Ashley Cross Eating Disorders Service, London (2025)

05/11/2025

📢 What You Eat Today Does NOT Have to Be ‘Earned’ Tomorrow.

🍕🥑🍫 Whether it’s salad or dessert, a big meal or a snack—you don’t have to compensate for eating.

🚫 No extra workouts.
🚫 No restricting the next day.
🚫 No guilt.

💡 Food is nourishment, not a transaction. Your body doesn’t keep a scorecard—it just wants to be fueled and cared for.

So eat, rest, live. No compensation needed. Just nourishment. 💛

31/10/2025

Wondering if Ozempic or Similar Drugs Are Right for You? Let’s Talk About Readiness.

Every week, I get asked:
“Nicole, is Ozempic right for me?”
And honestly? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

These medications can be helpful in very specific cases, but they also come with complex physical and psychological impacts that often go undiscussed. That’s why I want to have a more honest conversation about readiness—beyond the prescription pad.

Here’s what being “ready” might look like:

✅ You’ve developed strong emotional regulation skills and no longer rely on food to cope.
✅ You’ve significantly reduced binge eating through behavioural and therapeutic work—not just suppression.
✅ You maintain regular, balanced eating habits across your day.
✅ You feel comfortable eating all foods—without guilt or shame.
✅ Your desire to lose weight is rooted in health, not appearance, self-hate, or societal pressure.

Sound like you? Then maybe it’s worth a conversation.
But if these things aren’t yet true—that’s not a failure. It just means there’s foundational healing work still to do. And you deserve the support to do it safely.

💬 Let’s stop rushing into powerful drugs without psychological scaffolding.
Let’s build a recovery and health journey that lasts.

📥 Download my free GLP-1 reflection handout here:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube for more videos like this:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 Website: www.aceds.co.uk
📞 Phone: 01202 122796

27/10/2025

I Weigh Myself Every Day, and It Controls My Mood

Does the number on the scale determine your mood for the day?

🚫 Weight is not an indicator of self-worth.
🚫 It does NOT measure health, happiness, or success.
🚫 Fluctuations are normal—weight changes due to water, digestion, hormones, and more.

If stepping on the scale ruins your day, consider taking a break from it. Instead, focus on:
✔ How your body feels
✔ Energy levels
✔ Strength, focus, and mood

✨ Your value is not measured in kilograms or pounds.

24/10/2025

Did You Know GLP-1 Drugs Can Increase Anxiety and Suicidal Thoughts?

This isn’t being talked about enough.

A recent 2025 study published in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research found something deeply concerning:
While many people taking GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic or Mounjaro) did experience weight loss, a substantial group also reported an increase in anxiety, low mood, and even suicidal thoughts.

As a psychological therapist and nutritionist, this stops me in my tracks—especially when I think about people with a history of emotional eating, bingeing, or eating disorders.

💬 Because if you’ve relied on food as a coping tool for overwhelming emotions—possibly for years—
Then suddenly suppressing your appetite doesn’t remove the pain.
It removes your ability to numb that pain.
And that can leave people emotionally raw and vulnerable.

When emotional regulation skills aren’t already in place, GLP-1 drugs may amplify distress, not reduce it. This may explain why we’re now seeing suicidality emerge in clinical data.

We need to talk about this.
We need emotional and psychological support to come first, not as an afterthought.

🧠 Download my free GLP-1 reflection handout here:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call with me:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube for more expert videos:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

📱 More support and info: www.aceds.co.uk
📞 Call: 01202 122796

17/10/2025

GLP-1 Meds & Eating Disorders: Let’s Keep This Conversation Going

Thank you so much for watching. If today’s message gave you something to think about—whether it helped you feel more informed, less alone, or simply more empowered—then I hope you’ll stay connected.

I’m Nicole, a psychological therapist and nutritionist specialising in eating disorders, and I know how overwhelming these decisions around weight, medication, and food can be.

That’s why I’m not here to tell you what to do.
I’m here to give you the knowledge, context, and support you need to make a choice that’s safe—for your mind as well as your body.

If you’re considering GLP-1 medications or are currently using them, I’ve created a free reflection handout to guide you through this journey. It will help you think through readiness, risks, emotional triggers, and nutritional needs.

📥 Get the free guide here:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call to chat more about therapy or nutrition support:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 Website: www.aceds.co.uk
📱 Call: 01202 122796

13/10/2025

💬 Ever been told “you’ll grow out of it” or “just eat healthier” when it comes to food struggles? If you’re living with ARFID, you know it’s not that simple.

In this eye-opening video, we break down the reality of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) — from the physical toll on your body to the emotional and social weight it carries. Whether it’s missed meals, iron deficiency, or feeling misunderstood at every gathering… we see you. And we’re here to help you take back control.

Watch now to understand how ARFID really works and how we can begin piecing together a plan that feels manageable, supportive, and real. Plus, get access to a reflective worksheet at the end of the video to start applying what you’ve learned.

📺 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/OpIksiuS9RI
🧠 Free Reflection Resource: https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/bundles/arfid-stage-one-program
📞 Book an enquiry call: https://calendly.com/aceds/30min
🔔 Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

10/10/2025

GLP-1 Meds Without NHS Oversight? Here’s Why That’s Risky for Your Mental and Physical Health

Let’s get honest about something that’s not being said loudly enough:

💊 GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro were never meant to be a quick fix or casually prescribed weight loss solution.

