Food Freedom Course

Making peace with food seemed like an impossible dream. Turns out it isn’t.

More than half my life was spent in a constant battle with food.

From the age of 13, my life was a series of diets. I was either on one or off one. I was obsessed with being thinner, but the reality was that I hated my body no matter what size I found myself at. I spent so many years feeling miserable and out of control. And not a moment went by when I wasn’t beating myself up for my “lack of willpower”. Every night I’d go to bed promising that tomorrow would be different. I’d wake up full of hope. I’d believe that this was the day; the day that everything would change... Only to find myself in a full-blown binge by the afternoon. How could it be so difficult to eat less and move more?

I used to believe that restricting foods and dieting was the only answer.

I consulted numerous experts – from doctors administering dangerous pills and injections, to celebrities with the latest eating plans and food rules. The list of trials and errors was endless. Slimming clubs and weight watchers to psychics and hypnotherapists. On and on this went for over 30 years. I'd obtained 3 degrees and even started my own business, so why couldn’t I figure out this eating “thing”?

After decades of food madness, I couldn’t stand another moment.

Something clicked into place. I had to escape the craziness… And I came to the realisation that what I was doing to “fix” my body and my eating was exactly what was keeping me trapped in this desperately painful cycle of guilt and shame.

Solving this problem saved me, and my sanity.

It gave me back my freedom. It was like winning the lottery. I took back my power over food rules and dieting. I learnt how to trust my body and myself. I was back in charge of my body and my eating.

Today, food no longer stresses me out.

Nowadays, I go on holiday and attend social events without worrying about food. I can leave food on my plate without any fuss. I’m able to have a few squares of chocolate without finishing the whole slab (something I never thought I’d be able to do!) Buffets don’t freak me out anymore. Some nights I eat salad for dinner and some nights I eat chips... And that’s perfectly okay. I’m better equipped to deal with difficult emotions. I’m more accepting of my body and most importantly, I am so much kinder to myself. That critical voice is not so cruel anymore.

Healing my relationship with food changed my life.

So much so, that I decided to leave a successful career in tourism to help other people who struggle with food and their body image to find peace.

I created this course to help you change your life too.

You don’t need to struggle anymore. The Food Freedom Course will teach you how to make peace with food, eating and your body. You will discover how to live a life of freedom and joy around food. In the process you may just find what you are truly hungry for.

During the 8 weeks, you will:

  • Discover why restricting food and dieting does not and never will work
  • Find out why you eat when you are not hungry
  • Identify your triggers for overeating and binge eating
  • Learn how to be more mindful around food and increase your awareness of your patterns and habits when it comes to eating
  • Be taught practical tools for dealing with binge eating, overeating and mindless eating
  • Learn how to eat the foods you love without feeling guilty and make eating enjoyable again
  • Discover how to tune into your hunger signals and to stop eating when you’re full
  • Learn how to deal with cravings and how to cope with difficult emotions
  • Identify how to meet your needs better through nurturing self-care practices
  • Develop your capacity for self-acceptance and self-compassion
  • Discover how to find joy in do-able, mindful movement
  • Reconnect with what matters most to you in life

How the 8-week course works:

  • It’s a LIVE group course
  • During each call, you’ll get personalized coaching from me in a group setting so I can help you get free from food and body shame and learn to trust yourself
  • You will also have access to me in between sessions on a group forum, so I am with you every step of the way
  • The course takes place online via Zoom
  • For the sake of privacy, calls are NOT recorded
  • The tools & teaching component is pre-recorded
  • We meet every week for 8 consecutive weeks
  • Each session lasts 2 hours
  • Each session is divided into 1 hour of learning new tools and 1 hour for sharing experiences
  • There is additional support via email between sessions
  • The course is based on a combination of Mindful and Intuitive Eating
  • Sessions include meditation and practical mindful eating exercises

The course includes:

