Truce with Food:
The Bespoke Experience
You don’t have to choose between eating healthy, feeling great and real life. The proven Truce with Food® process in a private, intensive, highly personalized one on one experience.
Navigate the Experience
Who Is This For?
This is not for everybody. The Truce with Food process is rooted in Adult Development theory. It’s different than therapy or coaching and requires a certain level of self-awareness, self-reflection and willingness to take action outside your comfort zone.
This Adult Development process IS NOT for you if:
- You have only recently embarked on a path of personal growth
- You are not currently in a position to invest in yourself financially
- You are currently unwilling/unable to do deep emotional work
- You want a quick fix, a plan or formula to follow
This process IS for you if your primary goals are to:
- Work on the root causes of falling off track with your eating
- Put food in a mindful, not obsessive place in your life
- Stop wasting time and precious mental energy on food and allowing what you weigh to dictate your confidence and choices
- Get off the “all-or-nothing” and “analysis-paralysis” train in your food, exercise and life
- You’re ready to invest emotionally and financially in high-level support to make a quantum leap in developing your emotional agility to better manage stress, overwhelm and not turn to food when real life happens
The first step to explore if this is right for you is to sign up for a private consultation, known as “Truth Serum”.
The Good-Bad Cycle is a Downward Eating Spiral
Together, we’ll uncover why you really fall off track with food.
It isn’t about willpower, discipline or a love of food. Rather we have a story about how we have to, should or must be when real life happens that makes us Chuck It, F#@$ It, “I’ll get back on track tomorrow.”
Battling food and our weight eats away at the life we most want and consumes the precious time we have in this life.
Let’s rewrite your story and liberate you from “good-bad” cycles.
Clockwise from the top…
1 — TRIGGER
Your team member isn’t performing well. You didn’t hear back from your date. What’s happening isn’t actually stressful or depressing, our internal emotional trigger is.
2 — STORY
Our triggered emotion isn’t good or bad, but can feel “unsafe” because it sends us down a rabbit-hole of fear, catastrophizing that we’ll lose what we have, won’t achieve our goals, or be alone forever.
3 — STRESS RESPONSE
To protect ourselves, we “gear up” into the emotional versions of fight-flight-or-freeze mode: Compete, Avoid, or Accommodate.
4 — BEHAVIOR
These three stress responses generate all sorts of behaviors that actually create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where we find ourselves stuck, unfulfilled, and isolated.
5 — LOSS OF SELF TRUST
We then eat because nothing is changing and we fell like we have no choice in the matter. We believe the “you don’t have enough willpower or discipline” myth that feeds diet culture.
6 — LOOPS BACK TO TRIGGER
We become less resilient and creative about other choices outside of the compete, avoid, or accommodate construct and become more stressed and depressed.
7 — AUTO-PILOT EATING
The cycle repeats…
…and we’re back to the top.
How We’ll Break the Cycle
Our work together will release your old story and retrain your “emotional immune system” in a methodical way. We will “retrain” how you respond to real life with my client proven framework based on Adult Development theory and proven research on changing behaviors and patterns in adults. I’ve spent 12 years adapting and refining this process and helping hundreds of others get life-changing results and will be your private, experienced and empathetic guide through your transformation.
MODULES
You’ll complete a 90 minute module every two weeks (about 30 minutes of audio, one hour of experimental homework). Each module acts as a lily pad to get closer to your own personal Truce with Food. This methodology is designed and proven to generate ah-has, clarity and meaningful progress with your food, health and life goals.
12 ONE-HOUR PRIVATE SESSIONS
Twice a month, we’ll have a one hour session to deepen your self-discovery and awareness, answer questions, and clarify your next steps. These calls are a mix of teaching, coaching, sharing and consulting based on where you are.
E-MAIL SUPPORT
I’m here for you between sessions as you have questions, insights, and ah-has. I’m always an email away to clarify, support and keep your momentum going.
SUPPORTIVE AND INSPIRING COMMUNITY WITH INSATIABLE MEMBERSHIP
Our guilt and shame around food is fueled by isolation and thinking we are the only high achieving people who struggle with food. You’ll receive complimentary access to the Insatiable Membership Community if you want to join others who are also working on their own adventures.
Adult learning is influenced by connection, safety and experimentation; that is why this site is private, separate from social media and ad-free.
Ready to take the First Step?
Sign up for a Private Consultation
The Results
While everyone is different, side-effects of this is work include:
BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|
Caffeine + sugar = energy | Naturally energized |
Food choice perfection anxiety | Food ease and intuition that provides more flexibility |
Eating healthy is a sacrifice | Healthy eating is joyful |
All or nothing, binge-restriction cycles with food and life | Neutral, compassionate mindset and awareness of additional, non-binary options. |
Anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping | Stable and consistently good moods and sleep cycles. |
Feelings of burnout, self-criticism, and exhaustion from spinning your wheels with food, your career and life choices | Feeling of lightness and freedom with increased emotional and mental space and energy. |
Consistently falling “off track” with food and life goals and feeling accompanying shame and guilt. | Increasing consistency with positive food and life choices and goals. |
Take the first step towards your own results!
