“I can remember the time and place when I first found comfort in food. Yep, I was 13 years old, fall of my freshman year in high school, after school at 3:30pm, sitting in front of the television. I had finished half of box of vanilla wafers. Wow…I thought…”I enjoyed this so much, let’s try it again tomorrow”…and I did. I finished the box and from that day on “emotional eating/benging/purging” was the main part of my life.
I would diet, you name it…fasting diet, Weight Watcher’s three times, the vinegar, kelp, and vitamin water diet, cabbage soup diet…anything that would help me lose weight. I even attended meetings for “Overeaters Anonymous”!!! Oh yeah…the weight came off but it always came back. I was “married to my bathroom scale.” Have you seen the commercial with the woman with the bathroom scale “chained to her ankle” walking around? Well, that was me…42 years in an emotional state of an eating disorder. I would also go as far as using laxatives before a Weight Watcher meeting when I had to do my monthly maintenance weigh-in AND I would even spit out the window of my car (uh huh..gross) to help my weigh in. My life revolved around what the scale said EVERY morning. If my weight was “up” I was unhappy, if my weight was the same, I was unhappy, if I had lost…well then I was happy! BUT, I was always “on-the edge” with a binge. This was my “Achilles-heel”…carbohydrate binges in the evenings—cookies, ice cream, anything sweet, or potato chips.
I kept a journal for months of my weight and I found I could not go for more than 3 -5 days on average before I had to binge once again. Now, mind you…I am 5’1″ and weigh between 120-125 pounds which is a healthy weight with a healthy BMI. I also walk in the mornings when possible, and here’s the “kicker”…I am a Heath/Fitness Teacher….go figure. I knew what to do, I knew what is healthy BUT I knew I had an eating disorder..Help.
And then 4 months ago I read about of “A Weigh- Out” in the August, 2007 Oprah Magazine. I went to their web site, read everything and said…Oh my gosh..this is me..maybe, just maybe…this will help. I felt guided as I scheduled a phone “meeting” to “discuss” and listen to what this was all about. There were others on the phone line and I realized…I am not alone.
At that point I decided to continue with more sessions with Ellen (the coach) and we would “talk” on a weekly basis. She sent me information and worksheets (which really made me “dig into” my psychological state and the “whys” of my behavior. Little my little I came to understand myself and “food thoughts” were put in its proper perspective. Guess what? I have not been weighing myself—a very big accomplishment — AND the best part….no binges. I have a completely different “mindset” on “who I am” and my relationship with myself and food. I am a lot happier and healthier. I have finally found freedom with A WEIGH OUT (way-out) after 43 years. Thank you…Ellen. “*
~KAM, Chicago
“Ellen, I have thought about all the ways I could say that my life has changed in the past year of working with you. I think the one that sums it up and means the most to me is that I’m not afraid any more in the way that I once was. I’m not afraid of new social situations and I’m not afraid of losing control with food. I trust my own decisions and intuition in a way that I didn’t before. This frees up my energy to deal with other things so much more important than my next diet.
I also know that I can go anywhere and not be afraid of following/falling off a diet or not being able to find whatever it is I’m supposed to eat. I think that the weight loss will come in time now that I no longer binge but that is just one more factor in the overall sense of peace and well being I feel now. I know I was ready to do this when I found you. I doubt I could have gotten her without your assistance. Thank you. “*
~Melissa, Washington
“I want to say thank you to Ellen for empowering me on my journey to be more mindful in everything I do, including and especially eating. Through the skills she has shown me I feel more confident that I may progress to where food does not control me anymore. I am still a “work in progress” but do feel less burdened, less reactive and have times where I am not thinking about food at all. I have bought the book she suggested “A New Earth” and the “Beginning Mindfulness” CD recommended, and daily I either read a few paragraphs or listen to a brief meditation. I carry my self-care list with me and check in with it daily to remind myself to feel what is going on and to step back if needed.
I highly recommend anyone with an emotional eating problem to seek some help through A Weigh Out. It will also carry over into other areas of your life. “*
~Carrie, San Francisco
“Ellen, I just wanted to say “THANKS!” for working with me these past few months. I have been on every diet known to the universe. The problem is that the word DIET means “Don’t eat this, or don’t eat that”. It never worked because the reason I ate was a “reward” to myself for working so many hours at my job, as well as eating to relieve stress. That is just plain wrong! When we were children, we were all taught to “Stop, Look, Listen” before we walked in a school crosswalk. The same goes for a healthy lifestyle.
