Fat Joy is Your Birthright

I sought Sophia out as a coach because in the past couple of years some habitual toxic patterns of thinking have crept in, and I thought it would be helpful to talk through them with a coach. I really liked that Sophia is practical and actively seeks strategies rather than passively discussing the topic for hours on end. She looks for ways to launch into action and also keep me accountable for my promises. I felt like every time we talked, another weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was very liberating and freeing.

Now, after receiving coaching, I have daily activities to complete that keep me mindful, truthful to myself, and living in the moment. I have identified the saboteurs and have strategies to deal with the nasty little things!

Aside from family, I've never been in an all-fat space. It is a relief to be with fellow fat people and just not think about it. We can just be people, without judgement. We get to be creative and complete. I feel fulfilled and safe, and I look forward to SBC every month now.

Recently, we had a gathering where everyone shared the creative things they'd been working on. It was great to experience such beauty and positivity. If a fat friend was thinking about joining, I'd tell them that all fat people deserve a space like the Silent Book Club.

Sophia brings a great deal of intelligence, compassion and warmth to her work as a body liberation coach. She has a hard-won personal sense of confidence stemming from her own evolution and experiences, and this has made her both a strong person and a relatable coach -- someone in the trenches, as we are, and who has developed a remarkable knowledge base of coaching techniques and processes to walk us through.

Her particular strength is listening actively, connecting the dots, challenging and reframing as needed, and providing a supportive catalyst for self-knowledge and personal growth.

And her understanding of the neuroscience basis for human behavior has given me a transformative lens through which I am learning to better understand myself, my history and my patterns -- as well as the techniques that are enabling me to change what needs to be changed. I'm so glad I found my way to her.

Sophia coaches through a beautiful blend of neuroscience, positive affirmation & visualization, leadership and a deep belief and ability to help you see yourself as she sees you. Her commitment to helping others discover their confident selves and ‘grab life by the love handles’ has been the most profound gift I have ever received. I have given this gift to myself with Sophia’s coaching. The confidence I feel about myself and my body is real for the first time in my adult life. My body positivity journey is still on-going, perhaps it always will be – and that’s ok!

Sophia has provided me the coaching and tools to work towards becoming my authentic self. I have experienced the energy and confidence that I create with ‘predictable magic’ and I know that I am becoming my powerful Goddess self!

I have been working with Sophia Apostol this year at a time when my unhappiness about my body has been overshadowing all the goodness I feel about my life. My unwavering ability to project a confident, successful woman was breaking under the pressure of my shame and lack of love I was holding for myself. I have not lost weight, shrunk to average height or become invisible this year. Not even close and I love myself more than I ever have!

What I am working on through Sophia’s coaching is becoming someone proud of who they are and what this body can do. No longer believing all of the love, success and strong relationships in my life are despite my size – rather because of who I am and what I give to others.