Photo Credit: Isaac Zapata De Oliveira
Eleonora Bastos wants us to have the power to take charge of our own health. And she's doing so with the launch of her new book, Go Feed Yourself, in which she uses her own story and history with body image issues, depression, anxiety and eating disorders to help others become comfortable in their own skin and live their healthiest lives.
Here, Haute Beauty sits down with the certified nutritionist and author to learn more about her journey and her mission to help others.
Tell us about what drew you to write Go Feed Yourself?
The biggest driver is definitely my story. Growing up after facing a couple of traumatic experiences I began to suffer from depression and eating disorders. My healing journey began when I moved to Miami in 2012 and I was blessed enough to cross path with a health coach. Under her loving guidance, I began to understand the power of food and the impact it has not only on our bodies but on our minds and thoughts as well. This understanding changed my life so deeply that I decided to dedicate my life to help as many people as possible make the same shift. I became a certified Integrative Nutrition Practitioner and opened my practice in Miami in January 2015.
What I quickly noticed at the beginning of my career though was that, when it comes to nutrition, there is so much confusion and misinformation out there. People often feel lost, or they fall in the traps of clever marketing techniques where they think they are doing right to their bodies but they really aren't. Go Feed Yourself is my contribution to the world to help clear off all the confusion there is out there, and trying to impact as many lives as possible. It is a very simply written guide, that educates on how to debunk all the myths, scams and FADs out there, all while teaching you how to listen to your body so you can feed it exactly what it needs.
What was the process like?
It took me about a year to write Go Feed Yourself, as I wanted to make sure it was very simply written so that a 9-year-old could pick it up, read it and understand it. I wanted to be relatable and based on real-life examples rather than complicated science concepts and terms. As far as the content, it was pretty easy, as this book was based on a 12-week program I have been running for the past four years with clients from all over the world—from Hollywood’s celebrities to busy professionals, single moms and even retired people. It follows the principles of my practice, where we first address the mind, to make sure we get clear on the goal and get rid of any limiting beliefs, then we address the body and finally the lifestyle. This holistic approach has been proven to be extremely effective for all of my clients.
Photo Credit: Isaac Zapata De Oliveira
You encourage your readers to write their answers down throughout the book. Why is this important?
There are a few reasons, but we can sum it up by saying that writing things down enables a higher level of thinking, and therefore, more focused action. In fact, in order for you to be able to write things down, you have to first gain clarity in your thought process. Just the act of writing alone, can have an incredible impact on some people as it helps you to pause, think, recognize and process emotions and thoughts you may not have been aware of having before. These moments of clarity are extremely important, but can also be easily forgotten when we get caught up in the day-to-day. By writing things down, you'll have a record of what you did and thought of, which will also help you plan and eventually reflect on what worked and what didn't.
What makes this book different from other nutrition books out there?
I think the major point is that it’s not a one size fits all approach. In fact, this book does not give you a plan to follow and it is NOT a diet. The principle to which is based is that our body is unique to each and every one of us and is in constant evolution. This means that what works for one person may be detrimental for another and at the same time what makes you feel good today may not make you feel good tomorrow. Our body is a complicated yet simple, perfect machine, and given the chance, it will always try to heal itself and work at its best.
Food is only one component of our body functioning the best of its ability. Our emotions, hormones, stress levels, relationships, career and so many other factors play such an important role in our health, wellbeing and the way that we process and digest food. The beauty is that our body is constantly communicating with us, so if you quiet the noise that comes from outside information and learns to tune inwards, paying attention to your body’s queues and learn to give it what it needs, you have the key for life long health. That’s what Go Feed Yourself teaches.
What was the most rewarding aspect?
Writing the book was definitely an accomplishment but becoming an Amazon bestseller in the US, Italy, and the UK for two weeks and getting TV/press interviews when I ended up self-publishing has definitely been a huge surprise and reward! Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought this book could get so much attention! When I first wrote it, I tried to go the conventional way through literary agents to try to get a book deal but I kept on being turned down because “my following on social media is not big enough and nobody wants to read anymore, especially from someone new,” so imagine my surprise when all of this started happening. But what I truly love the most is getting messages on social media from people all over the world thanking me and sharing how much this book has changed their lives. That is truly the biggest achievement for me.
What does the future look like for you-do you plan on writing any future books?
There will definitely be a second book for me, and it will be all about how to master your emotional health and happiness. I have overcome some major hardships in my life and I feel like I have mastered my emotional health, now is all about learning to teach others how to do the same. I am starting to test a program with a few clients at the moment and I will launch mainstream at the end of October with my health and wellness community, Soul Tribe Society, which will be a place for women to come and connect with likeminded women who are onto their journey towards a better self. I am super passionate about this project, as it has been in the making for the past year and a half and I cannot wait to see where this will take me!
Photo Credit: Isaac Zapata De Oliveira
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