Winter Wellness Virtual Process Group
January-February 2025
Are you looking for community connection and support to get through the winter season?
Join us for a transformative online process group designed to empower you in navigating the complexities of food and body image during the winter season. Led by Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Mary Balog, this group will explore topics such as holiday eating, New Year’s resolutions, food guilt, movement and exercise, food and stress, balanced meals and snacks, body respect, and the pursuit of joy and satisfaction in your relationship with food. This group will meet for four 1-hour sessions between January and February 2025 (see schedule details below).
Together, we will delve into the emotional aspects of eating, addressing food guilt and stress while fostering a positive mindset towards your body. You will learn how to create balanced meals and snacks that support your body and mind, while optimizing satisfaction before, during, and after holiday celebrations. We will also explore your relationship to movement (and rest!).
This supportive environment encourages open dialogue and shared experiences, allowing you to connect with others who are on a similar journey. By the end of the group sessions, you will gain new skills and perspective to help you enjoy your favorite foods, celebrate your body, and find joy in the process of nourishing yourself. The goal here is to embrace the PROCESS and not the PERFORMANCE of wellness. There is no destination— just a week-to-week practice of trying to take care of ourselves and eachother.
My hope is for this to be a collaborative and curious space for participants to discuss their food challenges and practice imperfect eating! Together, we will explore flexible, gentle approaches to eating that support physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
— Mary
What to Expect
GROUP MEETINGS FOR PROCESSING & PRACTICE:
Each session will include a 1-hour virtual process group session moderated by Mary.
Discussions will be geared towards participant questions and concerns. Discussion prompts related to the following topics: New Year’s resolutions, holiday traditions and foods, food guilt, balanced nutrition, exercise goals or challenges, food and stress, and body image.
There will be space to ask questions, share stories, and gain clarity on certain topics.
Participants will receive support and encouragement with implementing new skills and perspectives into everyday eating.
The group will be limited to 7 people to ensure there is time and space for participant input. Additional groups will be created from the waitlist.
PRIVATE GROUP SUPPORT:
You will be added to the Practice Better platform for access to the group community forum.
You will be able to connect with others for accountability, support, and encouragement throughout the week.
We will also share supplemental tools and articles through the chat as needed.
GROUP MEETING SCHEDULE:
This group will take meet FOUR times, January-February 2025.
Wednesday, January 8
Wednesday, January 22
Wednesday, February 5
Wednesday, February 19
Details
Group Dates: January - February, 2025 (4 sessions total)
Group Cost: $120 ($30/session)
Supplemental tools: We will be referencing Health at Every Size™ and Intuitive Eating Principles. You may find the Intuitive Eating Workbook helpful to support your process! (Purchase here)
Registration ends: January 6, 2025
Winter Wellness Application
Please complete the form below and Mary will follow up with a link to payment and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who would benefit from this group?
Anyone seeking a gentle and flexible route to health and nutrition that factors in our relationship to food and body. We will not be encouraging calorie counting and intentional weight loss, but we will explore topics around body image and histories with dieting.
Anyone who is tired of the dieting rollercoaster and is ready to explore a sustainable way to eat and move that works WITH their body and not against it.
Anyone feeling stressed about the upcoming season who would like community support with managing their wellbeing.
Please note that this group is tailored for adults, but if you are looking for support for teens, please reach out and I can provide a referral to other dietitians.
How is this group different from other wellness groups?
Unlike other diet plans and programs, we will be focusing on the how and why we eat as opposed to just the what.
We will practice shifting our perspective of food. We will explore the physical, social, cultural, practical, AND emotional role of food in your life.
We will not recommend food restriction as a means to health and wellbeing. We will practice stepping away from the “good food”/ “bad food” mentality.
We will use weight-neutral measures of progress. There will not be any weigh-ins, and we will instead evaluate progress based on other aspects of health, such as your relationship to food, your attitude towards your body, and other personal goals you may have related to movement, health, or nutrition.
How much of a commitment will this course be during the week?
Group meetings are one-hour. Beyond that, it’s up to you if you find it helpful to utilize supplemental tools or articles that are shared during the program.
What tools will I need for this course?
Access to Practice Better (free)
Access to Zoom (free)
Curiosity and the will to practice self-compassion!
What if I can’t make the weekly meetings?
If you have to miss a virtual group session, there may be an opportunity to join the other cohort’s alternative date/time. We will not be recording sessions to respect the privacy and sensitive topics discussed.
What happens at the end of the six sessions?
Group programming will continue year round with the option for folks to rejoin for subsequent two-month intervals.
Our routines and priorities often shift with the seasons! This group will provide a space to pause, evaluate, and adjust as needed to support your wellbeing year-round.