The evaluation of one’s worth is greatly affected by body image, and with the rise of social media, people’s assessments of themselves have taken a fatal hit. Given how Internet algorithms continuously plaster ideal body types on everybody’s screens, it is not surprising that women, in particular, have felt the pressure to conform.
These social norms, along with underlying biological factors and other environment-based stressors, are at the root of eating problems that affect countless people worldwide. In the case of certified food and body coach Andrea Montoya, her cycle of binging and purging was the result of the belief that to gain a pound means to lose everyone’s love and support.
For six years, Andrea worked on earning a degree in holistic nutrition while simultaneously joining fitness competitions. She also became a personal trainer and a health coach in the attempts to prove that she has control over food. However, all of Andrea’s knowledge and skills were not enough in the face of the vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting and binge eating that she fell into. Her efforts never gained the full effect she was hoping for.
It was not until Andrea changed her mindset that things took a turn for the better. Realizing that it was not enough to solve the physical manifestations of her problem, she looked into the root cause of her situation. She concluded that her tendency to let emotions affect her diet is one of the factors behind the less than optimal results of her fitness journey.
Her acceptance of this reality changed everything. Andrea shifted her focus from personal training to internal work, acquiring training for various coping strategies and self-soothing tools that can be utilized when dealing with emotions and food urges. At the end of it all, she developed a holistic approach to self-love by making sure that psychology and emotions go hand-in-hand with fitness and physical training.
From thereon, Andrea finally achieved the freedom she has been looking for: the freedom from food, body, mind, and self. In addition, she was able to grasp the wellness she was aiming for by gaining dominion over her emotions and habit.
Currently, this ex-binge eater is a proud owner of coaching certifications in body image and self-love. She has worked side-by-side with Tony Robbins’ personal trainer, Billy Beck III, in exploring scientific and evidence-based tools concerning exercise, as well as the psychology of nutrition.
Encouraged by her experiences, Andrea decided to share her journey with others through the Ditch the Scale Academy. It served as her platform in which she can apply her learnings and guide other women to feel more attuned to their inner selves.
As a mentor and a source of insights in personal development, Andrea is helping women to fully transform their lives by letting go of their long-held misconceptions and stepping into their power. She believes that in doing so, others, too, can let go of their food and body struggles and can soon unleash their ultimate feminine potential.
Andrea believes that weight loss is not the only trophy at the end of any personal training. The goal should always be self-love. Understanding what drives excessive eating or the lack thereof is primarily about knowing one’s self and what one needs.
Know more about Andrea Montoya by visiting her website or following her on Instagram and Facebook.
