Let me tell you a secret...

I knew she was right. So, I went on a diet and lost some weight.
And that’s when things got really strange.

I was 21 and miserable. Heavier than I’d ever been.
Even my grandmother said I was “maybe a little chubby.”

I was 21 and miserable. Heavier than I’d ever been. Even my grandmother said I was “maybe a little chubby.”

I’m living proof that you can do it.

And I cannot wait for us to get started.

I thought I’d be happier with my life once I lost weight. What I discovered was that overeating had been a form of self-medication...stuffing down and covering up unexpressed anger and sadness. And it wasn’t so easy to deal with these emotions without my usual coping strategy. I’d lost 25 pounds. I was now a “normal” weight. But I was not happier with myself.

I kept going with my diet, believing I’d find relief once I lost "enough" weight. I never got there; it was never enough. Somehow, the body I thought I should have, and the happiness I expected that to bring, never emerged. In all, I spent 5 years trapped by the darkness of anorexia nervosa.

Therapy helped somewhat, but ultimately I went in search of the answers (boundaries) I needed. It took moving far from my family to accomplish this. Over time, I began to enjoy life more and I allowed myself to gain back some weight. This was a fraught time. I was fearful of losing control of my weight. And my metabolism had been destroyed. I could gain weight very easily eating very little. Over the next few years I weight-cycled, gaining and losing the same 5-7 pounds until I figured out how to maintain my weight.

I’ve maintained my weight loss for over 30 years, and my preferred weight for over 20. It’s only gotten easier over time. I eat what I want when I’m hungry. I have no cravings, I feel no deprivation. I rarely feel food anxiety or guilt. I have found greater acceptance of my body.

My experiences gave me deep insights into the challenges we face once we lose weight. It's then that the longest, hardest battle begins: the battle to keep it off. For many of us, this is a superhuman effort. Many who lose weight struggle with "yo-yo dieting." We have a problem with weight maintenance.  But why?

Losing weight changes your body, not your mind. But if you want to keep the weight off, your mind is what needs to change.

Our thoughts come from our beliefs about ourselves and the world, and they're rooted in our very identity. To keep the weight off, you need to stop acting like you did when you weighed more and behave like naturally thin people do. And this is a conscious effort until you truly embody the identity of a thin person.

A new identity doesn't just get downloaded. It takes work and determination to install specific habits which keep you at your goal weight. Over time these new behaviors change the way you think about yourself. In essence,  through the methodical and consistent execution of a weight maintenance lifestyle, your self-identity changes. You become thin from the inside out. That's when doing the right thing for your body just comes naturally. The answers you need lie deeper than what you put in your mouth. The truly epic change you’ll be making is one that starts between your ears. 



Your mind is a magnet.
Dwell on good things.

Self-acceptance is
a spiritual practice.

We are all unique expressions of the One.

Discipline is the backbone of freedom.

IDEAS I LIVE BY

~Audrey Hepburn

“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible!”

TODAY AT 54

13-14% body fat
 Effortless weight control
Strong...in every way.

27 years old

“Recovery” begins 

43

Eliminated refined sugar & ultra-processed food.
 Freedom from cravings!

26 years old 

Moved out of NY
and found myself...

33

Weight stable.
Started my first business in corporate wellness.
 

88 lbs

Attending Masters program at Columbia University

30

Yo-yo dieting...
Self-hating...
Depression...

143 lbs

Graduated college, moved home to NYC

My weight

over the years

 grams of protein most days

80

days per week that i am now upset about my body:

0

number of years in recovery 

25

number of years i was anorexic

5

Always

Make it fun

Glutes Day

Never Miss

Secret Sauce

Consistency!

Game Changer

The Power Plate

Personal Trainer

Joe Maese

Workout Drink

Green Tea

Top Leg Move

Side Lunge

Solidea Silver Wave

Best tights

YES, I REALLY DO LOVE TO EXERCISE

I love playing fun and elaborate practical jokes on my friends.
(It's a good thing I can take them, too...)

One

I actually have really curly hair. I may show up on our calls resembling The Lion King

Two

I can deadlift my body weight. Pinky swear.

Three

next thing

You'd Never Guess

LET'S GET STARTED

Your body will follow

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND

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photography by Kelly Heck Photography 

© Nikki D’Antoni 2020-2024