Karen Saukas
I help women who struggle with dieting and binge eating transform their relationship with food by rewiring the beliefs & behaviors that keep them stuck so they can find lasting peace.
If you’re looking for shame-free, science-backed, sensitive support — I’m your gal.
If we haven’t meet yet, hi! I’m
My core values
Authenticity deeply matters to me. I show up without filters (& often makeup), and crave deep conversations & connections.
It took me years to embrace my sensitive nature, but now I love it. I’m an empath who was born to sit with people in their pain, hold space, and help them feel seen in their struggle.
I trust my intuition because I trust myself. I used to fear foods like bread, but now I eat intuitively without overthinking.
My story
1990
Born with OCD. Control has always made me feel calm. I’ve been Type-A and anxious since day one.
2009
I went on an extreme diet that turned into anorexia. The obsession with food & body numbed my grief and my shame for being sensitive. I lost hair, bone density, and my period. I had countless digestive issues.
It was an avoidant coping mechanism that served me at a time when I didn’t have the tools or support to cope with my grief.
2014
2003
When I was 12, my mom died 3 weeks after her leukemia diagnosis. It was so sudden. She was my world, and I miss her every day.
2012
The binge eating started. Transition between the restrictive and binge-purge subtypes of anorexia is common, but I panicked.
My entire identity was my illness. Control over food meant control over my world. Binge eating was my worst nightmare.
I have very few photos from this time.
By the time I admitted I needed full-time psychological support, I was denied treatment in 5 minutes over the phone based on my weight.
Multiple therapists hadn’t helped. Doctors just put me on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. The two dietitians I saw were not specialized in EDs. Treatment wasn’t an option (it probably was, but I didn’t know how to navigate the medical system alone at 23.) I was utterly lost. So, I said I'M DONE! I’m gonna figure out recovery on my own.
I studied psychology, so I looked into one of my favorite subjects — neuroplasticity. I dove into research articles and read books. I worked on rewiring my belief systems and thought patterns, building self-confidence, and gradually reducing restricting and binge episodes.
2020
2003–2008
In an attempt to control my grief, I doubled down on perfectionism. High school valedictorian, sports, etc. I could have wrote the textbook on people-pleasing.
2012
When I attempted to recover, I crossed over into bulimia instead. I rapidly gained weight, and mentally, I was miserable.
I battled my mind, my body, and the binge-restrict cycle for years. My eating disorder was a thief of joy. It damaged my relationships, my health, and led to a true breakdown.
Each year, I made progress, although it felt painfully slow. I learned to trust my body and myself. I discovered how to recognize hunger and fullness, and to eat intuitively.
2020 was the first year I ate every single day in 11 years. No diets. No binge eating. No counting calories. No weighing myself. No mental stress. Full recovery and complete freedom.
That’s why I became the person I always needed. Someone to sit with you in your struggle and guide your path to healing, so it goes a lot faster and smoother than mine did.
I’m a coach and mentor who believes that no matter how long you’ve struggled or how stuck you feel, healing is always possible. And I can help you get there.
A bit more about me
A German coworker got sent to the U.S.… and later that year, I moved to Munich. Now, we’re married & have a son. Like I said, I trust my intuition. I love living in Germany and working with women worldwide.
Reading is my favorite hobby. I love fantasy. I was a huge Harry Potter fan growing up and loved Throne of Glass! I also read a lot of psychology books because I love learning about the brain. Me + a book + a summer storm = perfection.
Growing up, I was super shy. Now, I’m much more confident, but still introverted. I light up with 1–2 of my favorite people or working with clients, but I feel exhausted after a big social gathering.
I’ve got you.
After years of navigating how to find peace with food for myself and others, I’d love to help you do the same.
Want to work together?