COACHING SPECIAL OFFER. NOW ENROLLING FOR APRIL. LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE!
COACHING ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
EATING WITH ADHD INNER CIRCLE
I've once again opened up my doors (for a limited time) to my one-of-a-kind coaching program to give my community of ADHDers the opportunity to fast-track their journey towards food freedom!
Join me for a weight-neutral coaching program to give you the accountability, support, and guidance to transform your behavior and relationship with food. Integrate the proven, actionable strategies built specifically for your ADHD brain...for life-changing and life-lasting results.
Now is the time to make changes in time for summer to feel confident & in control around food! You'll be able to enjoy your time with family & friends without obsessing over what to eat, how to eat, and what you look like.🧡
FEATURED ON
HEY THERE!
I struggled for 33 years with undiagnosed ADHD, disordered eating like bingeing & "clean" eating, poor body image/dysmorphia, & difficulty with planning meals.
I was constantly preoccupied with food, counting macros & calories, feared weight gain, and couldn't be consistent with eating because my ADHD brain was all over the place.
My self-worth was tied to my body image & I spent way too much time worried about what I was eating & how I looked.
Since getting diagnosed with ADHD in 2020, I've helped myself and 500+ other adults with ADHD overcome binge-eating and heal their relationship with food through my signature online course and coaching programs.
It brings me so much joy that you're here and to be able to give you the tools and principles that actually work for our ADHD brains to help you completely shift the way you think about food so you can feel more in control and confident about the way you eat.
WHY SHOULD YOU SIGN UP WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY PURCHASED THE COURSE?
Because WE HAVE ADHD! 🤪
That means starting and finishing a self-paced course is HARD for most of us, especially when you're not hyperfocused or need additional support and accountability...
We…
- Get distracted with other things
-
Procrastinate because we fear we'll fail again
-
Forget what we've learned
-
Lose focus & motivation
-
Feel like we need to wait until the perfect time to start or continue
-
Feel like we're going to fail before we even start
Maybe you're someone who's excited for the course but just haven’t got around to starting it yet...
Maybe you lost steam after the first few sessions or got excited by a new shiny hobby...
OR, maybe you are one of the many who HAVE completed my course and see the world with a new lens, understand yourself more than ever, and you know what you need to do to change, but you just need more help doing so!
For those of you who have already made incredible changes to your life, it's normal to need motivation and inspiration to stay on the right track.
No matter which case you fall under, going it alone is hard & unpredictable!
Not having a support system, connection and accountability… is hard!
And… most importantly...
Being able to figure out and work out your deepest traumas and triggers that are keeping you in this negative pattern, alone… is unrealistic & feels impossible.
No matter how much information you have, it can take years of self work to find what is holding you back and how to break free from all of that.
As a result you might get sucked back into diet culture and never make the life-long transformation that you desperately need, and deserve!
If you slip back into old negative patterns and behaviors, you'll likely also go back to square one before taking the course:
COMMON CHALLENGES THAT I'LL HELP YOU OVERCOME:
MINDSET TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITY...
The reality is, those that work with me on a 1:1 level & in a group setting are the ones who make deepest life-changing transformations they didn’t even know were possible. If you're ever on the course monthly coaching calls, this is just a glimpse into what an entire coaching program can do for you!
Coaching is where you learn what triggers you and any underlying trauma that's having an impact on your current thoughts and habits around eating and your relationship with food and body image.
We can work together to identify, manage, rewire your mindset, and heal… so you can feel in control and confident with the way you eat and feel in your body.
Through personalized 1:1 sessions and weekly group sessions with a group of like-minded ADHDers, my coaching program gives you the specific guidance and support you need on your life-changing journey.
WHAT MY CLIENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE PROGRAM...
Here are some kind words from a client you might have seen in the online course who has completed the course & worked with me 1:1. This video clip was taken from a recent group session as she passed on her support to a fellow course member...
BENEFITS OF COACHING
ADHD procrastination is real!
One of the reasons we don't start is because we're afraid we'll never finish and feel like a failure.
Coaching with myself and other peers removes that fear, walks you through each step, & allows you to finish the program, feeling confident & in control.
Many of my long-term clients are also therapists, doctors, and ADHD coaches, and that's because they know the value and impact being of getting out of the echo chamber of your own racing mind.
"Even the best coaches need coaching" as they say.
Coaching will keep you on track so you stay stimulated & focused.
And that will allow you to finally kick your ADHD procrastination to the curb!
