When I first met Martha McGinnis, mild-mannered and entirely at ease with herself, I would have never guessed at the turmoil that she’d gone through in order to come out the other side as a peaceful and amazing coach.
Martha started dieting at thirteen, and spent many years doing the yo-yo dieting that many of us are familiar with. While she was at college, she was deeply depressed, entirely miserable in her body.
But one day, while in the midst of class, she looked around the room and realized: I’m not the fattest person in here, but I’m pretty certain I’m the most miserable.
It was a revelation to her. She suddenly realized that it wasn’t actually her weight that was making her miserable: it was the thoughts in her head.
From there, it was still an uphill battle for Martha to move away from the dieting and exercise addiction models so common to our society and onto a path of conscious and intuitive eating – eating what is right for her body, only eating until she’s satisfied, and eating for joy and health instead of emotional need.
And while now there are quite a few books on the concept of Intuitive Eating, when she first started living this way, she had to go it alone. That process has led Martha to her current role as an Intuitive Eating Coach, and she now helps other women to recognize the signs of true hunger and respond in a way that feels good for their body, breaking the endless cycles of dieting and hating their bodies.
What is the first thing that you teach to your clients?
I help them understand that they aren’t failures, that it was the diets that failed them, because dieting just doesn’t work for most people (at least 80% of dieters fail to lose weight and keep it off for even 2 years). They’re not bad, they’re just human. It’s a huge relief to realize that.
What do you say to someone who “just wants to lose five pounds”?
I’d want to know why, since 5 pounds isn’t going to matter much to their health. What are the external influences that make them think it’s important enough to risk GAINING weight? Because 40% of people who go on diets end up regaining more weight in the end. If they’re already restricting their eating, or have lost touch with hunger and satisfaction, however, practicing Intuitive Eating behaviors will allow them to relax and listen to their bodies instead. They may lose weight, but they may not, since they’re probably in a normal range already. This is not a recipe for being “model thin”.
How endemic is the hatred of women’s bodies in our society?
More than 90% of women think or say something negative about their bodies every day, and for some, it’s a constant refrain that never lets up. It’s incredibly sad.
How can we break that as a society?
It starts with each of us–catch yourself and try not to verbalize it out loud. Instead, for those negative thoughts that arise frequently, have an alternate positive thought that you follow it with. “I wish my thighs were thinner”…”but I am glad I have strong legs”. Turn the conversation into a positive thing. After awhile, the negatives start to go away if we don’t feed them or fight them.
How can we teach our children differently?
Teach children to ask themselves if they’re hungry and know that it’s OK not to eat if they don’t feel like it. Teach them to trust and respect their internal signals. Don’t criticize them or express concern about their weight or food choices. And don’t criticize yourself or others either–they pick up the signals and internalize the judgements. Model good eating habits. Help them find activities they enjoy and are good at that get them moving. This will also help them appreciate and feel comfortable in their bodies.
How long does it take a client to learn intuitive eating?
People can learn the Principles quickly–they’re not “rules” that can be broken. More like a compass that helps you keep moving in the right direction. Putting them fully into practice on a consistent basis takes time, because there are a lot of emotional, social and cultural drivers that affect how we eat. These come to the surface when you stop using food as a pacifier. Most of my coaching work is around helping people deal with feelings without using food. I try to work with people for 6 months or so to help them achieve confidence and consistency. It can take a year to feel you’re truly an Intuitive Eater–it’s a skill that grows over time with practice. The cool part is that after awhile it gets easier and easier till you do it unconsciously–just like a naturally thin person does. And you don’t have to be perfect at it, you can have a big meal at a celebration and get over-full, you just won’t be as hungry the next day and you’ll eat less. No big deal!
How do you feel about systems like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers?
They’re more reasonable than a lot of diets, but I understand that even Weight Watchers can only claim an 18% success rate at helping people keep the weight off for a sustained period of time. Success often involves continued, constant dieting behavior from then on. There are lifetime Weight Watchers memberships–who wants to count points for the rest of their life?
Where do most people give up?
They get caught up in the dieting trap again–it’s hard to resist. Intuitive Eaters lose weight gradually, but we’re an “I want it now” society. Diets promise fast results, but regaining the weight and more is a tragic price to pay for being in a hurry.
How did you know that you wanted to be an Intuitive Eating Coach? Was it a long process, or did you suddenly have an “aha” moment one day?
As I’ve grown older, my aspirations around work have changed. Now, whatever I put my energy into has to matter to me, and hopefully, to the world. I finally asked myself “what do I know that I wish others knew?”. Knowing how to lose weight and keep weight off without dieting is priceless. For me, it’s the difference between misery and contentment.
What is your biggest challenge as a coach?
Changing the mindset that diets and exercise are the only way to control weight. It’s “common knowledge” and it’s wrong. (By the way, you can always eat more than you can exercise, if your eating isn’t under control.)
Do you have a daily process that you use to keep your business aligned with your vision?
I never forget how it felt to be fat: I felt worthless. And I try to recall the way my clients feel once they’ve released the self-blame and learned to trust themselves again. There’s joy and freedom instead.
How do you balance the needs of running two businesses with your family life?
I try to spend most evenings and weekends with my husband and see my grown daughters as often as I can. My coaching practice doesn’t require much travel, so it’s a big improvement!
What’s next for you? What’s the grand vision of Martha McGinnis?
I’ll be offering retreats and virtual group programs. On a grand scale, I’d like to pull back the curtain on dieting so everyone knows the truth. This focus on dieting and weight is actually helping to fuel the obesity crisis.
Martha McGinnis is a former dieter who has maintained a 45-lb weight loss for 30+ years. She enables high-achievers who are frustrated with their lack of success in dieting to regain their power over food so they can maintain a happy weight, eat with joy and satisfaction, feel comfortable in their bodies, and build energy and confidence to follow their dreams. She is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor & Coach, as well as an MBA with extensive experience in the corporate arena. Find her at www.rethinkingfood.net
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