C o n f e s s i o n s of a C h o c o h o l i c
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Before 2015 I can definitely confirm that I, Sim, was a chocoholic. It was in fact the one things I refused to give up, even though I knew in my heart of hearts that it was my need and desire for chocolate (and biscuits) that was keeping me in my cycle of chronic pain (fibromyalgia), migraines, headaches, depression and many other ailments.
Up until my diagnosis of fibromyalgia (fibro), I was not only a secret eater, consuming more biscuits that I would have let on, and hiding the packets under other bits of rubbish in the bin, but I was also unable to finish any meal without some form of sweet stuff afterwards. I used chocolate and biscuits, to pick up my energy, to pick up my moods, to fill this desire in my mouth which just "needed something sweet". It was crazy.
After my diagnosis of fibro, I managed to change many aspects of my lifestyle. I gave up my busy practice as a masseuse, I did yoga, I did meditation, I was sent on a pain management program (that helped), I saw a psychiatrist to understand my pain and past. It was full on. All the while I was still eating chocolate/biscuits etc like it was going out of fashion.
It was only in March 2015 did things change. I knew in my heart that my nutrition had to change. I KNEW deep down that I had a problem. I didn't necessarily connect fibro pain/flare ups with food at this point! Not until I actually made the changes. I was introduced to Banting in March 2015 and parked it for a bit whilst my family and I went off to Disney.
On my return I did my research around Banting & The Real Meal Revolution and I was HOOKED! 4th Jun 2015 (a date i will never forget) I started a 3 month online program to learn and implement all about this way of life...... and it. was. AMAZING.... within weeks my pain had reduced, my regular headaches had gone, my joint pain reduced. I'd not felt this well in a very long time. I needed EVERYBODY to know about this. And so my life changed, my career changed, everything change.
It didn't stop me being a chocoholic, well that's not quite true, it did make me brutally aware of my body, and to listen to it. I stayed off the "sweet stuff" for the duration of my program, but after the 3 months was up I started to experiment with the natural sugar alcohol alternatives that are "allowed" in low carb/banting living. Then I became obsessed with making desserts. I was able to control myself better, I didn't have the constant desire to feed my body sugar/chocolate/biscuits because I was filling it with nutrients that satisfied my body's needs AND I knew it would create flare ups and pains that I had worked so hard to manage. It was fascinating.
I started to see within the pre-diabetic community where I had been a health coach for a few years, that the Fear Of Missing Out was a reason why people couldn't commit to giving up the foods that were making them sick! From that I became interested in understanding sugar addiction, emotional eating and binge eating and that is part of the reason why NoFOMO Foods developed.
Through the realization that in order for people to fully commit to making nutritional and lifestyle changes I could help them not only with coaching, but with providing them with the healthy food alternatives that they struggled to give up (for whatever reason!). No Junk, No Sugar, Low Carbs. But STILL all the JOY!
I truly believe that everyone has the right to know what it feels like to feel well, healthy, and alive. Some people just don't connect how much food can affect their health, how sugar/chocolate/ultra processed foods are addictive, how seed oils are so damaging to our body etc. I want to educate people to understand that, as well as show them that eating healthily really DOES NOT need to be boring. It has to be sustainable and people in the Low Carb/Banting Community tend to stay with this for life.
What is your biggest problem with staying on track with your health journey?
Reach out, I love helping people, if you'd like a chat please DM me.
Big Love & Joy
The NoFOMO Foods Family xx
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