  • 9 sessions in total
  • 8 x 2 hour LIVE sessions (calls are NOT recorded)
  • 1 x 2 hour follow-up session 4 weeks after the course (date to be advised)
  • Practical mindful eating exercises
  • Audio recordings of teachings and meditations
  • Additional support via email in between sessions
  • Subscription to 1 year of Mindful Eating Moments
  • Food Freedom eBook with notes, infographics and worksheets
  • A safe and supportive environment to share and be heard

This is for you if you want to:

  • Learn an alternative way to deal with food without dieting, rules and restriction
  • Experience freedom and peace with food and eating
  • Break free from strict rules and eat guilt-free
  • Learn tools to become more accepting of your body
  • Finally let go of dieting, food rules and restriction
  • Learn to be kinder to yourself

This is NOT for you if:

  • You have an active eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia)
  • You want a quick fix
  • You are not ready to stop dieting
  • You want to lose weight fast
  • You want to learn about nutrition

“Xen is a wonderful facilitator. She is attentive, available and kind. I enjoyed the material, handouts and her availability. She was always concerned with each person and helping push through any barriers any of us were having. I enjoyed and trusted her very much.”

Numi, Utah, USA

Ready?

Join the waitlist for the class of February 2024!

$292 USD | R5550 ZAR

$397 CAD | £232 GBP | €271 EUR

Join the Waitlist

OR

Book a FREE 30 Minute Mini Session

“Xen's Food Freedom course was life-changing for me. It helped me finally understand that food does not need to be my emotional crutch - it truly gave me the freedom to enjoy my food in a way that feels good to my body - and to take away real strategies to keep me from falling back into bad habits and thought patterns. The group discussion was invaluable and helped me realize I'm not alone in my struggles and Xen's gentle, soothing teaching approach created a nurturing environment - not judgmental in any way!”

Jeanette, Ohio, USA

Who teaches The Food Freedom Course?

I’m Xenia Ayiotis, a certified Intuitive & Mindful Eating Coach. I am a licensed Be Body Positive Facilitator through The Body Positive. I am also a certified Life Coach through The Life Coach School. I have been working as a coach since 2011, helping women heal their relationship with food.

I came to this work through my own food challenges. I struggled with food and body image issues for over 30 years. I was a chronic dieter, struggled with severe restriction followed by binge eating, and negative body image. I was fortunate enough to find Intuitive Eating and Mindfulness. Coaching has helped me transform my relationship with food and my body and my life! For this reason, this work is very meaningful to me. I have seen and experienced how recovering from a dysfunctional relationship with food can transform every aspect of your life.

My purpose is to help successful, mature women who have been struggling with food challenges for decades to finally find peace with food and live a meaningful life of freedom. I feel privileged and grateful to share this work with women. I offer private one on one coaching sessions, the Food Freedom group course, retreats and workshops.

Course Outline:

  • The problems with dieting and how and why we need to let go of dieting
  • The purpose of eating and the different types of eating
  • Examining food rules, are they useful?
  • Recognising the different levels of hunger
  • Learning to recognise and respect our fullness
  • What’s the difference between satisfaction and fullness?
  • Getting to know the difference between physical hunger and emotional hunger
  • The 9 different types of hunger
  • Practical mindful eating tools to help us be more aware whilst eating
  • How to work skilfully with urges and cravings
  • Emotions and Eating
    and
    Mindful Emotional Eating
  • Dealing with overeating and binge eating
  • The link between anxiety and eating
  • Learning to accept and befriend your body
  • Discover the joy of mindful movement
  • The art of self-care: recognising and honouring our needs
  • Meditation and eating practices
  • Examining what you are truly hungry for? What would be better than food?

“In addition to 1-1 sessions with Xen, I decided to join her 8 week group course. Meeting other women struggling with similar issues around food and eating was insightful. It made me realise that I don't struggle alone, that my problems are common, that there is nothing wrong with me. Because I found it easy to extend compassion to the group members, I began to apply more compassion to myself and my struggles with eating too. We formed some strong bonds over these 8 weeks. Learning together and supporting each other was so uplifting. Hearing other members getting coached, I often found I could apply the same helpful strategies offered by Xen to another group member to myself. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity and for the wonderful women I met in the group. If you're hesitating to join a group out of a fear of feeling exposed, please be courageous and try it out. You only share what you feel comfortable with, and by the end, you won't want the group to end! Thank you Xen for this incredibly powerful group course.”

