Kelly – Full time Mum of 2
My top three goals upon starting the 6-month program were to find my sparkle again after a few very stressful months, I felt so emotionally drained, that I had lost myself and wanted to regain my strength and find my sparkle again. I wanted a better relationship with food and although I have always been a fairly healthy eater I wanted to learn more about food and how to manage my cravings. I wanted to overcome issues with my weight and the dreaded weighing scales.
Ali was able to help me work toward these goals by talking through why I had lost my sparkle and the big events that had happened in my life and reassuring me I would get past this and that I was on the right track. She taught me that by making daily changes and taking small steps that I would feel like myself again, an even better self. She helped me conquer the voices in my head and we even put names/characters to them and made it feel more less invasive and I started to accept that these voices were my inner self just trying to protect me.
The biggest tangible change I have noticed since beginning the program has been that the weighing scales have gone!! It took a lot for me to get rid of them (with the help of my husband too), but I know now that the number on the scale does not define who I am and that is all thanks to Ali. I was constantly weighing myself day and night and now I barely think about it and go by how my clothes fit and how I am feeling in myself etc.
The most significant overall change I have noticed has been my attitude to food and how I make healthier choices automatically without really thinking about it. I also feel like I am more laid back when it comes to treats. I used to beat myself up if I went into my dreaded chocolate drawer and have something out of it and would dwell on it for ages and now I accept that a treat now and again isn’t going to hurt me and it’s ok.
I would describe Ali as incredibly caring, so very friendly and having an understanding of everything. She never once made me feel silly even when I was feeling it myself over the smallest of things, i.e. messaging her because I had put on 4lbs over a couple of weeks and I was freaking out! She was always there to answer any questions, offer reassurance or just try and put my mind at ease about things, her guidance was and is amazing. During our coaching time I went through a very emotional time with my ill Stepfather and Ali was so supportive throughout and gave me various coping strategies which helped me massively. Most of all, I now class Ali as a very special friend who has certainly enriched my life in more ways than one.
I would recommend Ali to anyone who is looking on improving their lifestyle, making the best out of your life and having a better and healthier relationship with food.
Over the last 6 months we have set monthly goals and reviewed them regularly. I completed a Circle of Life form and then did it again at the end of the 6 months to see what had changed. We talked through the Circle of life in detail and set a top 3 from it that I wanted to work on and made some plans together on what steps to take. My health has improved so much in the last 6 months and I feel like I have a much better relationship with food now. I definitely have more energy and I have 100% got my sparkle back!
I cannot thank Ali enough for all her time, patience and knowledge and her friendship over the last 6 months.