It’s a short cut to transformation.
Here are some additional benefits...
Feedback, &
Personal Advice
Not Passive Watching
& Peer Connection
SPECIAL COACHING OFFER
FOR CURRENT COURSE MEMBERS
$1297
See payment plan options below.
- 1:1 Coaching | 2x 60 minute Sessions (with me!) ($500 value)
-
Group Coaching | 12x 90 minute Sessions ($2000 value)
-
DM & Email Support ($500 value)
-
Online Course Access & Resources ($1500 value)
-
Additional meal planning resources ($150 value)
-
Live Course Challenge Annual Pass (4x events p/a) ($500 value)
-
Body Doubling & Buddy System ($50 value)
-
Access to All Recorded Live Sessions ($500 value)
-
Access to All Previously Recorded Office Hours ($1000 value)
PRICE: $2,500+ | SPECIAL OFFER: $1297
FYI: You can stay in the group and in my 1:1 coaching longer than 12 weeks if needed.
what will COACHING look like?
This hybrid coaching offer blends 1:1 coaching with group sessions to give you multiple touch points with me and fellow ADHD'ers on your journey.
And, this offer doesn’t have a start end time, it simply starts from the minute you sign up!
That means, you don't have to wait a few months each time a new program starts...you can join any time you're ready and motivated to get started.
Group sessions will be held on Thursdays at 12pm PST. And, recordings will be available if you can't make it live.
Once enrolled, you'll schedule your 1:1 calls with me at the start and towards the end of the progam, based on mutual availability.
1:1 Sessions with me (2)
The 1:1 sessions are where is where we’ll go deep into your specific life, your behaviors, actions, and mindset, and really figure out what’s holding you back, and what you can do to move forward.
This is where real shifts are made.
You’ll meet with me for (2) 60 minute 1:1 sessions where I'll give you personalized guidance for your unique lifestyle including mindset around eating, body image, meal planning, cooking, sensory issues, and other dietary concerns.
weekly GRoup SESSIONS (12)
During weekly group sessions, we'll meet as a group with fellow ADHDers on the same path, who understand you, respect and appreciate you on a deep level.
You’ll meet and learn with other members who are at different stages in their intuitive eating journey. Some might be just getting started, while others will be encouraging & inspiring you with their progress.
The sessions are kept small and intimate. They are live and interactive as we expand on the concepts in the modules to give you more clarity and share wins and challenges as we process new information, perspectives, and behaviors.
It’s an additional private, safe space to learn, listen, and connect! Every week you'll have an opportunity to be coached, find answers to your specific questions and challenges, and to integrate the solutions into your life to actually see results.
And of course, you'll have the space to support and be supported by your fellow ADHDer's in our private community.
And, you'll have daily access to me and the group via a private WhatsApp group so you never feel alone.
REMINDER OF WHAT'S IN THE ONLINE COURSE
My coaching and community is built around my signature system which you are hopefully already familiar with if you've already started the course!
My coaching program will help you work through any barriers that come up.
This allows you to understand, process and actually take action on the new knowledge! Which is critical for the deepest transformation.
As a reminder, here are the steps you'll take throughout the course & program:
1. AWARENESS & FOUNDATIONS
2. REWIRING YOUR BRAIN
3. INTEGRATION
You'll learn how to meal plan, shop, and cook for your ADHD brain, how to build new habits and routines, and how to add nourishing foods and movement into your life without getting sucked back into diet culture.
Coaching is critical for this aspect of the program as we work together to ensure you make the changes you need for your lifestyle as you start to eat with ADHD in this new way.
You'll finish the program knowing how to eat, move, and live intuitively with ADHD.
learning to eat intuitively is hard without support...
here are some of the common challenges I can help with:
- Implement intuitive eating into your unique life
-
Know if you're doing IE the "right" way & how to improve
-
Reach your body's set point weight & stay there
-
Reduce emotional eating when you've tried everything
-
Not get stuck in the "eat the whatever you want, when you want" mindset
-
Honor your health without falling back into diet mentality
-
Have conversations with family & friends about how to support your intuitive eating journey
- Move your body for improving your mental & physical health rather than burning calories
-
Feel confident that you've got this IE thing down so you never have to diet again!
