Meet Ariana Zurita | Intuitive Eating Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariana Zurita and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariana, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Many years ago my brother gave me a birthday card with an anonymous quote printed on it, “It has taken all my life to get where I am now.” To this day, I have that card posted on my bedroom wall. Many of us, including myself, tend to be uncomfortable with the amount of progress we make. We have goals and want to achieve them right away. Sometimes, we become upset with our progress and doubt ourselves and our place in the world.

This quote is a beautiful reminder that no matter where you are, it has taken your entire life to get there. There is no real rush to get any place. The real progress, the real journey, is to find the joy in the moments, instead of waiting for a moment.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets my business apart from many others is that I know firsthand what it feels like to hate my body. I know how hard it is to wake up every morning and begin the day feeling ashamed due to the number on the scale and allowing that to dictate joy throughout my day. I understand the importance and impact of healing one’s relationship with food and their body. I have a genuine desire to be a better person for myself and others as well. Intuitive Eating Momma comes from a deep love within to help women suffer less.

Many people are not familiar with Intuitive Eating. That is a challenge in and of itself. When someone hears that it is an anti-diet approach and that it doesn’t involve intentional weight loss, they almost immediately disregard it. We’re accustomed to believe that people with larger bodies are unhealthy solely because they are bigger and that people with smaller bodies are healthier solely because they are smaller. But people of all shapes and sizes can have health issues. It takes time for people to warm up to the fact that it is possible to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled without having to lose weight or be a certain size.

When I began my business, I was concerned that people would brush it off and that diet culture’s obsession with dieting would cloud my message of helping women heal regardless of size. As time passed, I realized that women’s main desire is to feel good, comfortable, and confident at any size and weight.

If you take anything from me and this interview, it’s this: you are loveable, worthy, and deserve to enjoy this life, no matter what you look like.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love this question and am already envisioning the week! I must say, I would not be a great Los Angeles tour guide, as I tend to stick to the outskirts of LA. But, this would be my tentative itinerary.

I would take them to Vroman’s bookstore on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena and grab some coffee and treats from Tepito Coffee and visit The Huntington. We would stop by Poppy Cake in Sierra Madre, hike the Eaton Canyon trail and visit their nature center. We would definitely eat at Golden Deli in Temple City and have their incredible Pho. The Griffith Observatory has a beautiful view of LA, so that would be a must. As well as watching “Centered in the Universe”.

We would attend a KCRW Summer Nights event at The Hammer Museum to view art while listening to great music. We’d stroll the city of Monrovia Friday Night Farmers Market, taste the seasonal cherries and purchase a rose quartz crystal-shaped moon as a fun souvenir. We would walk around the Pasadena Flea market and if my visiting friend has kids, let them run wild at the Kidspace Children’s Museum and The Pirate Park. Finally, we would toast to the week with some wine and charcuterie boards at a wine library in Pasadena, called The Cellar.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be the person I am today had my husband and two boys not come into my life. They have loved me, challenged me, encouraged me, and truly helped me become the more patient, understanding, and resilient person I am. There is still so much more growth that will take place and needs to take place but they have opened up the space that has allowed me to look inward and examine the person I have become.

Website: www.intuitiveeatingmomma.com

Instagram: @intuitive.eating.momma