Ellen helped me open my mind FIRST before I made a choice in diet, as well as other life choices. She works with nutritional skills, along with emotional skills and physical skills. I am no longer on a “diet”, but I now use my inner emotions to act opposite to my negative current emotions. A boxer goes to a neutral corner in a big match to analyze his next move. It’s more of that “stop, look,listen”.
If you are looking for another new diet plan, simply forget it. They don’t work! You need to change your mindset to change your eating patterns. Pills (Prescription and Over The Counter) DO NOT WORK! Trust me. I am a Pharmacist. All they do is raise your blood pressure and give you a cheap high. I was ready for a change. Thanks Ellen.”*
~Bob, Ohio
“Working with Ellen has been one of the best things I’ve done for myself in my entire life! Ellen taught me how to let go of all the things that weighed me down, so I could start living the healthy life that I’ve always wanted to live. The biggest relief is that this program has nothing to do with pounds or calories. It’s the answer to an emotional eater’s prayers! “*
~N.B., Wisconsin
“Before I found this program, I was knowledgeable about what constituted a healthy diet yet I failed at every diet program that I tried because the diets were all about the food and following the diet rules (e.g., what to eat or not eat, counting calories or points, etc.). In contrast, this program taught me how and why I was using food to distract myself from remaining present in my life and taught me the strategies needed to shift my thinking from food thoughts to more effective behavior. The coaching that I received did not focus on my setting and meeting weekly goals for weight loss. On the contrary, the coaching provided instruction and objective, nonjudgmental guidance that led me toward intentional self-care and positive behavioral choices. As I implemented the strategies, the emotional eating dissipated and I became empowered to achieve my personal goals. This program truly changed my life for the better. “*
~L., Maryland
“Thank you for your help, Ellen! I joined Overeaters Anonymous this past spring and I am happy to say that I have been able to not compulsively binge or overeat for 4 months. Coming from a family of Alcoholics, I can see how I have become a “behavior addict”. I have eliminated the “trigger foods” and I am working every day to deal with the emotions and not to disassociate from them or the situations. I am exercising at a Y closer to my new house. But I know that I would not have been able to be at this point if not for all the work you did with me. I wouldn’t be here without you. “*
~S.S., North Carolina
“Ellen and ‘A Weigh Out’ came along for me at just the right time. I knew the steps I had to take after many years of weight loss programs, therapy, discussion groups, many, many books read, etc. but talking with Ellen at this point in my life supported me enough to push through my deepest blocks and put the things I knew into action. Things all seemed to come together. My weight is coming down, I feel more balanced and aware than ever. Thank you Ellen for your huge piece in all of this.”*
~A.B., Illinois
“For years I’ve heard the sports logo “Just Do It” as a campaign to add activity to an otherwise sedentary life. I have also heard that all it takes to change your size is the “willpower,” a “Just Do It” attitude toward eating differently. But I never knew what to “just do.” I tried just about every eating program on the market, looking for the plan and the support that would help me with my life long food issues. But the more I focused on the food, counting points, calories, fat grams, carbs, ounces, or servings, the less I knew what to do as I slipped further and further away from my own body’s signals of hunger and fullness.
Even when I began changing my language about eating, moving my philosophies away from dieting and toward trusting my body to tell me what it wants and needs, I struggled to let go of the old habits and processes from the years of dieting. I had new language, new desires, healthier attitudes toward food and eating, but didn’t have the skills to turn those attitudes into life-changing actions.
A Weigh Out gave me some tangible, measurable skills to use to help me change the way I approach food. My coach taught me some tools I could use to set my own goals, to have more choices when I face feelings I am uncomfortable with, not just “eat” them. Using the skills helps me to walk through the discomfort without getting bogged down in it. Using the skills helps me redirect my focus onto the goals I want, to be proactive in making choices about food instead of being a victim of my old habits and associations.
Now when I think “Just Do It,” I have a set of skills to do. I can make choices about my eating, about my thoughts around food and my body (or any area of my life) by using the skills I have learned through the A Weigh Out program. I have learned skills that will last a lifetime, not just a fad that will be tried and gone. Unlike a diet which becomes harder the longer it lasts, the skills I have learned grow easier the more I use them. I have begun to see the changes I want in my life and believe for the first time that the changes will continue and be lasting.”*
~T.K., Milwaukee
“For years I’ve heard the sports logo “Just Do It” as a campaign to add activity to an otherwise sedentary life. I have also heard that all it takes to change your size is the “willpower,” a “Just Do It” attitude toward eating differently. But I never knew what to “just do.” I tried just about every eating program on the market, looking for the plan and the support that would help me with my life long food issues. But the more I focused on the food, counting points, calories, fat grams, carbs, ounces, or servings, the less I knew what to do as I slipped further and further away from my own body’s signals of hunger and fullness.