This COACHING PROGRAM is for You If:
- You've already purchased my course but need personalized support and guidance to integrate the information into your life
-
You want to work with directly with Nicole in addition to a group & learning course material to accelerate your healing time for faster, long-lasting results
-
You have specific challenges that need more professional guidance to address and heal (mentally, emotionally, or have a health condition like gut issues, diabetes, or high cholesterol)
-
You don't want to go through this journey alone & want a continued support system as you work through this knowledge and new way of life
-
You need accountability and interactive sessions to get started and stay stimulated on your journey
-
Don't trust your body to tell you when you're hungry or full despite practicing over and over
-
You're still eating inconsistently most days despite trying to plan meals & tired of feeling out of control around food
-
You want to stop using food as your only tool for stimulation all day long
-
You've tried really hard to "stay on track" with intuitive eating only to lose interest in a few days and then feel like a failure (*you're not!)
-
You've been a victim of diet culture for years & feel like it's taking you a long time to get out of the diet mentality
-
You're confused about what to eat & want to learn to make balanced meals without overwhelm or being triggered by diet culture again
-
You still have food 'rules' or negative body image thoughts that negatively impact your food choices and relationship with food & your body
-
You want to address lingering negative body image issues to feel more confident
THE RESULTS YOU'LL SEE...
- Eat consistently
- Reduce stress & overwhelm
- STOP dieting for good!
-
Stop bingeing!
-
Feel in control around food
-
Enjoy ALL foods without guilt
-
Feel physical hunger & fullness
-
Control emotional eating
-
Stop feeling addicted to sugar
-
Know how to plan, shop & cook
-
Improve self-regulation
-
Nourish your body & brain
-
Feel confident in your body
-
Be a confident, intuitive eater
- Improved overall health
-
Better quality sleep
- Improved gut health
- Improved blood sugars
-
Improved cardiovascular health
- Improved metabolic health
- Improved quality of life
-
Better appetite regulation
-
Increased tolerance to stress
-
Present with family & friends
-
Less stress about what to eat
-
Care less what people think
-
Eat all the foods you love!
-
Feel validated & supported
SPECIAL COACHING OFFER
FOR CURRENT COURSE MEMBERS
$1297
See payment plan options below.
- 1:1 Coaching | 2x 60 minute Sessions (with me!) ($500 value)
-
Group Coaching | 12x 90 minute Sessions ($2000 value)
-
DM & Email Support ($500 value)
-
Online Course Access & Resources ($1500 value)
-
Additional meal planning resources ($150 value)
-
Body Doubling & Buddy System ($50 value)
-
Access to All Recorded Live Sessions ($500 value)
-
Access to All Previously Recorded Office Hours ($1000 value)
-
1:1 Coaching | ($500 value)
(2x 60 minute Sessions (with me!) -
Group Coaching | ($2000 value)
(12x 90 minute Sessions) -
DM & Email Support ($500 value)
-
Online Course Access & Resources ($1500 value)
-
Additional meal planning resources ($150 value)
-
Body Doubling & Buddy System ($250 value)
-
Access to All Recorded Live Sessions ($500 value)
-
Access to All Previously Recorded Office Hours ($1000 value)
PRICE: $3,500+ | SPECIAL OFFER: $1297
FYI: You can stay in the group and in my 1:1 coaching longer than 12 weeks if needed.
Commonly Asked Questions:
When does this program start?
The next round starts in April, just in time to make changes before summer! This program is offered a few times each year and has limited seats so don't wait to sign up! The sessions will take place via Zoom. Time to be determined by availability of group. Inquire for details!
Do you have payment plan options?
Yes! You can split the payments into 3 or 5 monthly payments. Just choose the option you want on the checkout page.
How is this program different than other intuitive eating programs & will it work for me?
Unlike traditional programs, it's tailored to your ADHD brain & made by someone with ADHD, me! After having 10+ years of experience as a dietitian and helping 500+ women through my online course & coaching programs, I know what works for our brains and what we need to make real changes. I've never had someone say they regretted taking my course or working with me! Check out the testimonials from past clients.
How long is the program & what's included?
The program is 12 weeks and includes 2, 60 minute 1:1 sessions with me, 12, weekly group coaching sessions, a private online community, private messaging for your cohort only, and all the support and guidance you need to feel confident & stress-free around food this summer!
Is this program suitable for someone with an eating disorder?
This coaching program does not take the place of eating disorder treatment. My online course is a great resource to compliment eating disorder treatment but should not replace treatment by a medical health professional, such as a psychiatrist or therapist. If you think you may have an active eating disorder and need help, you can find more information through the National Eating Disorders Association (US based).
What if I'm already enrolled in the online course?
