Hi my name is Jo, I live in South Staffordshire with my husband.     I have a grown up daughter who lives in Oxford.

I have worked in administration for many years within the education sector but last year I decided to leave and to concentrate on helping to guide people towards recovery from disordered eating.

I started out on the diet treadmill  over 40 years ago in my teens and initially that was successful. However not long after I started to fall into a pattern of either being the super star of the diet club or secretly bingeing. My weight swung from one extreme to another and I thought I was a total failure. I did once achieve the magic goal weight but I maintained that goal for roughly one week and subsequently gained it all back and then some. My husband and I recently reflected on that time and we both came to the conclusion that being at that magic goal weight did not make me happy.

My binge eating became uncontrollable and I realised that I had full blown binge eating disorder.

I tried many avenues to get help , some worked a little and the binges did reduce, however they never completely went away. I thought I was broken and that I would never be able to fully recover.

A few years ago I came across a book called The Binge Code by Ali Kerr. (see my resources page for more information). This book was so impactful and I realised that I was not in fact broken, my binge eating started because of many years of both restriction (AKA dieting) and disordered patterns of eating. I also realised that there were some habits in there that I thought would never go away. Our brains make neural pathways that create habits both good and bad but these habits can be changed. Once you start to understand the brain a little better recovery becomes easier.

I slowly recovered and I am now very happy with my relationship with food and my body. 

Recovery has bought total freedom. I eat exactly what I want and when I want, if I go out for a meal I chose exactly what my body, and sometimes my mind, wants to eat. I can have biscuits, chocolates, cakes and crisps in the house and sometimes forget they are there. I can have that slice of birthday cake when I am not hungry and enjoy it without guilt. There is no longer any 'last supper eating as the diet starts tomorrow'. I never ever follow a diet these days.

I offer one to one coaching to help you find your own freedom in your own way. I will never tell you what to do or what to eat. I am completely non judgemental, I have been where you are so I understand. 

I will provide you with guidance and support to help you on your way using everything that I have learned. Coaching is a partnership between coach and client with the coach gently guiding you towards your goal.

I came across the Recovery Works coach training programme and noting that it was managed by the same people who produced The Binge Code I was really interested. The coach training programme was so enlightening and gave me access to some world class coaches who are really passionate about getting their message out there. 

For more information about Recovery Works see my resources page.

I have also completed the Mental Health First Aid England 2 day course.

Contact me at:  jocowlesrecoverycoach@gmail.com for more information to book a no obligation complemtary call with me.