What Clients Are Saying About the Truth Serum Process
Identifying my story in Truth Serum was the missing piece from my food and lifestyle equation that was causing so much stress. Ali’s approach helped me connect things in less than 90 minutes that I’ve been missing for 27 years.
— Nicole
Discovering my story in the Truth Serum was incredible. It revealed so much, especially the reasons food has become such a battle and how to shift this mentality.
— K.L.
Discovering my story in the Truth Serum was relieving. I got refreshing new insights into why I’ve been stuck and struggling.
— G.P.
Client Success Stories
“I learned I didn’t have to suffer in one area of my life to be successful in another.”
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I wanted to work with Ali because I needed someone to help me sift through the seemingly insurmountable problems I was facing related to food. I was starting my dream job at a new company and wanted to be my best, but felt like I was self-sabotaging in the food/health/wellness area and just fed up.
After my Truth Serum session, I knew we’d work well together. She was thoughtful, provocative and insightful leading me to realize things through her methodology that I had otherwise thought were irrelevant. I was shocked and continue to be amazed at how much my work with Ali paid off, both personally and professionally.
Food no longer controls my life. The effects of years of navigating my health and food blindly based on societal advice and opinions is a distant memory. As a result of taking a leadership role with my health, I’ve steadied my blood sugar to eliminate cravings and increase my focus, reduce my migraines by nearly 100%, lost 20 pounds while gaining muscle and endurance, cleared up a lifetime of skin troubles (while eliminating the need to buy my synthetic supplements like protein powder which was actually messing with my hormones/acne!), my hair is thicker and looks great, put me in better touch with my emotions which has deepened my relationships and leadership and increased intimacy that is no longer painful.
All this without the old battle effort! In the beginning, (MORE drop down on website) each incremental step and learning experience felt more satisfying and impacted me more and more, freeing up so much space in my mind. I managed to work through very challenging projects at work while traveling, planning a wedding, caring for a sick dog, discovering exercise that works for me— all while maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle for how my body defines that. And I somehow found time to create and cultivate a cut flower garden and pollinator paradise.
Before our work together, my life would have been all or nothing in one category, where the others would suffer immensely. Professionally, my team noted that I have become more confident and empowered in my decision making abilities. I was always a strong performer, but my confidence and ability to communicate what I need and want in my profession have allowed me to take my profession to the next level. In our work, I learned I didn’t have to suffer in one area of my life to be successful in another, and I continue to enjoy the nuances and benefits of this transformational experience. — Nicole D.
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“I began to realize that finding peace and happiness did not revolve around being thin. Instead, it was aligning with my truth.”
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Working with Ali changed more than just a relationship with my treadmill and weekly pizza night. Instead of sharing my “weekly calorie chart” or “workout goals”,I was met with a kind, listening ear and suddenly found myself in a safe place to share my cares, wants and needs.
I began to realize that finding peace and happiness did not revolve around being thin. Instead, it was aligning with my truth. First, I discovered I was fighting my body’s signals and needs and learned how to course correct with the right foods for my body.
And I was able to find the balance I needed in both pleasing others like clients and vendors and unselfishly putting myself first. It truly changed my life. I thought working with Ali would only effect my weight, but it effected me in every aspect of my life. My business is now thriving and enjoyable, my relationships are happy and full and I can now recognize triggers and know what emotions are really controlling a situation so that I can address them and move on to peace. I’m forever changed by our work together. — Sharon McMullen
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“Working with Ali was the best investment I made in myself for my mental and emotional health.”
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I truly wanted to be happy with myself and regain my confidence so that I would stop constantly comparing myself to other women in my personal and leadership role at work.
I have had this roller coaster of my weight going up and down for years with out being able to break free from the vicious cycle. Food was my crutch for years to not deal with my emotions of stress, depression and boredom. By addressing my story, which was the root cause of me spinning out of control, I was able to end this decades long issue. Ali gave me the tools to break out of this cycle and learn more about self and how to overcome the habits that had been ingrained in me for years.
The process was not easy. It forced me to look deep within myself and realize what I had done for years would take time to uncover and chip away at in order to get things moving in the right direction. It was totally worth it because there were so many benefits.
The main one was to believe in myself and vision at work. That got me to rebuild my confidence back up, which opened many doors for me in my personal and professional life. I also opened my heart more than I had in years and felt emotions that I thought were truly dead.