Even when I began changing my language about eating, moving my philosophies away from dieting and toward trusting my body to tell me what it wants and needs, I struggled to let go of the old habits and processes from the years of dieting. I had new language, new desires, healthier attitudes toward food and eating, but didn’t have the skills to turn those attitudes into life-changing actions.
A Weigh Out gave me some tangible, measurable skills to use to help me change the way I approach food. My coach taught me some tools I could use to set my own goals, to have more choices when I face feelings I am uncomfortable with, not just “eat” them. Using the skills helps me to walk through the discomfort without getting bogged down in it. Using the skills helps me redirect my focus onto the goals I want, to be proactive in making choices about food instead of being a victim of my old habits and associations.
Now when I think “Just Do It,” I have a set of skills to do. I can make choices about my eating, about my thoughts around food and my body (or any area of my life) by using the skills I have learned through the A Weigh Out program. I have learned skills that will last a lifetime, not just a fad that will be tried and gone. Unlike a diet which becomes harder the longer it lasts, the skills I have learned grow easier the more I use them. I have begun to see the changes I want in my life and believe for the first time that the changes will continue and be lasting.”*
~T.K., Milwaukee
“Everything that you have done for me has been an amazing asset toward my recovery and my process in dealing with my eating issues. I have thoroughly loved working with you as well, and want to express to you how much more I learned from you beyond coping techniques for binge-eating. Take care, and eternal gratitude…”*
~K.F., Wisconsin
“During a particular low point in my life, I was surfing the web and came upon emotional eating and then emotional eating coaching. I had never heard of coaching before and knew I had this problem, so I decided to give them a call. From the very beginning, Ellen got me to refocus on what the weight was all about. She helped me find my way out of my negativity and to start not only being a mindful eater, but someone who believed in herself and all the potential good things that were waiting for me in life. To say that I have experienced a miraculous transformation in the five months that I did coaching is an understatement. I am now exercising five days a week, eating mindfully and working on projects that are more in tune with what I have always wanted to do. As Ellen would say, “the weight will come off” as I stop doing the things I did that kept it on. I am now looking forward to a healthy, happy and bright future because of my coaching. Ellen, Coaching has turned my life around and I will forever be appreciative of you for that. Thanks once again for all you have done.”*
~SJC, Virginia
“I’m thrilled with the changes I’ve already experienced in many different areas of my life due to the tools Ellen has taught me! Ellen takes the time to thoroughly listen to me. Then she provides practical step by step solutions. She also worked with me to discover the skills to arrive at the solutions for myself.”*
~K.B., Minnesota
“I’m just so thankful for having found this program. It feels like the missing piece of the puzzle that has eluded me for all these years. It has truly changed my life and I know it will continue to do so as I work at knowing the skills better. I no longer despair over wondering why I can’t figure out what my problem is. And knowing I have a choice in what I’m doing is incredibly liberating. “*
~Cynthia, Idaho
“More than a year after my gastric bypass surgery, I was on a quest to find greater stability in my relationship with food. While my stomach had limits on how much food I could eat, my mind still wanted to keep eating! Ellen’s approach to change is completely action-oriented and was based on what I was willing to commit to change. She taught me to find the real triggers of my emotional eating and then how to regulate my reactions to those situations to achieve a peaceful relationship with food. What a gift! I had worked with other people and as a coach Ellen far exceeds them in effectiveness. I think it is so important to realize that gastric bypass surgery is one tool to regain your health, but the skills Ellen teaches to overcome emotional eating is another critical tool. Ellen has allowed me to become mindful of my relationship with food and to choose my today and my tomorrow…it’s my choice!” *
~Jennifer, North Miami
“It’s hard to sum up what the work with Ellen has meant to me. Life changing. The tools to change have been provided which I’ll carry the rest of my life. Everyone always wants to know, “but how much weight have you lost?”. “Sixteen pounds in 9 weeks”, I say. But that’s merely a by-product of what I’ve learned in my work with Ellen, which has instilled in me the desire to make healthy and care-ful choices. Shifts in attitude and perception produce lasting change and unlike the many diets which have failed me over the years, this process will never end. I’ve never felt so free from “food rules” and the grip of a diet with all the accompanying cravings, guilt, and regret. Like a breath of fresh air. Hope!”*
~DZ, Ohio
“Prior to working with Ellen Shuman, I struggled with compulsive overeating and an addiction to a broad range of diet drugs that seemed insurmountable. Years of work with doctors, therapists and nutritionists resulted in temporary fixes, but never led to real change or permanent resolution. Ellen’s endless patience and wisdom taught me that a rich, rewarding and healthy life was possible only if I made self care my #1 priority. Throughout the time we worked together, Ellen listened intently to stories reflecting all aspects of my life – my food, my marriage, my work, my spirituality, exercise, negative self talk – and helped me to know that I could choose self care over self defeating behaviors. When tending to my emotional, physical, nutritional and spiritual needs became the primary focus of my life, all else fell into place. My marriage improved. My business boomed. And, of course, my health flourished as my weight diminished. I could never have made these significant changes in my life without the expert guidance of Ellen Shuman. Thank you, Ellen. You are the best.”*
~D., New Jersey
“Life is definitely different than before. Thirteen months ago, I was flailing around trying to “figure it all out”—food, weight, etc., etc. I was in a 12-step support group for many years, but it just wasn’t cutting it—something was just not right. I got tired of praying to God to take the damn brownie away! I knew deep-down that I had a choice in the matter. Don’t get me wrong—12-step groups are wonderful and they worked for me for a long time, but I came to a point where I just needed something more and Ellen had exactly what I was looking for. I was frustrated and I knew that a lot of it had to do with my “operating system”—my mind, my thoughts, my feelings, and what to do with them all. I needed very simple, hands-on instructions, and I found them with Ellen.