Ingrid, UK

Ready?

Join the waitlist for the class of February 2024!

$292 USD | R5550 ZAR

$397 CAD | £232 GBP | €271 EUR

Join the Waitlist

OR

Book a FREE 30 Minute Mini Session

“It feels so free not to diet anymore. The course has helped me get to a much healthier place with food. I have more energy because I am not binge eating anymore. I am enjoying food more with no guilt! And the best thing is I am so much kinder to myself. Thank you Xen, for a great course!”

Cassey, Rhode Island, USA

“This course was amazing! Xen is a fantastic facilitator and was very available and accommodative throughout the entire session, never leaving anyone hanging or waiting to discuss issues that might come up. The class content was balanced and the absolute best. After several failed coaching experiences in the past, I feel I now have a good understanding of my relationship with food. I feel I have the tools I need to take control of my life and honor my mind and body. I highly recommend it!”

Tami R, Chicago, USA

Questions or queries?

Click here to find answers to frequently asked questions...

Who is The Food Freedom Course for?

This course is ideal for you if you:

  • Have a history of dieting, food rules and restriction
  • Are ready to stop restricting and dieting
  • Want to feel free around food
  • Want a more relaxed and peaceful relationship with food
  • Want to get a taste of Mindful and Intuitive Eating and the non-diet approach

How does the course work?

Once you purchase the course you will receive all the documentation and the Zoom link which will be the same for each session.

Each week, you will receive the session booklet.

We meet on Zoom. Please arrive 5 - 10 mins before each session. The first part of the session is the teaching component.

The 2nd half is sharing, coaching and questions. We start and end off with a meditation.

The day after each session, you will receive the audio recordings for the tools and principles of each session.

I am not comfortable with using my video and with sharing in the group. Can I still take part?

You are welcome to simply listen.

If you prefer to keep your video off, that’s absolutely fine!

Our intention is to create a safe, non-judgemental space for everyone.

What if I miss a session?

The teaching part of the course is pre-recorded so you will have access to the audio of each week’s session.

Live sessions are not recorded in the interest of privacy.

Do I need to have any prior knowledge of Mindful or Intuitive Eating?

Not at all! The Food Freedom Course gives you all the information you need on Intuitive and Mindful Eating principles.

I am familiar with Intuitive and Mindful eating. Will this course offer me something new?

Yes. Absolutely! If you’re already familiar with Intuitive Eating and Mindful Eating, this course will help you establish more of the principles and show common obstacles and challenges to applying the various principles.

I’m struggling with an eating disorder. Can I take this course?

This course is designed to help people with a history of yo-yo dieting and dysfunctional eating make peace with food. It’s not meant for people with active eating disorders or those in the initial stages of eating disorder recovery. If you want to discuss this, please email me so that we can talk about it.

Are there any scholarships if I can't afford the course?

The course offers a limited number of scholarships to those with major financial difficulties. There are 2 scholarships available per course. The course cost has already been reduced from the 2019 price. If you would like to apply for a scholarship kindly send an email for review.

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“I am so grateful that I found Xen. Whilst I had many challenges Xen's gentleness, kindness and knowledge guided us through the weeks slowly changing my 40 year battle with food, stigma and body image. Thank you.”

Helen, UK

Ready?

Join the waitlist for the class of February 2024!

$292 USD | R5550 ZAR

$397 CAD | £232 GBP | €271 EUR

Join the Waitlist

OR

Book a FREE 30 Minute Mini Session

“I just wanted to thank you for the absolutely amazing course, with all the details and materials plus your strong and compassionate presence in the sessions. It has changed my life substantially. You are totally brilliant as a teacher and as a coach. I have worked with many coaches in my lifetime and you are truly something special. You remember every little detail expressed by each of the participants. How do you manage this? It is amazing. Please keep doing the good work.”

Hanneke, Munich, Germany