Joan Ridsdel​
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W.I.S.E.R WOMAN



SISTERHOOD


Wisdom. Intuition. Self Compassion. Energy. Resilience.

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8/17/2018

18 Comments

 
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What Happened When I Went to the Coffee Shop

I’ve recently discovered a new coffee shop in my neighborhood. 
  
To order coffee or your favorite beverage, you have to order at the counter where, on display, are all kinds of delicious homemade treats –  an assortment of jumbo muffins that taste like cake or have blueberries with a splash of bran in them, freshly made scones made with butter and cheese, light and fluffy croissants that melt in your mouth, ice cream that is rich and creamy and made locally. 


While there are other things on the menu (sandwiches and salads) it’s the treats that our eyes feast on first.  It’s as if they call out to us – temptation at it’s best!   
   
Why am I telling you this? 

Because until this year, my brain would have been on fire walking into that coffee shop. 

Seeing those treats, so beautifully displayed, would have set off a heated conversation in my head (and possibly out loud if we were having coffee together) and put me on an emotional roller coaster that is hard to stop and even harder to climb down from.

At the start of this year, 2018, I decided to make a change.

I quit dieting and quit beating myself up. 

At first it seemed daunting.  At first, I floundered. 

Was it possible to change my thinking, beliefs, feelings and create new habits?  Could I really Create the Life I Crave?

To stop dieting, make peace with food, and feel deliciously comfortable in your body there are 5 stages or phases to work through. 

I adapted and summarized them from “Intuitive Eating:  A Revolutionary Program That Works” by Evelyn Tribold & Elyse Resch:

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We become a W.I.S.E.R Woman.

I was at the coffee shop the other day and I bought a scone. 

I took a bite – it tasted delicious – but when I checked in with my body, I realized I didn’t want it just then. 

It sat on my counter, hours later.  I saved it for just the right moment when my body said yes, when I truly wanted it, when I was in the right frame of mind. 

I ended up not eating it - that’s OK – someone here did. 

I can buy another one, another time.

I’m in the driver’s seat.  I get to decide.  I get to choose. 

I am free.


Do you long for peace around food? 

Are you tired of feeling trapped on the rollercoaster, wanting to get off but afraid of the unknown? 

Not sure where to start? 

I’d be honoured to chat with you about this journey. 

It’s not for the faint of heart but it brings peace where peace isn’t possible on a roller coaster going around in circles. 

It frees up space in our minds and our lives, where space is limited to one small seat on the roller coaster.

It helps us slow down to enjoy food and our bodies again, where life on a roller coaster goes way too fast and frantically. 

It allows us to feel all our feelings and reshape our thoughts and beliefs in positive ways, instead of circling around and around in an endless spiral that is exhausting.

Join the Journey.  Contact me on my website or on facebook (www.facebook.com/joan.ridsdel) for a Complimentary Discovery Call to see whether we are a good fit  and how I can help you Create the Life You Crave. 

With gratitude,

Joan
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18 Comments
Freda
8/17/2018 06:23:00 pm

Loved reading your blog found it very inspirational!

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Joan link
8/17/2018 06:50:20 pm

Thank you Freda! It’s quite the journey!

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Linda link
8/17/2018 07:05:53 pm

What a powerful post Joan! Your honesty combined with practical suggestions will guide and inspire others who are facing this challenge!

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Joan link
8/18/2018 08:54:52 am

Thank you Linda! I appreciate your feedback! This truly is a journey!

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Nancy McNaughton link
8/18/2018 09:09:59 am

Joan! This is such an empowering article. I read the steps and at first I was down on myself, thinking about how much I have been failing to reach my weight loss goals. I saw myself at stage 1. Then as I read the stages again, I realized that I am in reality, between stages 2 and 3! I took a huge step when I finally admitted that diets do not work for me! I am beginning to recognize how I feel when I eat. Thank you for your passion in sharing and teaching us to end the food and diet war! One tiny choice, one big breakthrough. Loving ourselves is definitely the first step. Listening to what we really want and need is key. I am learning to listen. ❤️

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Joan link
8/18/2018 11:33:47 am

Thank you Nancy! I'm so glad this resonated with you and that you are taking each step to be free from dieting and emotional eating! Yay! Can't wait to chat with you more!

