started counting calories and thinking I should only eat 1,200 – I’d give myself
a free day once a week – I logged
it in a notebook or excel spreadsheet meticulously (this was before smart
phones). Of course anything under
1,200 was a great accomplishment. I wouldn’t eat anything unless it came from a
package and I knew the exact calorie count. I literally ate processed food 100%
of the time. On the workout end of the spectrum I was spending an hour plus at
the gym every day, allowing myself one day off a week but of course thinking it
was great those weeks I didn’t miss any days. I couldn’t “count” it
as a workout unless I was at the gym one or more hours. They only thing I did
at the gym was cardio – a mix of the treadmill, elliptical and stationary bike.
If it was nice outside sometimes I’d substitute running outside. Looking back I have no clue how I
survived this – how did I have energy to get me through each day? I was still
always trying to lose that last 10 pounds -that wouldn’t budge.
counting/exercising actually happened in my later 20’s (26 to be exact – in July
of 2009) – before that I would just randomly diet but never anything I’d
consider an eating disorder (or as I’d rather refer to it: disorderly eating). I
started counting calories and thinking I should only eat 1,200 – I’d give myself
a free day once a week – I logged
it in a notebook or excel spreadsheet meticulously (this was before smart
phones). Of course anything under
1,200 was a great accomplishment. I wouldn’t eat anything unless it came from a
package and I knew the exact calorie count. I literally ate processed food 100%
of the time. On the workout end of the spectrum I was spending an hour plus at
the gym every day, allowing myself one day off a week but of course thinking it
was great those weeks I didn’t miss any days. I couldn’t “count” it
as a workout unless I was at the gym one or more hours. They only thing I did
at the gym was cardio – a mix of the treadmill, elliptical and stationary bike.
If it was nice outside sometimes I’d substitute running outside. Looking back I have no clue how I
survived this – how did I have energy to get me through each day? I was still
always trying to lose that last 10 pounds -that wouldn’t budge.
Then I got pregnant in October 2010 and allowed myself to
eat whatever I wanted. I gained 60+ during my pregnancy.
Thankfully my son was born healthy. My thoughts after having him about my body
and my weight were not healthy though. I was so miserable. I was trying to work
out one hour a day – taking my baby to the gym with me. trying to exist on
1,200 calories and top that off with little sleep – I was miserable. I knew I couldn’t go back to the
calorie counting/constant exercise again. So, I did what any person looking to
lose weight does – I started googling! After googling “how to lose post
pregnancy weight” I found a program “Fit Yummy Mummy” ran by Holly Rigsby (probably around
September 2011). I remember putting my credit card information in to buy the
book and the fear that I was getting scammed. Luckily it was not a scam, but a
system that was very much what I needed – she taught eating whole healthy
foods, not restricting calories and three 30 minute workouts a week. I was
leery that I could eat more, workout less and lose weight so I was scared to
start -but I started like I do anything else, all in. I tossed all processed
food and started. Results started happening right away. I was so thrilled. Fit
Yummy Mummy (FYM) has an online forum where you can journal and connect with
other women, and I made a lifelong connection with another mom and we supported
each other through every day of our journey. I’m still so thankful I found FYM
(I’ve even got to meet both the “owner” and the friend I connected
with).
eat whatever I wanted. I gained 60+ during my pregnancy.
Thankfully my son was born healthy. My thoughts after having him about my body
and my weight were not healthy though. I was so miserable. I was trying to work
out one hour a day – taking my baby to the gym with me. trying to exist on
1,200 calories and top that off with little sleep – I was miserable. I knew I couldn’t go back to the
calorie counting/constant exercise again. So, I did what any person looking to
lose weight does – I started googling! After googling “how to lose post
pregnancy weight” I found a program “Fit Yummy Mummy” ran by Holly Rigsby (probably around
September 2011). I remember putting my credit card information in to buy the
book and the fear that I was getting scammed. Luckily it was not a scam, but a
system that was very much what I needed – she taught eating whole healthy
foods, not restricting calories and three 30 minute workouts a week. I was
leery that I could eat more, workout less and lose weight so I was scared to
start -but I started like I do anything else, all in. I tossed all processed
food and started. Results started happening right away. I was so thrilled. Fit
Yummy Mummy (FYM) has an online forum where you can journal and connect with
other women, and I made a lifelong connection with another mom and we supported
each other through every day of our journey. I’m still so thankful I found FYM
(I’ve even got to meet both the “owner” and the friend I connected
with).
However, because of the perfectionist I am I took it one
step further and turned it into something unhealthy. I got on the “clean
eating” bandwagon and went crazy and rarely ate anything processed – going
as far as bringing my own food places and not going places for fear of the food
there.
step further and turned it into something unhealthy. I got on the “clean
eating” bandwagon and went crazy and rarely ate anything processed – going
as far as bringing my own food places and not going places for fear of the food
there.
