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Break free from the rigidity of dieting to discover a sustainable way of living that feeds your unique mind, body, and soul.

 
 
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hello beautiful!

I'm Lindsay Sparks, a registered dietitian on a mission to help others move beyond the numbers and recognize that their value and beauty comes from within. Life is more than just going through the motions, it's about getting in tune with your mind and body to live a life well-nourished.

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Services

 
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It's time to ignite and radiate confidence from within by creating the happy, healthy life you deserve. Together, we'll redefine the way you view what healthy is and help you make peace with food and your body.

 

Inspiration to Spark Your Life

 
 
 
 

Ignite Your Inner Spark

 
Setting boundaries is a matter of knowing and understanding what your limits are. It is a skill that takes practice and of asking yourself: What makes me uncomfortable or stressed? What impacts my well-being? What are my values? . In the process of healing your relationship with food and your body, knowing when to set boundaries to honor your physical, emotional, and spiritual health is key. Sometimes this involves having difficult conversations with others, including medical providers, reaching out for support, or giving yourself permission to make self-care a priority. . On a more personal note re: boundary setting, I've decided that trying to keep up with instagram content is draining me. 🤪I've got a lot on my plate -- between running my business and seeing clients, preparing for Baby Sparks' arrival in March, working on my Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor training, and hosting a virtual book club for one of my fave books, Body Kindness®, by Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN -- this girl is needing more space than ever for self-care and boundary setting. . While I may not be posting as frequently on here, I can always be reached via email (dietitian@feedyourspark.net) or through my website: feedyourspark.net. If you weren't aware, I also regularly share content related to intuitive eating/Health at Every Size® via my business Facebook page (link in bio). . If you are an instagram regular, and are looking for more non-diet, intuitive eating/HAES inspiration, I've tagged some of my favorite accounts on this post for you to check out. 💕 . Share with me: what is a recent way you've set a boundary in your life? how do you build and preserve your boundaries?
Snack time for me and baby Ginny. 🥭🤰🏼This is an example of gentle nutrition and intuitive eating at work: I am going to head out for a walk soon, and it has been several hours since my breakfast. I could feel a slight sense of hunger, but not super strong. Knowing I’m going on a walk, however, I wanted to have some fuel for my muscles and cells. ⛽️ Throughout pregnancy, I’ve been trying to focus on getting enough calcium. Not getting enough calcium during pregnancy has been linked to developing osteoporosis later in life. I have several risk factors for osteoporosis already, so if I can try to prevent it, I want to do so. I love cottage cheese and picked it not only because it sounded good, but it also has a decent amount of calcium + protein. I focus on non-meat sources of protein in my diet because I’m just not a big meat eater by preference. Lastly, I like pairing protein with carb, because it seems to help my blood sugar + gives more “staying power”/satiety for me. Remember, the intuitive eating journey does not throw nutrition out the window. It is a process of integrating health values and dismantling diet mentality. Oftentimes, nutrition is saved for last to help first overcome years of harmful dieting rules and beliefs + re-learn to trust your body to self-regulate your food intake. The beauty of it all, is that there’s no “right or wrong” way. You can’t fail, you can only learn more about yourself and grow from it. 🌱 Now I’m off for my walk on this beautiful, sunny day 🌞🚶🏼‍♀️Happy Saturday, friends! If you consider yourself an intuitive eater, what does gentle nutrition look like in your life?
What do you think of the phrase, "new year, new you?" 🤔What it says to me is that you, as you are, are not enough. There's no shame at all in seeking self-improvement or having goals, aspirations, intentions, resolutions, etc. for the new year (or any time of the year)..but being sold the idea that you aren't capable of love, acceptance, or health unless you change your outward appearance? Nope! 🙅🏼‍♀️ Not okay in my book. . There is overwhelming evidence that indicates it is time to stop using weight loss as a view of "success" in the reduction or management of health conditions. Not to mention, dieting has been associated with apathy, depression, irritability, anxiety, negative body image, and preoccupation with food (cf. Canetti, Bachar, & Berry, 2002, for a review). . As you embark on the New Year, I hope that you find ways to pursue kindness, curiosity, and compassion towards yourself versus judgement, shame, and trying to fit into to society's narrow beauty standards/thin ideal. You can opt out of diet culture. You can choose health and healing over diets and punishing yourself.
As the New Year approaches, I've been reflecting back on 2018. It was filled with highs, lows, and many big (and little) things to be grateful for. I personally have never been keen on setting New Year's resolutions. As I sat here typing this post, I tried to reflect on why, and honestly, I can't come up with anything specific. It just isn't my thing! 🤷‍♀️ Can you relate? . I've seen others posting about "words" or "intentions" for the New Year and this resonates more with me for some reason vs. resolutions. This year, I have a lot of big things in mind for Feed Your Spark and in my personal life. I decided I'm going to give this whole "power words" idea a try. My thought is that my words will help remind me of what I desire or have hope for in 2019. . My words: nourish, trust, and grow. . As I embark on the journey to motherhood, I anticipate I'll be doing a whole heck of a lot of nourishing. 😉 Nourishing to me, means to nourish (aka care for) on all levels -- physically, emotionally, spiritually -- and not only my baby, but myself. I can't care for my baby (or others) unless I'm caring for myself too. . My business has had a lot of growth this year. It took a leap of faith and most of all, trust. Trust that I could cut down to part-time hours, trust that I am capable of the crazy ride that is entrepreneurship, and trust that the kind of work I do as a dietitian is needed. I want to continue this trust in 2019 - in myself and for the work I so love doing. . The word "grow" or growth reminds me that life is fluid and changeable. From each experience I face, each goal I set, no matter what the outcome is, whether perceived at first as "good" or "bad," I know I can only grow from it. . Share with me: Do you set New Year's resolutions, words, or intentions? What has 2018 taught you? What do you have hope for in 2019? . [📷Photo by Oskars Sylwan on Unsplash]
This week, I experienced a few bad body image moments as I found myself fixated on my changing, pregnant body. These moments reminded me that I'm still human; I am not immune to the fact that our bodies are objectified, scrutinized, and are held to unrealistic standards. Even though I have thin privilege and I consider myself fully recovered from disordered eating, I still experience bad body image moments due to deeply ingrained beliefs that rear their ugly head from time to time. . What has changed for me and allowed me to move on from these moments, instead of letting them spiral me down as they once did? The knowledge that these thoughts/beliefs (and the harmful behaviors I used to engage as a result) no longer serve me. They do not help me to create a better life. . You deserve to live a life that aligns with your core, authentic values; one that is free from the belief that your body size/appearance = your worth, your health, your value as a human. What is learned can be unlearned. With practice and patience, you can change. You can stand up to those thought bullies and discover how to respect your body vs. constantly berating it. . Instead of jumping on the dieting/"lifestyle change"/weight focused new year's resolution bandwagon, take time to reflect on what you truly value. Take inventory of how diets have impacted you. Were they sustainable (i.e. 6 months-2 yrs)? Did they help your relationship with food and your body? Did they create more stress or feelings of guilt/shame? Did they add to your life, instead of subtract? . If you are ready to learn how to make positive, lasting changes, consider joining in on my virtual Body Kindness® bookclub, starting January 24th. This book is filled with practical tips and gold nuggets to help you embrace health on a whole new level and say "goodbye" to dieting, once and for all. Message me (dietitian@feedyourspark.net) or comment to be added to the e-mail list for more deets and to stay in the loop as time gets closer!
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 Hope your day is as sweet as a snickerdoodle. 😊