This is the perfect program for you! Each week you will be covering course material in greater depth so you can refresh your memory & dig deeper to make your transformation.
What if I miss a week or miss a live session?
While it's extremely advantageous to show up to the sessions live to take advantage of the coaching and ask questions, all sessions are recorded and will be available for you to watch for the duration of the program.
What if I want to work with you for longer than 12 weeks?
If you want to continue working together 1:1 or continue in a group setting, I have maintenance options for 1:1 coaching and a support group for members who have gone through my coaching programs.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Here's a little more about me and why I specialize in ADHD.
Like many of you, I battled with undiagnosed ADHD for the first 33 years of my life. Feeling misunderstood & blaming myself for not being able to fit into a neurotypical world.
After my diagnosis in 2020, I finally understood the madness inside my head. I felt validated, angry, and relieved all at the same time.
I used to use food as stimulation, lose track of time, not feeling my hunger cues, binge & feel uncomfortable & ashamed...then restrict to make up for it. I struggled with periods of disordered eating and body dysmorphia all throughout my teens & 20s, and spent way too much time & energy obsessing over food.
Until my diagnosis, I had no idea that ADHD was behind my unhealthy relationship with food. As a dietitian, my first thought was to research which diets & supplements could help with ADHD symptoms...but realized that all diets are just band-aids, contributing to a larger problem...pushing us further away from listening to what our bodies actually need.
ADHD Specialist
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist
WHY I CREATED THIS PROGRAM...
The system I created has allowed me to better understand myself & what my body needs, allowed me to heal, allowed me to rewire my mind, and it allowed me to create a healthy relationship with food where I could stop bingeing and restricting. For the first time ever I, I was able to stop obsessing over food, have more energy, and feel better every day.
What I learned dramatically changed my life and has done for hundreds of my clients over the last couple of years. Hopefully, this is the start of it changing your life too!
Get the Information & Tools for a New Approach to Food with ADHD...
If you are on the fence and not sure if this is right for you, book a call to speak with me to learn more. And, if you've yet to watch my free training, you can review the challenges we all face when eating with ADHD so that we know what we need to overcome on this journey...
OUR EATING CHALLENGES
WHY DO WE HAVE THESE CHALLENGES?
WHY WE STRUGGLE TO EAT WITH ADHD...
LOW DOPAMINE
Low dopamine causes us to constantly seek stimulation... boredom feels very uncomfortable! Eating temporarily increases dopamine & serotonin to give us that hit we need to focus & feel good (also known as "stimming" with food). This behavior of eating for stimulation can quickly become a habit if you don't realize it or find new ways to stim.
IMPULSIVITY
A strong urge to eat something is often caused by extreme hunger or a strong emotion. We tend to make decisions based on an immediate reward (now), rather than taking the time to figure out what we really need (not now). This happens more when we don’t plan ahead, when we’re anxious, or overwhelmed.
INTEROCEPTIVE AWARENESS
Our ability to feel our body's cues for things like hunger and thirst is weak. This makes it harder to self-regulate. We wait too long to eat and then end up overeating as a result. We're more susceptible to a lack of connection with our body when we're stressed, hyperfocused, or distracted.
EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION
We all struggle with meal planning, shopping, cooking, and organizing...& remembering to do them. It's overwhelming & stressful because it takes a lot of executive functioning & mental energy. And perfectionism adds another layer of stress. We often skip meals or choose things that don't give us energy instead of a nourishing meal.
EASILY DISTRACTED
We're less satisfied with meals & more likely to overeat when we're not paying attention. Time blindness causes us to lose track of time & not realize how long it's been since we've eaten...then we become irritable, lose the patience to prepare a meal, and end up overeating.
EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION
ADHD makes it hard for us to regulate our emotions...we're always facing extremes. This makes food much more enticing when uncomfortable feelings come up. Self-soothing with food is actually pretty normal for most people but can lead to bingeing and feeling out of control around when it's the only way you cope.
THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT
These challenges make us feel like we have NO idea what we should be eating, no willpower, no confidence or control around food.
They make us feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed and make eating even more complicated than it already is for us.
It's a vicious cycle that leads to more emotional eating & bingeing.
And when we don't know how to stop & how to help ourselves, we feel stuck & either do nothing, or impulsively look for answers...
Sound familiar? You're not alone!
WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK THE
SOLUTION IS...