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Andrea Raco link
8/18/2018 10:27:08 am

Powerful and compelling, Joan. Love your storytelling! Helps us connect with you and join your journey to improved health and the very best part...Freedom.

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Joan link
8/18/2018 11:36:04 am

Thank you Andrea! Yes, it's the Freedom that is the best part. Thanks for commenting!

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Dawn Loyd link
8/18/2018 02:54:05 pm

This is powerful and not just another weight loss program. You have really got my Ttention. Over the years I have tried so many programs that didnt work. This is for sure on another level. So glad I read it all the way through. So excited. Thrilled to get connected I believe this will be my break through.

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Joan link
8/18/2018 03:06:44 pm

Thank you Dawn! I'm so glad you like it and it's true that this approach is not another diet - it's about truly learning to care for you and your body without dieting and about learning to transform emotional eating. Happy to chat more!

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Jacqueline
8/22/2018 09:43:57 am

Great blog Joan that used to happen to me until I decided I did not need all that sugar in my body.

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Joan link
8/23/2018 08:47:43 pm

Thank you! It's so important to find out what works for you. So glad you have been able to do that! Awesome!

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Janyce
8/25/2018 06:36:11 pm

Wow! I resignate with this writing Joan. Only difference is that I’m struggling with saying No or leaving the choice foods alone. With that, I am comfortable with my body.

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Joan link
8/27/2018 07:36:54 am

Thank you for this Janyce! Love that you are comfortable with your body! The more that we work through the process of transforming emotional eating and tap into our intuition, the more food becomes just food - we can then enjoy the food that we used to be obsessed about and not worry that it's in the house. Deciding to eat (and how much) a particular food because a matter of choice so we are not reacting to our emotions or an emotional event. Thanks again for commenting! So glad this blog resonated with you!

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Janyce Bampton
8/27/2018 09:35:54 am

"Deciding to eat (and how much) a particular food because a matter of choice so we are not reacting to our emotions or an emotional event. " You've nailed it here Joan. Thanks! I realize that my poor choices are focused around "an emotional event", whether it be an emotional event within or outside my body. I'll keep this in mind for sure.

Joan link
9/7/2018 10:52:55 am

Thank you Janyce! I'm so glad you found this helpful. Emotions and thoughts are powerful - the good news is that we can change the direction of our Journey by changing our thoughts and how we think about those events. Our emotions cry out for us to acknowledge them, honour them and recognize them as our signals that let us know how we are doing, thinking and whether our actions are helpful or not! Take care!

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Yvonne A Jones link
9/8/2018 10:31:03 pm

Joan,

This is a powerful post and it started with a decision. Simple and profound!

Thank you for sharing your journey. Clearly your mindset plays a significant role. One of the things you said made me reflect on my love of anything with chocolate and almonds (that's egg-free). Recently I automatically reached for it in the store. As I broke a piece later, I realized I did not really want or need it. It was a habit!

Thanks for a beautifully written article.

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Joan link
9/9/2018 10:54:52 am

Thank you so much for your comment and feedback! Yes, our thinking and beliefs have so much to do with how we feel about our bodies and food. I think the one thing that has given me freedom to choose what I eat in a mindful way is realizing that food is food - there are no bad or good foods but I get to decide what to eat, how much, when etc. based upon how my body feels and what is going on for me at the moment. I understand your love of chocolate and almonds! Good to look at what's a habit and whether its serving you in the best way possible. Thanks again!

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    Hello, I'm Joan Ridsdel, the Founder and Creative Director of WISER Woman Coaching and Personal Development.  I"m truly passionate about  inspiring women to live the life they were meant for - free from the shackles of the dieting culture, fully in tune and at peace with their miraculous body and enjoying a healthy and joyful relationship with food.

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