How She Did It: Leemor Ellman

How do you break a cycle that’s deeply ingrained—and help others do the same?

We're happy to spotlight Leemor Ellman, who turned a personal awakening into a powerful mission. After decades of chronic dieting and body dissatisfaction, she discovered Intuitive Eating—and everything changed. Through deep inner work and professional certification, she transformed her own mindset, helped her teens become body-trusting eaters, and launched a business coaching other moms to do the same.

In this inspiring interview, she shares how she’s rejecting diet culture, disrupting intergenerational shame, and reclaiming the right to feel free in the body you have today. Her story is a must-read for any woman in midlife who’s ready to rewrite the rules—and lead with compassion, clarity, and courage.

Read on to learn How she Did It!

What's your personal mission?

My mission is to coach moms to become Intuitive Eaters, stop the intergenerational cycle of body shaming and blaming, release the harmful grips of diet culture, and reclaim the right to feel free in your current body.

What inspired you to launch your current career/launch your business?

As a former chronic dieter of 30 years, my body was never good enough, and no matter how hard I tried, I consistently failed at losing and maintaining weight. Until I discovered Intuitive Eating several years ago and finally embarked on an intense inner journey to unlearn the damage that diet culture taught me, and re-learn how to develop a healthy relationship with food and my body.

I transformed my teens’ beliefs in their bodies and they too became Intuitive Eaters trusting their bodies. Now I coach moms along the counter-cultural journey to reject harmful body narratives and develop a new belief in your body, regardless of your size!

What's unique about returning/pivoting in midlife?

I have felt more aligned in my current work as a coach than in any other professional opportunity before! Taking a personal passion and turning it into a business is hard to match. I feel enormous satisfaction, gratitude, and connection.

What’s one intention you have for your work this year?

To embody the belief that I am an imperfect human by practicing self-compassion. To get the answers to the ultimate question: ‘What do I want?’

What are you most passionate about right now?

Educating and coaching women on how to eliminate anti-fat bias and eradicate weight stigma. Teaching the next generation that liking one’s body doesn’t have to be an act of courage, and that thinness is not a requirement for good health or social acceptance.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Coaching, creating marketing content and strategy, developing relationships with prospective clients, and networking to expand my reach. Working through exercises as part of a live small group 6-month anti-diet coaching certification program.

What’s one thing that's advanced your career in the last year?

Becoming a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and now participating in a six-month anti-diet, cognitive behavioral coaching certification program has been life-changing.

I’ve learned how to engage in a self-coaching model and develop intentional thoughts to change my mindset. I know how to reshape my thinking to take different actions and get new results.

Who’s your “tribe” when it comes to professional inspiration or support?

My fellow peer coaches within the certification program, my close friends, and my husband.

Favorite book, app, or podcast?

My current favorite podcast is Burnt Toast, and my favorite book is “Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture,” both by Virginia Sole-Smith

You’re granted an extra hour in the day. How do you spend it?

Hiking in the woods while listening to the audiobook version of Miranda July’s book “All Fours”

The advice I would give my 20-year-old self is…

Don’t avoid risks, stop the all-or-nothing thinking, and constantly ask yourself what you want.

The advice that I want to give my 75-year-old self is...

Take it easy! Take stock of all the wonderful things you’ve done to get where you are.

Your theme song that should play every time you walk into a room?

"I'm Every Woman" by Whitney Houston

Best career advice for other women in midlife?

Develop a practice of self-compassion. Keep moving forward even if it's tough. Life is not linear at times, and that's ok.

When did you feel you got “you” back?

When I discovered Intuitive Eating, and for the first time in 30 years began divesting from decades of a wrought relationship with food and my body.

What’s up next?

I have a few fairly near-term dreams: begin a podcast and social media community for parents raising kids who trust their bodies.