- "I need to go on a diet, cut out sugar, carbs, gluten, processed foods, etc. to feel better"
- "Should I choose keto, paleo, plant-based, whole 30?"
-
"Which detoxes and supplements should I take?"
-
"Which foods are good or bad for ADHD?
-
"Which program will give me results the fastest?"
-
"I just need a meal plan that works..."
-
"It will work this time if I just try harder...diet starts on Monday!"
WHY DIETS DON'T WORK
Diets are restrictive & lead to more bingeing & restricting, an unhealthy relationship with food,
& poor body image!
They leave you feeling self-conscious, disconnected from your body, more obsessed with food, & make eating more complicating than it already is.
Dozens of research studies show the negative impact they have on our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Calorie restriction can lower your metabolism and actually cause weight gain.
Unfortunately, most of us have been restricting for YEARS, whether it’s been to lose weight or try to manage ADHD symptoms. Both restriction and an all or nothing mindset are huge triggers for our ADHD brains to feel more out of control around food.
DIET CULTURE'S IMPACT
Diet Culture is designed to keep us in the Binge - Restrict Cycle.
It's a multi-billion dollar diet industry that heavily influences our choices, self-esteem, & perpetuates fatphobia & weight stigma.
We're constantly exposed to messaging on social media, TV, radio, & advertisements, convincing us to lose weight or try quick fixes that appeal to our impulsive ADHD brains.
But they’re far from “fixes”...This cycle tricks you into feeling like a "failure" when you can't stick to a diet or when you're not restricting.
You're NOT a failure. You're NOT lazy. You do NOT lack willpower.
THE BINGE-RESTRICT CYCLE
Bingeing is NOT cause by a lack of willpower!
Bingeing is a SYMPTOM of restriction, scarcity mindset, & lack of coping skills. Starting a new diet, “detox”, or meal plan will only make bingeing WORSE and keep you in a cycle of bingeing & restricting.
The further back you go on one side of the binge/restrict pendulum, the further and more dramatically you'll catapult to the other side! This is why we feel stuck….why we feel out of control around food & don’t know where to start.
Figuring out the connection between ADHD & disordered eating was a true revelation that changed my life! And it well and truly transformed my relationship with food! I hope to now give you the steps to transform your own relationship with food!
Guidance & Support From Inside the Private Facebook Group For Members
Don't feel alone! Join us as for the journey!
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE...
This program if for you if you're ready to make life-long changes to your mindset and relationship with food & your body.
The calls are a safe environment and you can choose to keep your video on or off. There is no obligation to participate. You can learn a lot from just by listening to others be coached & give feedback. But, if you're open to any coaching format, chances are, you're better at sharing than you think you are! We're all here because we have similar issues with eating & body image...and it's ok if you don't make the same progress as someone else. We're all here to support & learn from each other. We can discuss any concerns you have on the discovery call if you decide to apply!
The next program starts in May 2022. If the start date is not displayed on this page or has already passed, please complete an application if interested & I will provide you with more details!
This program is 12 weeks (3 months) long but you might want to stay in touch with your group members for life! You'll also have access to the private FB group for course members for 1 year. If you need more coaching support after the program, you will have the opportunity to work with me 1:1 at a discounted rate.
You can absolutely join the group coaching program! Especially if you want more accountability & support. You'll be motivated to complete the course & be on weekly coaching calls & Q&A. If you have already purchased, please notify me in your application so I can provide you with a discounted rate.
Your instructor is a dietitian who also has ADHD and understands your unique brain to help you do deep work that will shift your mindset. This program combines coaching for people ADHD and applies intuitive eating principles in a way that actually work for our brains. Many other ADHD Nutrition programs promote a restrictive diet or meal plan that actually make eating with ADHD more complicated & don't get to the root of your problems.
This course was not made to just give you some information on meal planning and hope it sticks...it provides you with the knowledge to understand WHY you're struggling and actually gets to the root of your issues around food, body image, and ADHD so you can break free from dieting & stop bingeing for good! Changing your habits & learning to eat intuitively can seem impossible for someone with ADHD. This course was made by someone with ADHD (me!) who gets your brain and made sure that each section is speaking your language & has easy steps for you to take that are realistic and manageable.
I've been working with clients to improve their relationship with food for 10+ years and understand how the ADHD brain works so you can get results. I've used this same framework to help hundreds of people (including myself), and know it's not an easy task! You have to be willing to put in the work, but with the accountability & support you'll receive, I know it will transform your life. Please also see the testimonials from my previous clients.
