Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kiki Athanas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kiki, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

When I realized I could still want to be thin, pretty, and desirable…AND heal my relationship to food. For the longest time, and really in most of what I thought was my “healing journey” (cue: therapy, “food freedom”, and “body love”), I had this interpretation of being “healed” as not caring how I looked. Essentially, I believed that when I have a healthy relationship to food and self, I won’t care if I’m slim or not. While perspectives of this may actually be true & I do agree with – the real shift for me happened when I accepted that I can want to be thin AND use food as a healthy source of nourishment. It was when food freedom became enjoying food responsibly to and for my body – in visceral feeling and in aesthetic goals. It was freeing to tell myself the truth, and not shame myself for my true desires. Accepting myself also meant accepting how I genuinely desire to see myself. From that place, I could “get real” about how I don’t actually need to restrict food, I just need to consume it intentionally and in accordance to the innate boundaries of MY body.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an intuitive eating health coach who’s laser focused on helping women connect with their own version of the “skinny bitch” many of us secretly want to be. I’ve designed a completely unique program called 10/10 [with no annoying food restriction or ridiculous gym requirements] that allows women to finally turn off the “how do I lose those last 10 pounds” soundtrack that’s been playing in their head on repeat for years. I help smart, driven women conquer emotional eating and practice healthy, balanced eating with consistency and ease – even in the face of life’s challenges.
I’m a committed practitioner of the “eat dessert after every meal” food philosophy, and I’m currently abroad in Austin, Texas on my “live my best life” worldwide tour.

Over the past 4 years working with women struggling with various ‘food issues’, I created The Gut Brain Integration method to help women take control of their cravings and hunger, so eating no longer feels like an internal battle.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

You have to watch what you eat in order to be thin. Nope! You simply need to practice awareness. I became so analytical about my eating because that’s what I thought I had to do in order to be thin – you have to “think” your way into NOT overeating. Well, it’s quite the opposite (I learned the hard way!). When you make all your eating decisions from your head (rather than your stomach)…you never really get “full”. In other words, the “thinking” never turns off. You spend your days thinking about eating…or thinking about NOT eating…all the time! Unlearning diet culture and RE-learning hunger & satiety as FEELINGS and visceral sensations in and of my body were the lessons I needed to regain the body & life of my dreams.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Honestly, being super (sometimes painfully so) vulnerable. The more “real” I get about the deep & dark thoughts & feels I used to struggle with myself, the more I seem to attract more and more perfectly aligned clients – clients who I deeply understand and can genuinely empathize with. I used to run my business more as an “expert” and steered clear of sharing the messy stuff. But whenever I release the grips I have on pretending like I am perfect, the more the clients flood in! They say sexy sells…well, I actually think being real AF sells more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kikiathanas.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiki_athanas/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kikiathanassoulias/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kiki_athanas?lang=en