We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kristin Williams. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Kristin, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Last weekend, we wrapped up our 6th Christian Body Image Conference for Teen Girls and Women called, In His Image. As you can imagine, planning any big event can be very time consuming and stressful and a lot went into making this conference happen. It ended up being more than I could have hoped for or imagined and has given me a sense of not necessarily pride, but definitely gratitude. I am proud of all of my hard work as well as the work of the other women on the conference planning committee as we all have poured our hearts into this event!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a registered dietitian and certified eating disorder specialist with a Christ centered private practice in Dallas, Texas. I help individuals to make peace with food and their bodies using a non-diet approach. In my practice, I not only talk to clients about their eating and exercise behaviors, but also their underlying thoughts and beliefs that are playing a role in their behaviors. It is more than simply food, it is the psychology of eating. We discuss not only their eating and exercise patterns, but also the underlying why behind those behaviors. My hope is for individuals to break free from the chains of dieting while being empowered to trust their bodies again.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child and young teenager, I always struggled with the belief that my body was not good enough. I wrestled with comparison to my peers and never felt that I added up. Because of this belief, I started punishing my body with over exercise and under-eating in hopes that, if I could change my body, I would believe it was good. It took me years to finally learn that the problem was not my body, but rather my beliefs about my body. Once I was able to challenge my underlying beliefs about my body, I started moving it and nourishing it in a way that was caring and not self-punishing. This newfound relationship with my body also provided a spring board into my career as I daily walk alongside others who are learning to change their beliefs as well.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me humility, trust and patience. My journey to becoming a dietitian has not always been a smooth one. I often tell dietetic interns that I received many “No’s” before I received “Yes’s.”
For example, I did not match to any of the dietetic internships that I had initially applied for. However, a brand new program happened to be opening up that same Fall and I was fortunate enough to be part of a charter dietetic internship class at a local Dallas Hospital.
I’ve had multiple jobs where I was not accepted for the position the first time that I interviewed, but was later called back and offered the positions.
I’ve received pushback regarding the annual body image conference that I host as others have tried to convince me to compromise my values in order to be more accepted by the world.
These trials have grown me not only as a professional, but more so as a person in a way that worldly success never could and, for that, I am grateful.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I believe that the biggest lies the eating disorder field tells itself is that our worth and identity are found within ourselves. While well-meaning, I think this belief actually keeps people stuck in bondage. I personally believe that our our worth and value is found in Christ alone which is actually really great news because it means I can stop striving to earn my value. It has already been set and there is nothing I can do to take from it or add to it. You see, so many of the women that I work with do not fully understand the depth of their great worth and identity. Because of this, they are stuck in cycles of shame and hiding in isolation instead of seeking healing. Others, are tirelessly working in an effort to earn their worth and value. Similar to a dollar bill, whether it is freshly printed from the bank or old, tattered and worn, if you take it to any store cashier, it will be recognized as a dollar because it’s value is in tact no matter what it has been through. Our health and beauty industry profits from convincing women that they are not good enough and deceiving them to believe they have to product, program or solution for this. However, our worth and true identity will never be found in a bottle, cream or within ourselves.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, role and possessions, everything would remain. I have learned the hard way that my worth, identity and value is not found in any of these things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wonderfullymadenutritioncounseling.com/
- Instagram: @wonderfullymadenutrition
- Facebook: Wonderfully Made Nutrition Counseling
Image Credits
Amber Tice Photography