This course does not substitute eating disorder treatment for someone who feels they may have an active eating disorder. This course is not a substitution for medical advice from a healthcare team.
All coaching calls with be recorded for you to watch or re-watch on your own time. I will discuss your availability for coaching calls during the discovery call if you decide to apply for the program.
This course is NOT for you if you're not open to learning in a group setting or looking for a quick fix diet or a weight loss program. It's not for anyone who isn't open to learning a new way of thinking about eating & body image. And it's not for you if you are not open to an anti-diet approach to health & wellness
Yes! You can pay monthly for 4 months.
Intuitive Eating for ADHD | 💗 Improve your relationship with food & your body!
'How to Eat with ADHD'...
how This Changed My Life...
Hi Everyone, It's Nicole...
'Eating with ADHD'...who knew that was even a thing?!
I certainly didn't even after 10 years of being a Dietian! But oh how my life could have been so much easier!
Like thousands of other women, I battled with undiagnosed ADHD for the first 33 years of my life.
After my diagnosis in 2020, as a Dietitian, and in true ADHD fashion, I hyper-focused on connecting the dots between diet and ADHD.
When looking for answers, I asked myself these questions....
- "Can I fix my brain?"
- "What impact is ADHD having on my eating habits?
-
"What impact do my eating habits have on my ADHD?"
-
"Is my ADHD the cause of my disordered eating?"
-
"Is food & ADHD the cause of my stress & anxiety?"
-
"How is food and ADHD affecting my mental, emotional, & physical health?"
As you can imagine, there were a lot of questions!
And what was even more of a frustration and concern to me...is that there were so many unanswered questions! There's barely any information connecting these issues anywhere on the internet aside from what foods to avoid....which wasn't what I needed.
So, I used my 10 years experience as a Registered Dietitian to dive into the science-based nutrition, along with the research from the best minds in the ADHD world to find a solution to my problem.
That resulted in me ultimately creating a step-by-step system and approach to food that changed my life!
It allowed me to become aware of what was holding me back, allowed me to heal, allowed me to rewire my mind, and it allowed me to create a healthy relationship with food where I could stop binging and restricting, all while increasing my energy, focus, and mental and emotional health!
Most importantly, it allowed me to create a life where I could be in control around food, and a life where I could manage my ADHD!
As a dietitian, it was against everything I'd ever been told by mainstream education, culture, and society!
What I learned dramatically changed my life and has done for hundreds of my clients over the couple of years. Hopefully, this is the start of it changing your life too!
Food & ADHD...
The Relationship
Can I Heal my relationship With Food?
Getting diagnosed with ADHD was a true revelation that changed my life! And it well and truly transformed my relationship with food! I hope to now give you the steps to transform your own relationship with food!
Up until my diagnosis, I had no idea that ADHD was the cause behind my unhealthy relationship with food!
As many of us are getting diagnosed well into our adult years, I was able reflect on my life and realize that my undiagnosed ADHD was actually creating a life of disordered eating, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and a lot of confusion.
I also came to realize that my brain is unable to operate like neurotypical "normal" brains and that I was ignoring hunger & thirst cues because of time blindness & lack of interoceptive awareness. That unawareness of what our bodies truly need is what leads to restriction, which leads to bingeing, which leads to guilt, being undernourished, and feeling overwhelmed and embarrassed... all of which triggers what we call the 'binge and restrict cycle', where those symptoms repeat themselves hour after hour, day after day.
As I'm sure you can relate, I was genuinely exhausted & tired of being in this cycle, and feeling broken all the time. Life felt so hard.
And, as I said, I'm actually a Registered Dietitian with 10 years experience! Yet nobody in mainstream medicine, science, and nutrition ever gave me the answers or connected the dots between eating and ADHD.
(In fact they made it worse as I explain below.)
So, when I did finally get diagnosed, everything about my life, my mind, my emotions and my behaviors made sense!
It was both eye-opening and painful at the same time... but definitely the most validating thing that's ever happened to me.
Food & ADHD... The Challenges
Relatable Anyone?
Before I share that system and the 9 key steps below, it's important to look at the challenges we all face when eating with ADHD so that we know what we need to overcome on this journey...
