https://www.rethink-eating.com/

Rethink Eating, Tupelo, MS (2025)

02/27/2024

It’s “Eating Disorder Awareness Week” so let’s talk about two key risk factors for eating disorders: Disordered eating and dieting.

You may have wondered what really is disordered eating and how is it different from an eating disorder? If you think of a spectrum with normal (intuitive) eating on one end and eating disorders on the other, disordered eating would fall in between.

Disordered eating may include symptoms and behaviors of eating disorders, but at a lesser frequency or lower level of severity. But friends, these behaviors can spiral quickly into an eating disorder! Seeking help EARLY is the best preventative measure.

If you or someone you know is engaging in disordered eating or dieting behavior, please consider reaching out! I’d love to help you or connect you with others that can help.

02/14/2024

💌 Valentine’s Day Reminders 💘

1. No matter what- or how much- Valentine’s candy you have eaten, you still need to eat today. No, you don’t have to “burn it all off” or “be good” all day today (or tomorrow) to make up for it. Feed your good body. You deserve to eat. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to show love to yourself.

2. No matter what you plan on eating tonight on your Valentine’s date or at a Galentine’s party, you still need to eat today. (See #1 for more info)

3. One of the most basic ways you can love yourself is by feeding and nourishing your good body. Your good body wants to take care of you. It’s on your team!!

If you noticed an “out of control feeling” or obsession around the party foods and valentines candies, that is a strong indicator that you are not eating enough at other times or restricting particular foods or food groups - this is almost never an issue of self-control or self-discipline. **A hungry brain causes a food obsessed brain.**

And if you “start over” today or tomorrow restricting again, there’s a very good chance you’ll just land in a binge again.

Friend, are you ready to get out of this cycle? There is freedom and rest waiting for you on the other side of striving. ❤️❤️❤️ You aren’t alone in this battle, and I’d love to help (link in bio to contact me about services).

If you missed the Valentine’s challenges, check out the link in bio!

Happy Valentine’s Day my lovelies! ❤️

🖼 illustrations by and

02/08/2024

Hey girl, if you are feeling
less than,
not enough,
not good enough,
or even too much,
here’s a reminder for today!

✨✨God delights in you.✨✨

You are seen.
You are wholly loved.
You are fully valued.

JUST AS YOU ARE.

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you
with joyful songs.”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬

02/06/2024

If you’re thinking of giving up sugar for Lent, you’re not alone! It’s one of the most common ways to fast for Lent (along with many other food fasts). But, if you are struggling in your relationship with food and/or your body, is it wise to fast from food? This is a question I’ve been wrestling with for a few years now after a long history of disordered eating and wanted to share a few thoughts.

During my dieting days, I’d get pretty excited about Lent. I didn’t learn about the practice of Lent until I was an adult, but when I did, I was ready to join in this exciting combo of Christianity and dieting! Most years I gave up sugar and remember thinking, “God is really going to bless this effort (aka help me lose weight) because I’m turning to him instead of food!”

But, inevitably about 2 weeks in, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I’d break my fast (and typically land in a binge). I’d feel guilt, shame, and disappointment that I had failed Jesus. Again.

Fast forward several years later and I’ve learned those messages were from my “diet culture voice”. Our culture has twisted the spiritual discipline of fasting and Lent into a glorified endeavor to lose weight and a become a “better you”. When our focus should be on Jesus- how much he loves us and what Easter truly means- we’ve made it about us. “Jesus how can you help me get skinny?” “Jesus, I’m going to give this food up for you, so you’ll shrink my body.”

Am I saying Lent is bad? No! I love the season of Lent and fasting is a very important spiritual discipline. But, we live in a body obsessed culture constantly in pursuit of shrinking and perfecting our bodies. If we aren’t careful, Lent can easily become a holy disguise for our next weight loss attempt.

Lent doesn’t have to be food-centered! Consider fasting from:
-social media
-time on phone
-home projects
-diets or daily weighing
-video games
-tv or music
-shopping
-staying up late

What if you spent the 40 days of Lent thinking on (and thanking him for) God’s forgiveness and grace offered through Easter- rather than striving to be good enough? Because friends, we’ll never be good enough, but that’s what makes the good news of Easter so good!

01/31/2024

Valentine’s Challenge back by popular demand!! 👏

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Hurt people hurt people”? Well, I believe the opposite is just as true, “Loved people love people”. ❤️ If we want to truly love others well, we have to first show love to ourselves.

❤️Showing kindness to ourselves will allow us to more easily show kindness to others.
❤️Giving ourselves grace instead of criticism will allow us to extend grace more quickly to others.
❤️Speaking truth-filled, loving words to ourselves will give us the language to encourage others.

✨What if this year to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you invested time and energy in loving yourself?✨

I know loving ourselves can feel so tricky and hard to make a priority, so I wanted to give you two resources to make YOU a priority this month.

