Meet the expert: The Mexican-American expert says she has always had a passion for food and loves the field of healthcare. "I wanted a profession that could combine those two passions of mine and put them into practice, "she says. "I very much enjoy helping people break free from fad diets and reclaim their physical and mental health with lifestyle nutrition."
Her anti-diet philosophy: Simmons says when it comes to weight loss it is important to know that weight loss alone, without learning how to have a balanced lifestyle, is equivalent to putting adhesive bandages on broken bones. "Sustainable weight loss only comes as a side effect of healthy eating and lifestyle habits, which is very hard for people to understand because it doesn't happen overnight, or in a few weeks, or even months," she explains. Simmons adds that because we live in a society that is so used to quick fixes, it does not fix the root cause of the problem. "The worst dieting advice I've come across actually comes from celebrities and other famous doctors who bestow fear upon vulnerable people," she discloses.
She says most of these diets are detrimental to physical and mental health in the long run. She also warns that weight loss should not be tied to your self-image or self-esteem because the consequences will be destructive. However, if people do want to or need to lose weight, she advises it should be done through the right tools and knowledge to improve their body composition without a numeric "weight goal," but rather where they feel happy and full of energy without the misery of restrictive fad diets. "I fight 'diet culture' in my practice by using a personalized but flexible approach to help my clients master lifestyle nutrition and mindful eating so they can enjoy the food they love and feel great in their own bodies," Simmons says.
Fighting food shaming: Simmons believes it's important to maintain food traditions; culture and flavors Latinx clients are used to. She says, "I never tell my clients to avoid food, but rather teach them how to appropriately balance a meal or a snack while adapting to their lifestyle." She teaches people how they can enjoy all food while also showing them how to improve the nutrition profile of their traditional foods without sacrificing flavor and taste. "This is a sustainable approach, rather than providing lists of 'approved' foods, which causes a lot of stress and anxiety, " she explains, adding, "I make sure to meet my clients where they are, considering their personal and individual needs."
She points out that the problem of modern wellness demonizing our food is rooted in the fact that many ethnic foods have been "acculturated" or adapted to fit the modern Western diets and convenience foods. This means they're loaded with unhealthy fats, refined starches, and salt, so they can be appealing to the general public. "I work hard on dispelling these myths about traditional, ethnic diets, which actually have an incredibly high nutritional value, through my teachings, and my nutrition philosophy grounded in traditional foods," she adds.
Where to follow her: @inspired.soul.nutrition
