Weight Management

Today’s date is truly unique - 11.11.11 – it’s the only date where all the same digits appear. It’s being marked as a day of truth, love and peace in the World. Coupled with the occurrence of remembrance and Armistice Day, this is an auspicious day for quiet reflection and inspirational change.

At the start of all the, ‘Why Are You Eating? Programmes’, I listen to participants’ stories of how food affects their lives... totally.

• I can’t just have one biscuit; I have to eat every biscuit until the packet is gone.

• I fight with myself inside my head - you can’t have anymore... but I want one, I’m going to have one... no you’re not... yes I am.

• Whilst I am eating my dinner, I am planning what I am having for my pudding.

• When I am on a diet, I don’t want to go out as I can’t eat what everyone else is, it’s not fair.

• Most of my thoughts are filled with food, and what I am allowed to eat and what I am not.

• By the end of the course, peace has been made with food and all consuming thoughts are dropped.

So how is peace achieved?

INTUITIVE EATING

When we understand how clever and sophisticated our body really is, and we start to listen to it more and more, the struggle with food drops away. Our body gives us very distinct messages that it needs fuel, and also what sort of fuel it needs for optimum energy. By tuning into these physical hunger symptoms we can accurately assess how much to eat and what to eat.

HAVING NO RULES

When we place strict rules on what we should and shouldn’t eat (usually influenced by diets and the dieting industry), the battle begins! There is no middle line, you’re either being ‘good’ or ‘bad’. And the warring between the two states rages on a daily basis. E.g. I will not eat chocolate for 2 weeks. Day I and 2, I’ve been really good, not a morsel of chocolate has passed my lips. Day 3.... oooh, I really fancy chocolate, but I’m not allowed... ummmmh, chocolate, NO! Just a bit will be fine. NO, I’m being good. Oh, go on......’ Sound familiar?!

When there are no rules, there is nothing to battle against or break. But, I can hear you say, I’ll eat everything in sight! Not if you are listening to what your body is saying and when it is hungry, rather than your pesky mind playing tricks on you.

DE-LABELING FOOD

We have been told by the Government, family, friends, the diet industry etc what foods are ‘good’ and what are ‘bad’. So when we are stressed, tired, anxious, lonely, sad, angry etc and we grab for food to comfort or distract us, we are tempted more by the ‘bad’ food rather than the ‘good’.

‘I am so stressed out, I am going to eat that lettuce leaf, that will show them!’

When you take the labels off food, and see all food as equal, then you will not rebel by eating ‘bad’ foods.

These are just three ways for peace to be gained with food. It is very possible to see food as a fuel to provide your body with the energy it needs, but to also relish, savour and enjoy this food at the same time. Food then becomes an enjoyable pleasure in proportion to your life, rather than a constant nagging voice in your head.

Make today the day you start your journey to find peace with food. May peace be with you always.