The NHS has strict criteria for their use. They’re only recommended for people with:
• Type 2 diabetes
• Certain obesity-related health conditions
• After failing to respond to other lifestyle and dietary interventions

Yet more and more people are turning to private prescriptions—and here’s where it gets concerning.

Without access to:
• 🧠 Psychological support
• 🥗 Nutritional guidance
• 💬 Ongoing medical oversight

…these drugs can reinforce disordered eating patterns or even trigger emotional distress. For someone already using food to cope, appetite suppression can feel like losing a lifeline.

And for those in eating disorder recovery?
These medications can dangerously blur the lines between treatment and harm.

If you’re considering GLP-1 meds—or know someone who is—please:
🔍 Check your emotional and nutritional readiness
💬 Speak to a trained professional
📥 Download my free reflection handout to explore this fully:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🌐 Visit: www.aceds.co.uk
📱 Call: 01202 122796
🎥 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

06/10/2025

📢 Dear Human, You Probably Don’t Need… to ‘Fix’ Your Body.

👀✨ Staring in the mirror, wishing something looked different? Been there. But here’s the truth:

💡 Your body isn’t a problem to solve.
🏡 It’s the home you live in.
💖 It’s worthy—right now, as it is.

You don’t need to shrink, sculpt, or ‘perfect’ yourself to be enough. Your body is already doing the most—keeping you alive, moving you through life, carrying your experiences.

What if, instead of fixing it, you thanked it? What if, instead of changing it, you nourished it?

Your worth isn’t measured in inches or kilograms. You’re already enough.

03/10/2025

Struggling with Binge Eating? Here’s What You Need to Know—Before Considering GLP-1 Meds

If you’ve found yourself trapped in a cycle of binge eating, emotional eating, or food-related distress, I want you to know that support exists—and recovery is possible. But please don’t wait until things feel “bad enough.”

Some of the most effective strategies for addressing binge eating include:

🧠 Working with a therapist trained in eating disorders
🛠️ Learning emotional coping tools and distress tolerance
📅 Establishing structured, consistent eating routines

Now, if you’re considering GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro, here’s what I want you to hear clearly:
These meds may be helpful in very specific circumstances, but they’re not a first step. They don’t resolve the underlying emotional reasons for bingeing. They only suppress appetite—and if you’re using food as a coping mechanism, that can be incredibly destabilising.

Before starting, ask yourself:
🔍 Have I explored the root causes of my eating behaviours?
💬 Am I working with a therapist or nutritionist?
👩⚕️ Have I discussed this openly and honestly with my GP?

If you believe these meds could help, talk to a qualified professional who can evaluate your situation based on NHS criteria and ensure you have the emotional, psychological, and nutritional scaffolding in place first.

📥 Download my free GLP-1 Reflection Handout to guide that conversation:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call here:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🌐 Learn more: www.aceds.co.uk
📱 Call: 01202 122796
🎥 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

29/09/2025

Feeling stuck in your relationship with food? 😞

Whether it’s fatigue, food anxiety, digestive discomfort or just that constant sense of overwhelm… it’s not just one thing. ARFID and food struggles are like a puzzle — and it starts with recognising the pieces.

This video is your invitation to pause and reflect. To understand that your challenges are valid — and manageable with the right tools. 💬

✨ Watch now and start your recovery puzzle
✨ Share with someone who needs support
✨ Download the free ARFID Companion resource
✨ Explore the full ARFID Stage One programme: https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/bundles/arfid-stage-one-program
✨ Book a free enquiry call: https://calendly.com/aceds/30min
✨ Subscribe to Clinico Nutrition: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

26/09/2025

Ozempic and Mounjaro: What Are These Medications Really For?

Let’s break down the facts behind the hype.

Ozempic and Mounjaro are part of a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Originally, they were developed for treating type 2 diabetes, helping to regulate blood sugar levels by mimicking a natural hormone that encourages insulin release.

But here’s where it gets interesting—and where much of the media attention has come from:
An unexpected side effect during diabetes treatment was significant weight loss, primarily due to appetite suppression. These drugs reduce hunger, slow stomach emptying, and make you feel fuller sooner. For many, that’s incredibly appealing—but there’s much more to the story.

💉 These meds are typically administered via injection—once a week, under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. Sounds simple, right? That simplicity, paired with weight loss, has made GLP-1 meds like Ozempic a global trend.

But trends don’t always tell the full truth.
Weight loss doesn’t equal wellness if you’re left nutritionally depleted or emotionally overwhelmed.

📥 Download the free GLP-1 reflection handout to explore whether these meds are right for you:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call with me here:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🌐 More at www.aceds.co.uk
📱 Call: 01202 122796

🎥 Subscribe for more insights on eating disorders and GLP-1 meds:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

24/09/2025

“I Have Self-Control During the Day”

…But what happens at night? Many of my clients tell me they eat ‘perfectly’ all day and then struggle with bingeing or feeling out of control at night.

Here’s why: When you restrict, even mentally, your body and brain fight back. Hunger builds up, willpower fades, and cravings feel unbearable. This isn’t a ‘lack of control’—it’s your body doing exactly what it’s supposed to do to protect you.

✨ What can help?
✔ Eat enough earlier in the day
✔ Stop labelling foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’
✔ Give yourself permission to eat without guilt

Food is not something you have to ‘earn’ by starving all day. 💛

Ashley Cross Eating Disorders Service

05/11/2025

31/10/2025

27/10/2025

24/10/2025

17/10/2025

13/10/2025

10/10/2025

06/10/2025

03/10/2025

29/09/2025

26/09/2025

24/09/2025

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