👉🏼Head over to my website to check out the challenges (link in profile). You’ll find a sticky note challenge as well as a list of ways to love yourself over the next two weeks.

💕It’s time to show yourself some VERY DESERVED love! Are you ready?! I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to hear how it goes!!

01/29/2024

I believe Mondays in January are the most Monday-ish Mondays in all the land. Getting back into routines after holidays and waking to the cold, dark mornings makes me want to just stay in bed. Or at least in my pjs.

I struggle with the “winter blues” and they are in full swing right now. Many people I’ve talked to lately are in the same boat. January can be hard. And Mondays in January? 😵‍💫😴🥱🥴😥

When winter comes I know I have to be ready to fight back to keep my mental health in a good place. A few years ago I started sitting beside a light box in the winter mornings while I drank my coffee and did my reading. It really seems to help! (The picture above was taken later in the morning. It’s usually still very dark when I sit beside my light. It’s recommended to do it very soon after you wake up.)

Light therapy is becoming a more popular technique to help with seasonal depression (and postpartum depression too) as more research is showing its effectiveness. If you are curious about it and would like to know more, check out this article (link in profile),

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/light-therapy-not-just-for-seasonal-depression-202210282840

I’ve also been brainstorming other ways to help me get out of this funky “blah” feeling, so here are a few ideas to help beat the winter blues:

✨Spend time with people you enjoy
✨Try out a new hobby
✨Take a walk outside
✨Eat lunch (or a snack) outside
✨Try light therapy
✨Meet with a counselor
✨Cook a favorite comfort food
✨Try a new recipe
✨Order in and have a living room picnic
✨Have a pajama dance party
✨Buy a new cozy blanket and candle then cuddle up on the couch
✨Plan a trip
✨Create a fun music playlist
✨Browse the library for a new book
✨Try a new coffee or hot tea flavor
✨Visit a museum or art gallery
✨Put together a puzzle

💕 I’d love to hear from you! What helps you on the “blah” days? Have you tried light therapy?

01/23/2024

❄️🏂🥶 Hey friends! We are finally thawing out from a crazy week of sleet/ice here in Mississippi (following a week of sickness in our house)! 🤪😵‍💫 My kids are back at school today, so I’m back in my office planning and dreaming up some exciting things!
Anyone else out there get thrilled for some normal routine?! 🤣🥳

01/01/2024

Happy New Year friends!! 🥳🎉 God has good things for you this year!! Don’t miss them! 🥰

12/23/2023

If Christmas looks different and especially hard for you this year, let this be a reminder that Jesus is with you. You aren’t walking through the difficulties alone. ❤️‍🩹

12/22/2023

I have found that “giving thanks” can really change my attitude and perspective- whether I’m anxious, stressed, annoyed, depressed, fearful, hurried, or like this week-exhausted from all things Christmas!

Stopping and naming all the gifts I’ve been given really seems to shift things. Yeah, all the hard things are still there, but perspective is different. Gratitude reorients things.

Our home, friends, family, jobs, and Jesus are typically on our list (as they should be!), but I have found I especially love naming the small mundane gifts.
Things like
☕️ coffee in a Christmas mug,
🧦 fuzzy socks,
⛅️ a sunrise,
🛋️ cuddles with my kids on the couch, or
🛏️ fresh, crisp sheets on my bed!

What are some of your favorite mundane gifts- the little things that make you smile through your normal, ordinary days? Breathe this breath prayer of gratitude to remind yourself how good and generous God is to you.

12/21/2023

✨Today may be the darkest day of the year, but we know that the light has come and no amount of darkness can overcome it. Breathe this prayer of hope today!

12/21/2023

🎄😬😵‍💫 Christmas-time Anxiety Part 2. Ready for your one minute retreat?! (Be sure to check out previous post if you missed it!!)

👏PRACTICING BREATH PRAYERS

1. Find a quiet, comfy spot to sit or lie down (closets work really well if you need to hide out from your crazy littles for a moment to catch a breath)

2. Pick out a Psalm that catches your attention (I’ll be posting some over next few days). Then split the verse into two parts. The first section will be your inhale and the second will be your exhale.

3. Close your eyes fully focusing on your breath.

4. Deeply inhale through your nose into your diaphragm (your belly should expand rather than your chest). This may take a little practice as most of us are shallow breathers. Hold the breath for a few seconds and then slowly exhale. The goal is for the exhale to be longer than the inhale.

5. Once you get the hang of taking long, deep belly breaths, you can add in the scripture. Using Psalm 112:7 as an example, Inhale: “He/she will not fear bad news” then exhale: “his/her heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.”

6. Repeat several times. Practice throughout the day and experiment using breath prayers during daily activities (on a walk, doing chores, waiting in line, or when you start feeling anxious or other strong emotions).