Ali is the “REAL” deal! I had worked with 2 other coaches (including career coaches) and never got unstuck until I worked with Ali. She will work right along with you to help uncover what the main root issues are and fully support you on this journey. She is so easy to talk too and truly is a caring person who wants to make a difference in your world. Working with Ali was the best investment I made in myself for my mental and emotional health. — Cheryl B.
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“I’ve shifted from a demanding and critical goal-oriented mindset to a process-oriented mindset that is open and nurturing.”
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There is a life free from the mental anguish of the food and weight battle. After years of suffering from multiple eating disorders and fighting a GI disorder, I was done. Done with forcing a particular no carb, low carb, low fat, macro-focused, you name it “diet” that was guaranteed to fail. Done with body shaming. Done with dragging a depleted body to the gym.
And Ali was there to help me back to physical and mental health! Working with Ali was one of the hardest things I’ve done – forcing me to dig deeper and deeper than anything else I tried. Our work completely refocused the way I approached not only food, but life. Our work has enabled me to shift from a demanding and critical goal-oriented mindset to a process-oriented mindset that is open and nurturing. The number on the scale means nothing to me now, instead choosing to value my overall health and well-being—a statement I never thought I’d say! Our work has enabled me to start living a life for me, and that is priceless. — Lauren R.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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[accordion-item id=”item-12″ title=”What’s the difference between the Truce with Food group and private work?”]
The process you go through is the exact same. Same material, same tools and same rhythm of learning, experimenting and then reflecting with me.
The differences are in price and number of sessions. However, the value, i.e. food freedom, is the same. I always tell clients interested in both to think about how you will learn best and of course, what fits best with your budget.
In Truce with Food: Bespoke, you get all the materials plus 12 private sessions and email support in between sessions.
In Truce with Food: The Group experience, you get all materials, 14 group sessions and 24/7 online support from me and others in our private group membership site. The group is usually around 10-15 people so you get plenty of individualized attention and support. There is also a Truce with Food group + 3 private session option you can choose when you register for the Truce with Food group or you can choose the 3 private sessions during the program.
I’ve found people in the group progress quite fast as you’ll learn from others as much as you learn from me and from practicing belonging to a group, especially for many of us who have been “othered” in our life. Finding “your people” is a healing experience in and of itself.
Part of why I started the Insatiable Membership community was because Truce with Food group participants wanted to stay connected after the official program was over as these relationships were integral to their growth, commitment and accelerated learning.
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[accordion-item id=”item-5″ title=”I’ve spent so much money on this already. How is Truce with Food different?”]
Oh, I love this question! It gives me a chance to geek out on radical healing and change. Let me answer under the premise that there is a range of training and expertise for health and life coaches. So my answer is based on each discipline’s general philosophy.
Diets, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and most other health coaches, focus on the food. Rather than tell you to chew 20 times or don’t bring trigger foods into the house, Truce with Food focuses on you. How do you become the person who doesn’t have to white-knuckle food? Because white-knuckling rarely works.
Traditional health and life coaching isn’t actually root-cause resolution to change. It’s more of an accountability model that helps you with the issue you want to change.
Traditional coaching is great for people trying to start new habits, who are new to the power of nutrition, and who need ideas on how to be more self-compassionate.
But if you’re trying to stop a habit like fighting food and your body, traditional coaching can alleviate the symptoms like Tylenol for a migraine, but you’re not addressing the migraine or food battle causes.
For example, an emotional eating health coach might tell you to feel your feelings and help you recognize that you eat when you are lonely. They’ll support you to generate ideas of what you can do when you feel lonely like call a friend. But you aren’t falling off track with your eating because you didn’t call your friend.
In Truce with Food, we get to the root of why you feel lonely in the first place. What is your story, patterns and behaviors that are making you feel alone and what are new choices so you feel connected to yourself and the world around you? The self-awareness and skills you develop will make you self-sufficient and in choice (which feels like control) for the rest of your life, not just with your current loneliness challenge.
And to stop falling off track with your eating, it’s not enough to feel your feelings. In Truce with Food, we take a developmental coaching approach where we identify the story generating a profound amount of your uncomfortable feelings, like loneliness or uncertainty, and help you step out of it and make new choices. These new choices not only prevent a profound amount of discomfort in the long-run, but they satisfy your true needs and wants.
This is so radically different than how coaching has been done since its inception. Google’s head of Learning and Development recently called developmental coaching the “future of coaching.” I’ve been using this coaching approach for seven years and I can tell you it provides a radical path to change and results you can only get when you address the root issues.
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The number one thing I look for is exhaustion. Have you tried enough solutions like therapy or Weight Watchers, gone through the roller coaster of “yes, this time will be different” and come down and realize, nope, it’s not? My weight is still weighing me down.
With the exhaustion, there’s usually a simultaneous fear and excitement at the idea of embarking on your own unique Truce with Food. Many of my clients say my approach resonates. And they’re up for the internal challenge.