I stayed on the clean eating “train” for around a
year and a half to two years thinking I was being SOOO healthy – I even started
combining it with calorie countingI just started feeling like I wasn’t living
life “right” (I was also eating at very strict times and barely any
carbohydrates) – I wouldn’t do spur of the moment things/trips I couldn’t
control my food at, when we did go to my parents for dinner I’d take my own
food, I’d even take my own food on shopping days and eat in my car. Not to
mention when I would allow myself something against my rules I would completely
binge on it. I just started praying about it and asking for guidance and
literally stumbled across Robyn’s blog after a short time of prayer. I spent a
long time reading her blog before deciding to contact her – but I knew I wanted
her balance and I needed someone to tell me it was ok not to be perfect. I was
so scared of weight gain that I needed reassurance that I wasn’t going to just
gain weight uncontrollably.
year and a half to two years thinking I was being SOOO healthy – I even started
combining it with calorie countingI just started feeling like I wasn’t living
life “right” (I was also eating at very strict times and barely any
carbohydrates) – I wouldn’t do spur of the moment things/trips I couldn’t
control my food at, when we did go to my parents for dinner I’d take my own
food, I’d even take my own food on shopping days and eat in my car. Not to
mention when I would allow myself something against my rules I would completely
binge on it. I just started praying about it and asking for guidance and
literally stumbled across Robyn’s blog after a short time of prayer. I spent a
long time reading her blog before deciding to contact her – but I knew I wanted
her balance and I needed someone to tell me it was ok not to be perfect. I was
so scared of weight gain that I needed reassurance that I wasn’t going to just
gain weight uncontrollably.
So, I reached out and began working with
Robyn. I started being more free with the foods I ate. I didn’t turn my husband down when he wanted to go out to
eat. I didn;t eat before functions centered around food, instead eating the
food available, I stopped eating because it was a certain time and started
eating when I was hungry instead, I started doing more stuff spur of the moment
without worrying when and where I would eat. I gained some weight at the very
beginning, I don’t know how much because of my bad relationship with the scale
I had made the (positive) move to get rid of it a year or so ago, but it wasn’t
a lot, not enough that people even noticed – but going in I prepared myself for that (with a lot
of anxiety along the way) – I was determined to find my “set weight
point” and it’s been 7 months and I am slowly having faith that I am
there. I’ve made it through the holidays, through a Mexico vacation, through so
many spur of the moment trips that involved having to eat out, through a trip
to Chicago – and I’m maintaining a healthy weight that is right for MY body.
Robyn. I started being more free with the foods I ate. I didn’t turn my husband down when he wanted to go out to
eat. I didn;t eat before functions centered around food, instead eating the
food available, I stopped eating because it was a certain time and started
eating when I was hungry instead, I started doing more stuff spur of the moment
without worrying when and where I would eat. I gained some weight at the very
beginning, I don’t know how much because of my bad relationship with the scale
I had made the (positive) move to get rid of it a year or so ago, but it wasn’t
a lot, not enough that people even noticed – but going in I prepared myself for that (with a lot
of anxiety along the way) – I was determined to find my “set weight
point” and it’s been 7 months and I am slowly having faith that I am
there. I’ve made it through the holidays, through a Mexico vacation, through so
many spur of the moment trips that involved having to eat out, through a trip
to Chicago – and I’m maintaining a healthy weight that is right for MY body.
I still have days where
my head tells me I should restrict, or watch my carbs, or not eat something
processed so I can lose that minimal amount of weight I gained but as soon as I
recognize that negative self-talk I can usually pretty quickly remind myself
how much better life is now without constantly worrying about food. I still eat
pretty healthy day to day – because I feel good when I eat good – but I
sprinkle the fun stuff in without worrying about it or keeping track. Thinking
about the things I would have missed over the last 7 months if I hadn’t
contacted Robyn makes me sad. What makes me even sadder is the stuff I DID miss
before contacting Robyn – but I’m moving forward and thanking God every day for
walking with me through this journey and continuing to guide and heal me. I
still have to fight the negative talk often – hopefully with time that will decrease – but overall I’m so thankful to be on
the path to living a healthy lifestyle that includes moderation
(for real this time)!
my head tells me I should restrict, or watch my carbs, or not eat something
processed so I can lose that minimal amount of weight I gained but as soon as I
recognize that negative self-talk I can usually pretty quickly remind myself
how much better life is now without constantly worrying about food. I still eat
pretty healthy day to day – because I feel good when I eat good – but I
sprinkle the fun stuff in without worrying about it or keeping track. Thinking
about the things I would have missed over the last 7 months if I hadn’t
contacted Robyn makes me sad. What makes me even sadder is the stuff I DID miss
before contacting Robyn – but I’m moving forward and thanking God every day for
walking with me through this journey and continuing to guide and heal me. I
still have to fight the negative talk often – hopefully with time that will decrease – but overall I’m so thankful to be on
the path to living a healthy lifestyle that includes moderation
(for real this time)!
and activate the new one instead. you
can even find the names of the themes you want by doing a google search. type “free wordpress themes pink” or “paper wordpress themes” etc with a short description of the style or color you want and you’ll get lists of