Tracy Ashdale
Tracy has always encouraged others to trust the themselves and listen with their heart as well as their head. She has been on a journey to support women and girls to take action and be brave in their lives so they can experience real joy and connection with themselves and others.
After completing her education in Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy. Tracy spent the first part of her professional career working with couples, families and children at The Horsham Clinic and Penn Council for Relationships. In addition, she holds certifications as Integrative Life Coach with the Ford Institute for Transformational Coaching, and as Functional Medicine Coach with the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Tracy recently retired as Founder and Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Southeastern Suburban Pa after 18 years. She reports “it was an honor an privilege to bring life-changing programs to my community.” It truly was the platform for my life’s work.
Tracy’s most fulfilling moments are when she is with her family, three daughters, her nieces and nephew. Tracy loves adventure, the theater, traveling and cooking. Physical movement and mindfulness are essential parts of her day. After hanging up her running shoes four years ago her nieces asked her to run a half marathon, and because it was her year of “YES” she laced up in December to complete it with them. She routinely challenges herself to pushes through the messy middle in order to keep growing.
”And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to Blossom” Anais Nin
My Story
I was 9 years old at summer overnight camp when my parents and sisters were coming to visit me for family visiting day. If I am being totally transparent it was a “fat camp” AKA a fun place to send your kids to lose weight and get skinny for the summer. I have incredibly devoted parents but like many other parents they did the best they could based on what they knew at the time. When they knew better they 100% did better and I am most grateful for that. What they didn’t know was when they saw me for the first time in 3 weeks noticing my 13 lb weight loss and they placed a pin on my tank top that read “Worlds Greatest Dieter” …. that’s what I would become!
Until I discovered Intuitive Eating…..
From the age of 9 until I was 21 I cycled through the Monday morning dieters mentality. It was the excitement of starting a new diet, losing the weight and fantasizing about all the forbidden foods I would eat when I was off the diet. The belief that the weight was the problem and being completely disconnected from my physical hunger vs psychological hunger is what kept the hope going.
The life-changing shift happened when I got in touch with my real physiological hunger and recognized the weight was a symptom of not actually feel my emotions. Unconsciously, I was a master at using food to numb my feelings- everyone of them the good, the difficult and everything in between.
Our relationship with food is a direct reflection of our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. Eating is not simply about caloric input and fuel for our bodies. The act of eating is intimately intertwined with our emotions, mindset, stress, spirituality, and past experiences. In order to improve our eating habits and heal our relationship with food, we must go beyond the food itself and understand the “why.”
Not only does this support greater freedom and enjoyment in eating, it allows for a deeper connection to yourself so you will fully show up in every area of your life. Whether it’s in your relationships or as a leader in your career. I will support you as you build an inner strength and wisdom so you can finally master your mindful eating and nutrition and live a totally different life!
