As parents we are bombarded with hundreds of opinions about a single childcare-related topic and very often there is no clear right or wrong answer. In this blog I'm going to explain why I'm a massive fan of baby-led weaning, without any pressure on you to agree with me :-)

‘Well done you lost some weight!’, ‘You look great!’, ‘You have amazing willpower’. Does that sound familiar? I am sure at some point we have all uttered something along those lines to a friend, colleague or family member. It’s just a compliment, right? I completely believe you when you say that it was meant as such and nothing else. Applauding someone for intentional weight loss, which we perceive as commendable, and which is actively pushed by healthcare professionals can surely only be a positive thing?

Unfortunately it is not. In fact, it can be very harmful. Do you want to know why?

Guest blog by Carole Dowling from The Enjoy Movement

Exercise has long been associated with diet culture and used as a weight management tool enabling us burn calories to achieve the ‘perfect body’. The best exercise has historically been the one that burns the most calories and helps us to achieve these aesthetic goals. It is no surprise, therefore, that so many of us have a complicated relationship with exercise. Thank goodness there is now a movement encouraging a different way of thinking. The intuitive movement approach, focusing on intrinsic reasons to exercise, is now gaining wider acceptance.

There are many complementary therapies and self-care approaches you can use when you embark on your intuitive eating journey. One I am fascinated by is hypnosis, as it can have a huge impact on anxiety and poor self image, which often underlie disordered eating behaviours. I am excited that the lovely Celia Griver from Blossom Hypnotherapy has written a fabulous and informative guest blog for me, explaining how hypnosis works and how it can benefit you in a variety of ways. I am sure you will enjoy reading it!!

Have you ever considered the price you are paying for dieting and the pursuit of weight loss? There is a financial cost, of course. The $70bn diet industry needs to keep afloat with our hard-earned cash. But the true cost of dieting isn’t just money. There is the toll it can take on your mental health, your physical health, your social, family and romantic relationships, your time, and your overall satisfaction with life.

Health outcomes are largely determined by so-called social 'determinants of health' (external aspects of our life such as the environment you live in, discrimination, racism, housing, job security, access, socio-economic background, etc.) as well as by your genetic blueprint.

Having said all that, there are things you can do to make yourself feel happier and healthier, and you will be surprised to hear that none of them involve having to lose weight!

Just to clarify: I am very much against diet culture, but not against dieters. I have tons of compassion for everyone who wants to lose weight, because it's what we are all told we should do. But how can we protect ourselves against the harmful diet rhetoric?

Intuitive eating can’t be that hard, surely you can just buy a book on it and give it a go?

Well, if that works for you, that’s fantastic! I would love for people to be able to incorporate it into their lives and use one of the many amazing books that have been written by equally amazing nutritionists and dietitians (have a look at my resources list for inspiration!)

But why could working with and intuitive eating counsellor be helpful for you?