This program is not girlfriend advice to buy flowers or steps to upgrade your life – although you will. It just won’t be all puppies and rainbows like some coaches promise…and then tell you “you’re blocked by self-limiting beliefs” when that doesn’t work.
Being comfortable won’t get anyone the results they really want, like freedom and sovereignty with their body. Like anything meaningful in life, this will be challenging and rewarding. But it’s not about willpower or discipline but rather, the challenge to stay open, curious and experimental.
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[accordion-item id=”item-7″ title=”Will I lose weight?”]This is not a weight loss program.
It can be a side-effect of going through Truce with Food. Our culture tends to put the cart before the horse, thinking life will begin once we lose weight. But, we need to put life first to effectively approach weight loss.
However, I do acknowledge that your weight is weighing you down. I’m not going to tell you you shouldn’t want to lose weight. However, we focus on what foods and emotional shifts will best support you to eat in alignment with your weight loss goal.
As a result, you feel empowered instead of defeated. And, after Truce with Food, you know what foods and tools will best work for you for a customized approach rather than feeling overwhelmed with so many choices. It’s why clients who still want to lose more weight post-Truce with Food will say, “I still have more weight to lose but I know it will happen without me worrying about it anymore.”
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[accordion-item id=”item-8″ title=”I’m terrified of never being able to eat my favorite foods again. Will we deal with that fear?”]
Truce with Food takes the stance that one serving of your favorite foods, once in awhile, is no big deal. What we transform are the reasons you eat two, three or four servings of your favorite food. When you legitimately heal your relationship with food, you no longer are caught in the extremes of all or nothing. Yes you can eat your favorite foods again – and without guilt or fear that one piece of cake will turn into two, three or a week of bad eating.
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[accordion-item id=”item-9″ title=”I’m busy. Will I have time for this?”]
Life today is one constant busy season. Especially for those who tend to gravitate towards Truce With Food. However, your life is your classroom. In other words, you’ll be experimenting with meals you’re already eating and new ways of being in your life. It’s not “separate” from your life.
And this program is designed for the on-the-go lifestyle. It does require about 2.5 hours every two weeks for maximum benefit. Ninety minutes for the lesson and coaching exercise and 60 minutes for our private call. In the long run, this process actually creates time for you by learning the foods to give you more energy and clarity and learning how to put less on your “plate” yet get more life results.
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[accordion-item id=”item-10″ title=”Can I get reimbursed for this program through my insurance?”]
If you have an FSA or HSA account, most likely. Clients have used their HSA/FSA credit cards and I’ve written dozens of receipts for participants’ FSA anda HSA accounts. Most plans reimburse for any type of nutritional counseling and coaching. I recommend checking with your plan specifically for an exact answer. I’m happy to write you receipt.
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[accordion-item id=”item-11″ title=”I’ve invested so much time and money into this food thing. I love your work Ali, yet am I am worried I will fail this too.”]
I totally get it. You trust me, not yourself. So many programs promise to be different and yet underneath, they’re all different ways to cut calories or give you a formula (often not based on research) that creates more restriction, which only leads to rebellion.
This is a process you can’t fail if you devote yourself to trying and learning how to understand your out of alignment eating, which is what Truce with Food gives you the awareness and tools to do.
It doesn’t require willpower in the traditional sense. In fact, imperfection is built into the material and expected. We call that “research” in Truce with Food. Most science and life breakthroughs happen when we learn from what isn’t working.
Having said that, this process is challenging. It’s not for everyone. But the challenge is the willingness to be a beginner and continue to show up when you’re new (i.e., not the best) at building a new skill set. This can be uncomfortable for perfectionists and those with an all-or-nothing mindset. It’s about being devoted to yourself.
Many clients express that it’s “uncomfortable in the most freeing way.” That might seem paradoxical. But paradox is truth. Once you can be with your emotions, you feel powerful and free. You get the kind of results that make you willing to become devoted to challenging yourself. Our emotions control us whether we understand them or not. So to finally have choices other than eat in discomfort, is life-changing liberation.
If you can commit to showing up when you feel imperfect, this process will work for you. There’s not a formula for success or failure here. This process meets everyone exactly where they are in their self-awareness and lifestyle. It’s the opposite of having a bunch of rules to follow that only fuel the battle and a sense of failure.
For more insight from my clients about their own fears around this, check out this video. The fourth question is when I ask them about their fear of failing at Truce with Food.
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Have a question not addressed here? Feel free to write to me:
My Personal Story
I thought I needed to be fixed when I entered the suburban strip mall Weight Watchers at 11 years old.
My own Truce with Food gave me the perspective, skills and tools to be a discerning patient and wellness consumer. Our bodies and health change and I have been able to navigate subsequent thyroid issues, fertility choices and other “fork in the road” health-care choices on my terms. Today, I feel in charge and confident in my health-care and body choices in a way that I am grateful for for every damn day.