-
Impulsivity
-
Binge-eating
-
Bored/low dopamine
-
"Stimming" with food
-
Forgetting to eat (time-blindness)
-
Ignoring hunger & fullness cues
-
Lack of appetite (stimulant meds)
- Overwhelm & anxiety
- Time blindness & poor planning
- All or nothing thinking
- Perfectionism
-
Emotional eating (dysregulation)
-
Chronic yo-yo dieting
-
Disordered eating
-
Sensory issues
-
Decision overwhelm
-
Analysis paralysis
-
Sugar cravings
Do they sound familiar to you?
You are not alone! We have these challenges & frustrations all the time!
But, in order to actually manage and overcome these challenges we need to know WHY we have them...
Why Do We Struggle to Eat with ADHD?
And What Are the Results of the Challenges...
#1: Low Dopamine: Cycle of Perpetual Boredom
Low dopamine causes us to seek stimulation. Eating temporarily increases dopamine & serotonin which stimulates us temporarily and allows us to focus. Our brain perceives this food as a reward & this behavior of eating for stimulation can quickly become a habit.
#2: Impulsivity
A strong urge to eat something is often caused by extreme hunger. We tend to make decisions based on an immediate reward, rather than taking the time to figure out what we really need. This happens more when we don’t plan ahead, when we’re anxious, or overwhelmed.
#3: Lack of Interoceptive Awareness
Our ability to feel our body's cues for hunger, thirst, the need to urinate is dulled...This makes it harder to self-regulate. We wait too long to eat and then end up overeating as a result. We're more susceptible to a lack of connection with our body when we're stressed, hyperfocused, or distracted.
#4: Executive Dysfunction
We all struggle with meal planning, shopping, cooking, and organizing. It's overwhelming & stressful because it takes a lot of executive functioning & mental energy ...and then perfectionism adds another layer of stress. We then resort to take out or have a bunch of snacks instead of a nourishing meal...sometimes leading to a binge...then guilt...then restriction again.
#5: Easily distracted
Distracted eating...we're less satisfied with meals & more likely to overeat when we're not paying attention. Time blindness causes us to lose track of time & not realize how long it's been since we've eaten.
#6: Emotional Dysregulation
ADHD makes it hard for us to regulate our emotions...we're always facing extremes. This makes food much more enticing when uncomfortable feelings come up. Self-soothing with food is actually pretty normal for most people but can lead to bingeing and feeling out of control around it when it's the only way you cope.
All of the challenges in these scenarios lead to the same issues...bingeing, restricting, and feeling out of control around food!
And that is not a state we want to be living in!
Like I said... unfortunately that vicious cycle repeats itself over and over and over again, which is why we feel so out of control! So guilty, so overwhelmed, so stressed. It results in low confidence and low self esteem. It's a really frustrating way to live.
Now, some of you might have already known these connections, for others, your mind might be blown right now and your squirrel brain is screaming;
"🐿 That's me, that's me, that's soooo me 🐿 ".
I certainly was when I went first on this journey!
What You Think the Solution Is...
And How It's the Exact Opposite of What you Need!
Now, it's usually at this point that we start frantically searching for a solution for our unique ADHD brain...
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"How can I stop bingeing and eat consistently?"
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"Should I cut out sugar & artificial flavors & colors..."
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'Which diet should I be on!?? Keto, paleo, vegan, whole 30??"
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"Which detoxes and supplements should I take to fix me?"
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"Which foods should I eat? And which foods should I stop eating"
And... even though you've been dieting or fearing "bad" foods for most of your life, you'll probably proceed to say...
"I'll find more will power... just give me a meal plan to follow and this one will be the one...I'll do it this time!"
Now, this is the answer that should change the course of your life...
DIETING IS NOT THE SOLUTION!!!
DIETS ARE FAILING US!!!
DIETS DON'T WORK... IT'S TIME TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE!
Being aware of this will put you on the path to a new life. So let me elaborate further to hit that home...
DIET CULTURE IS THE REASON WE ARE IN THIS MESS!
We've been dieting & restricting our whole lives whether we know it or not.
Even if you haven't dieting to lose weight, you probably have been conditioned to believe that certain foods are "bad" or cause weight gain or will give you a disease...
So you fear them & don't actually give yourself permission to eat what satisfies you...or you eat it and then feel guilty. Either way...it's a form of mental restriction.
This causes a lot of our stress and overwhelm when it comes to making food choices...and why we overcomplicate eating.
That's the root of most of our eating challenges, mentally, physically, and emotionally...
So when you fail that diet or avoid the foods you fear, and you start to binge, and you feel shameful, guilty and like a failure...
Let me tell you that bingeing is NOT caused by lack of willpower!!!
