Intuitive eating is all about listening to your body and giving it what it needs. It's a departure from the restrictive dieting mindset that has become so prevalent in our society. With intuitive eating, there is no "good" or "bad" food, and no forbidden foods.

Happy Valley Nutrition offers affordable, accessible nutrition counseling with insurance in Western Massachusetts. We work with individuals and families to help them make healthy changes that improve their quality of life. Take a look at the different types of insurance we currently accept.

Let me ask you a question: When you started leaving diet culture and stepping foot in to Anti-Diet land, how did you do it? Did you read a book or listen to a podcast that when finished felt like a lightbulb had gone on over your head?

Or, perhaps you’re like me and it wasn’t as much a lightbulb but a friggin’ LIGHTENING BOLT through your very soul?? (I can be very dramatic, I know.)

Well, whatever happened to you as you tip-toed across the very magical line into food/body freedom land (what a beautiful place!) you needed resources, right? Social media accounts to follow, podcasts to listen to, books and articles to read late into the night as you shouted out loud, “Diet culture is such BS!”

If you want, need, or just love to collect resources, you’re in the right place.

Today I wanted to touch on a topic that I discuss often in sessions- the desire to lose weight.I can hear you yelling: “But wait, Amanda, I thought you were Anti-Diet and anti- people who want to lose weight?!”

Ok, so- yes, I am anti the pursuit of weight loss and dieting because it never leads to ANYTHING good (and I know first hand) and well, down with the patriarchy and capitalism.

But I am NOT anti-the desire to lose weight. <<insert record screeching here>>

So it’s May, and with that, the arrival of warmer weather. Cue the vulnerability and fear around trying on last year’s seasonal clothes AND being seen in public. I get it, I feel this so hard. And my clients do too, so if this resonates, I promise you aren’t alone.

Here are 3 ways to get through trying on your clothes from last year that may be helpful:

If you're like us here at Happy Valley Nutrition Headquarters, you've given up on New Years dieting resolutions. (Or, even better- no resolutions at all! We are "New Year, Same You!" type of people).

If your social media has been any indication, this time of year marks the dieting industry’s time to make BANK on our insecurities, time, money, and well- being by promoting weight loss in the guise of health and wellness.

I had a body image meltdown in Bloomingdales this past weekend.

Before I was a tried-and-true New England country girl, I was a city gal, calling New York City my home. My mother still lives there, and I hadn't been back to visit in over two years, so a trip was overdue. We had an awesome time, and I was VERY proud that I brought sensible shoes to walk miles in.

I had the immense pleasure of going to the Caribbean with my family last week.

I was genuinely grateful I could take a break from New England winter. However, it wasn't always a week I looked forward to—for as long as I can remember, the anxiety of dressing a body I hated always reared its head before and during the trip, followed by frustration and anger upon my return that I had spent most of the vacation focused on my body and my diet.

Can you relate to this?