It’s not exactly uncommon to struggle with healthy eating habits. Once you fall into a habit of any kind, it can feel difficult to break it, but it’s definitely not impossible! We spoke to Kym Ventola, wellness coach and founder of Nine Women’s Retreat, who gave us some useful insight into how you can change your habits, especially if you’re trying to lose weight and get healthy.
“Instead of pretending that they don’t exist, I talk about my ‘bad habits,'” Kym told POPSUGAR. “I write them down. I dig deep and try to understand why I’ve allowed these bad habits to exist.”
Rather than just ignore the fact that you struggle with late-night snacking or have trouble with sugary treats, Kym suggests you write down your bad habits and confront them head-on. “There’s usually a root cause — they didn’t magically appear for no reason at all,” she explained. Perhaps you were “feeling lonely and disconnected” or you’ve experienced trauma that is leading you to use food as a crutch.
“The cure is to be transparent, open, and honest,” Kym said. When she confronts her own bad habits, she confides in her husband, a mentor, or a close friend, but she steers clear of social media. “That’s not a good fit for me, but maybe a great outlet for you!” she added.
“I do business and life coaching, and this comes up quite a bit. Women come to me for support, clarity, and direction in so many areas of their life,” Kym said. “Many times, it’s a lack of boundaries that have resulted in ‘bad habits,’ toxic relationships, poor choices, or resentment. Being honest and finding your voice can be liberating! It takes the power away from the ‘thing’ and brings power back to you.”
When Kym’s clients are able to be completely honest with her, she says these women experience “clarity, purpose, passion, and wisdom.” But throughout the whole process, the most important thing is to “give yourself patience and love.” Kym says you should never beat yourself up for any of your eating habits or for making mistakes. “Try not to compare yourself to others or make judgments,” she concluded. “We are all doing the best we can with what we have and with what we know. Community over competition — remember that on your journey.”