12/21/2023

🎄😵‍💫🤪🎅🏼 Christmas-time anxiety?! Maybe it’s being with family. Maybe it’s the never ending to-do list or all the things to buy! Maybe there is less money this year or more hours to work. Whatever the source of the anxiety, so often we take it out on our bodies! We get tricked into thinking, “I may not can control my circumstances, but I can control my body!”

You may get super critical of your body or resolve to eat less, count macros, and exercise more than normal. But friends, that never ends well because at the end of the day, our body is not the problem- it’s our anxiety! So, instead of being so mean to ourselves, what if we try some new tools to calm our anxiety?

Have you heard of breath prayers? A few years ago, I came across the ancient practice of breath prayers. Breath prayers are short phrases or scriptures prayed with the inhale and exhale of our breath. They can be especially helpful to calm anxious thoughts.

I like to think of breath prayers as “One Minute Retreats”- a free retreat that can be done practically anywhere and anytime (just don’t close your eyes if you’re driving!).

Breath prayers can use any phrase or verse but I have found that short verses from the book of Psalms work really well (and has the added benefit of scripture memorization)!

Leading up to Christmas, I’ll be posting a breath prayer each day. If you have been struggling with a busy mind or being mean to your body, give it a try and let me know what you think!

Details on how to practice breath prayers in next post!

12/19/2023

It’s an hour before your event/party/date. You go to put on the outfit you planned to wear, and it just doesn’t look in the mirror like it did in your head. Your thoughts might sound like,

“What will people think about me re-gaining the weight I had lost?”
“Will they notice my body has changed?”
“I don’t have anything to wear.”
“What if someone thinks I’m pregnant.”
“They will be taking pictures and I don’t want to be in them.”
“I’ll be the largest one there.”

I have heard story after story from women talking about events, birthdays, concerts, and trips they’ve missed because the fears and mean self-talk was just too loud.

So what do you do?! Try this!

🧠 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD and INTO YOUR BODY. When the thoughts are too loud, moving your body even for just a few minutes can help quiet your mind. Stretch, dance, go up and down stairs, chase your kids, clean your house, go for a walk!

☀️ GO OUTSIDE! Being outside is like a brain reset. Sit, play, walk, or water your plants.

📖 MEDITATE on scripture. One of the best ways to shut down lies is with truth. Here are a few favorites:
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 “My heart is confident, trusting in the Lord. My heart is assured. I will not fear.” Psalm 112:8
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
“In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11

✏️ JOURNAL your thoughts. Give them an exit! Try making a list of your fears and “what-if’s” then tear up the paper and throw away.

❤️ Remember, God has made your body good. Fight the lies of the enemy and SHOW UP to all the wonderful parts of your life! You are worthy to show up.

11/28/2023

Intuitive eating is listening to and respecting your body for what, when, and how much food it wants/needs to eat.

Diet culture is someone else telling you what, when, and how much you need to eat (wrapped up nicely in guilt and pride).

“I just want to eat normally without overthinking all of it” is one of the most common goals I hear from my clients. And it’s totally possible!

If you have that same goal, I’d love to help you become the expert of your own body! Pm me to schedule a session or if you have any questions about my services.

11/24/2023

If you are starting an after-the-holiday-diet or even thinking “I need to watch what I eat today”, read this first! 👇🏼

Do you ever blame your binging episodes on lack of self-control or willpower? What if I told you that almost always binging is a result of restriction?

Y’all, it’s so easy to get caught up in this cycle! Let’s say it’s Monday, so you are going to “be good” and “watch what you eat”, so you restrict, restrict, restrict.

Your good body has no idea if you are intentionally limiting food or stuck in a famine. So, your good body screams at you (aka craves), “Eat NOW!” and “Eat that carb because it will give me energy the quickest!!”

✨No, you’re not addicted to carbs and/or (more on that another day)
✨No, this isn’t an issue of self-control (more on that another day too)
✨No, you do not have anything to feel shame about.

Your body is good. And your body just wants to take care of you.

Try this: Think back to the last time you binged. What food(s) did you binge on? Were those the foods you were restricting? -Or maybe ones you label “bad foods”?

Friend, your body can be trusted. Break this cycle today by refusing to start another diet. Your body needs energy (from food not caffeine) to make it through today. Feed your good body. It will thank you ❤️

11/23/2023

✅ fried our first turkey
✅ watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade while dreaming of being in NYC
✅ ate some yummy food
✅ planned our Black Friday route

🎅 Now time to Christmas decorate! 🌲🎉 I love all things fall- especially fall decor- but there’s nothing like a Christmas tree! Are you an all-things-fall or Christmas gal?

11/23/2023

I hope that today you will find something that tastes as good as skinny feels! 🥰

Thankful for all of you- my wonderful clients and friends- and for the privilege to be part of your story. 🦃Happy Thanksgiving!🍁🍽

✍🏼Enjoy this poem by the amazing

Rethink Eating

02/27/2024

02/14/2024

02/08/2024

02/06/2024

01/31/2024

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01/23/2024

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