Nutritionist Jessica Sepel Opens Up About The Reality Of Battling Disordered Eating

Australian nutritionist Jessica Sepel has recalled the extreme methods she used while battling disordered eating in a series of Instagram stories, alongside an important message for other women who might be struggling. 

“This is so crazy,” she says as the video pans over a pile of papers. “I’ve just found my old diet files. When I was struggling with disordered eating and my relationship with food I would write down every single thing that I ate and write strict rules for myself.”

The author had detailed unhealthy instructions about what she could and couldn’t eat, extreme directions for the amount of exercise she had to undertake and tips for suppressing her appetite. 

“So I just wanted to say that you’re not alone if you’re struggling with food or your weight or your body image, you can see I’ve been there and I really struggled and I really understand you and I’m really here for you,” Jessica continued. “Everyone struggles to some degree.”

Eating a square of the JSHealth coconut rough slice ? AND just popped the recipe in my bio for you ? It’s sooo yum and easy. I keep it in my freezer when I’m craving choccy on my 8 week program – because on the program, you get to enjoy yummy foods always ? • A reminder from me to let go of the guilt and pressure you may be feeling about food right now. We tend to feel a lot of guilt on weekends when we not in our ‘perfect’ health routine. You with me? As a fad dieter, I used to spend Sunday evenings feeling sooooo guilty about food. I was stuck in the mentality of, "It's ok my diet starts tomorrow, Monday" – which ended failing by Friday. Every time, lol. The pressure that comes with dieting or eating perfectly backfires. Healthy living does not require perfect eating. The body listens to what we do most of the time, not sometimes. • Yesterday I had a delicious lunch of pasta ravioli and ate with so much love and NO guilt. We have to be flexible with food. Guilt adds a huge amount of physical stress to our minds and bodies…which really isn’t so healthy. I focus on eating well most of the time…But then enjoy indulging moderately and being flexible with food – without the guilt !!!! This is BALANCE, ya know? It's so FREEING. That's the JSHealth way – it really does help you find FREEDOM with food. Agree? ?

A post shared by Jessica Sepel – JSHealth (@jshealth) on Mar 18, 2018 at 1:26am PDT

The WH Fitfluencer and anti-diet advocate has previously opened up about her experience with orthorexia – an unhealthy obsession with “healthy” eating.

“It’s easy to fall into the trap of being obsessive with food, being too careful, and literally being scared to eat unhealthy food,” she wrote on her blog last year.

“We have to try to heal this obsessive mentality around food early, before it controls our lives. Food is fuel and nourishment – that’s all. It’s not the driver of our thoughts. There is SO MUCH more to life than worrying about what we’re eating.”

This learning is what drove her to start her program JSHealth.

“It’s become a platform where women can support each other and show each other that balance with food does exists. You don’t have to be on another diet or practice extremes in order to live a healthy life.”

BODY GRATITUDE ✨Taking the JS body love scan outdoors today ☺️Those who follow me closely, know that I have a daily body gratitude practice ?The JSHealth body love is an amazing way to reconnect to your body and practice self care – try it ? Close your eyes and simply bring your attention to each body part – starting at your feet and legs. Take a big deep breathe and focus gratitude and thanks on each body part. Slowly move up the body with these thoughts of gratitude. It may be really hard at first but this is an amazing way to reconnect to your beautiful body and foster healthy and kind thoughts toward it. I do it everyday! #jointhefreerange #lilydalefreerange #collab www.jessicasepel.com @Lilydalefreerange

A post shared by Jessica Sepel – JSHealth (@jshealth) on Dec 9, 2017 at 12:52am PST

Jessica told Women’s Health that the response to her movement has been heartening.

“When women share their experiences with me I feel so honoured they feel close enough to me to tell me about their journey. It fills my heart right up, because this is my calling. This is why I do what I do.”

“The amount of women who are changing with the JSHealth Method is a pure reflection that women are desperate for balance. They are sick of diets of extremes.”

And if she could go back and tell that woman with the “diet files” one thing?

“I would tell myself to stop striving for perfection. What I am is enough. Being thin won’t make you happier.”

That’s a lesson we all need to learn.

If you are worried about yourself or someone in your care, the best thing you can do is talk to someone. Please contact the Butterfly Foundation 1800 33 4673 or chat online.

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