Bingeing is a SYMPTOM of restriction, scarcity mindset, & lack of coping skills.
And restriction, AKA 'dieting', makes bingeing WORSE.
This is why we've been stuck in the ADHD Restrict/Binge Cycle for most of our lives...
Diets Leads to Bingeing & Restricting
This Creates An Unhealthy Relationship With Food!
The further back you go on one side of the binge/restrict pendulum, the further and more dramatically catapult to the other side!
And this is why we just can't get out of it.
Why we can't be happy, guilt free, and in control.
It's Not Your Fault
Diet Culture Is Designed to Keep You In That Cycle!
We've been restricting our whole lives. That's the root of all of our eating challenges, mentally, physically, and emotionally...
Diet culture heavily influences our choices, self-esteem, & perpetuates fatphobia.
We are constantly bombarded with messaging on social media, TV, radio, advertisements to change our bodies.
That leaves you feeling self-conscious, disconnected from your body, and more obsessed with food
It makes you feel like a "failure" when you can't stick to a diet or when you're not dieting.
Makes you believe you need to be thin, eat "clean", & follow a restrictive diet to be healthy!
Is that how we deserve to be feeling? Is that how we want to live our lives?
Let me hit it home a little bit more and mention the fact that
2/3 people who diet to lose weight end up gaining more weight than they started with!
That's insane.
Restrictive diets = starvation mode, low metabolism, negative effects on physical & mental health. Diets are simply not sustainable!
Yet they are forced upon us in diet culture when on a scientific neuorlogical level... restriction makes us our ADHD minds feel out of control around food!
Now it's Time to Break the Cycle!
A Solution On How to Eat with ADHD...
What are we meant to do if our go-to solutions and diet culture are actually the root of our problems?
Well, there haven't been any systems made specifically for our neurodivergent brains that make it easy to eat consistently, to stop binging, without dieting, so that our ADHD minds can thrive...
So I created one!
Over the past 2 years, I've taken the system that transformed my relationship with food and took me out of the binge and restrict cycle, and I've shared it with clients who have shared equally life-changing results.
Now, after becoming fully booked in my 1 on 1 practice, I am taking the information I share with clients for $2500+, and I'm making it more accessible and affordable via a self-paced online course experience. And I'm sharing it with you today.
How to Eat with ADHD
The Online Course
9 Steps to Stop Bingeing, without Dieting.
12+ Hours of online video content to transform your relationship with food. With the step-by-step system that will reduce overwhelm, frustration, & confusion and allow you to thrive when eating with ADHD.
With the steps that I've put together below, now you can:
1) Heal Your Relationship with Food
2) Improve Your Physical & Mental Health
3) Stop the Diet Cycle... for Life!
You’ve already started the process by being here! 👏👏
Now it's time to break the cycle! And I'm excited for you!
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Diabetes Educator
🧠 ADHD, bingeing, orthorexia, diabetes
💗 Improve your relationship with food & your body!
My Special Offer to You!
Eating with ADHD:
The Course
NEW YEAR SPECIAL OFFER
9 Steps to Stop Binging & Eat Consistently with ADHD.
"12+ Hours of Online Course Content for Just $297? How Good Can This Be?"
Hey, it's me again,
I know many of you may be asking why I'm offering over 12+ hours of coaching material and thousands of dollars worth of information and resources for just $297....
And many of you might be asking how it's possible to stop bingeing and over eating without dieting and restricting.
As mentioned previously, I'm currently fully booked in my 1 on 1 practice where I usually deliver this material to help people for $2500+.
That means that I'm limited with the amount of people I can help at once, and I know that 1:1 coaching isn't affordable for everyone.
So, because I feel it my purpose to help as many people as I can avoid the pain and challenges that we all experience in our lives, I want to make the information more accessible and more affordable via this self paced online course experience.
This course is for you if you want eating to be enjoyable & less stressful, if you want to nourish your body & brain without dieting. If you’re tired of dieting & quick fixes & want something different that you can follow for life...
It's for those of you who are ready to break the cycle and take action with the first steps to making a life changing transformation.
That's why I've bundled my 9-step system into an online course so you can implement these steps into your life to start being the best version of you.
Designed specifically for ADHD minds, to put you in control once and for all to improve your mental and physical health and happiness.
Hope to see you on the inside.
My Special Offer to You!
Eating with ADHD:
The Course
NEW YEAR SPECIAL OFFER
9 Steps to Stop Binging & Eat Consistently with ADHD.
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