The best way to describe Ellen’s program is “mindfulness training.” I knew instantly that Ellen could help me when I participated in her 1-hour conference call seminar. I hired her to be my Life Coach that same day. Through my work with her, I’ve learned that changing my relationship with food and weight all starts with installing a type of “monitoring system” in my mind and watching a screen of my own thoughts, feelings, and intentions float by like an afternoon matinee. I tune into mindfulness and become aware of all those conversations, stories, beliefs, and judgements rolling around in my head—and now, the nice thing about it is I get to decide what to do with them instead of numbing out with a ½ gallon of ice cream.
I already knew what “my issues” were in life when I came on board with Ellen. I was tired of talking about them and wanted to do something about them. With Ellen I was able to UN-learn old ways of thinking and behaving. This is NOT about psychoanalysis—this is about having someone coach me on day-to-day life, and how to manage my thoughts and emotions in a healthy, pro-active way, instead of taking a trip to the ice cream store.”*
~MEM, Cleveland
“Ellen, a key reason I chose to work with you instead of other coaches was your expertise in the subject of emotional eating. You came across as a credible and expert source. Food has lost its power! I no longer need it to self-medicate. Through your guidance, expertise and experience with emotional eating, I have found better ways to cope, fulfill, live and enjoy my life. Food was constantly my first line of defense-my stimulus reaction to all emotions. I now know what role food played in my life. I look forward to no longer living a life of feeling out of control, trapped, and guilty. Going through this learning experience made the difference.”*
~Margo, Germany
“I have suffered from emotional eating since childhood and had learned to cope with my insanity. Finally, in exhaustion, instead of weight loss and diet controls, I dared to seek true liberation from obsession, compulsion and frustration around food. That’s when I found Ellen (a case of when the student is ready, the teacher appears). The lessons and skills that Ellen presented in our conversations seemed too simple, at first. After applying myself to the tasks at hand, I found them to work immediately and very effectively. The peace of mind I have found through being willing to become fully aware of my feelings, and by making conscious choices in the moment, is a precious life-giving gift. Thank you Ellen for developing this approach that truly works! You are a goddess!”*
~Francis, Las Vegas
“Thank you! You have given me the tools and perspective to strike out on my own. You’ve got a great thing here, Ellen. There are thousands of unhappy souls who have and will continue to benefit from your insightfulness, kindness, and most of all, empathy. To engage in such personal, heart wrenching discussions with someone who has experience with this personally and professionally, just made such sense to me. Additionally, coaching by telephone was very effective for me. I would never have discussed any of my deepest thoughts and feelings if we had been face to face. Don’t be surprised if I call you again for a little tweaking.”*
~Traci, Wisconsin
“For me, it has been overwhelming to think that I could overcome and understand my emotional eating. With Ellen’s help, I have done that. Words cannot describe the freedom I feel and the control I have. Coaching has been extremely powerful for me and all I can say is WOW!
Ellen, you have been an inspiration to me and have helped me figure out who I am and that I am very normal. I feel at peace for the first time in my life.”*
~CB, Alberta, Canada
“Dear Ellen,
Just a quick note to say thanks for all of your help and to express my appreciation for your coaching and the “A Weigh Out” program. I have learned excellent new skills for mindful thinking during the time we have been working together. It is amazing how the mind (emotions) can be changed by knowing these new skills!”*
~Teresa G, Cincinnati
"The #1 Reason Why People Feel Out-of-Control with Food!" + "Ellen's Weekly Empowerment Tips"