Body Design

Emotional Eating

My youngest son is in BC working at a ski resort for the winter season.  I called him on Sunday night to see how he was and hear his voice.  I miss him - I have not seen him since November. 

During our conversation, I learned that he had been offered another contract to work at the resort starting in May to October.  He had decided to accept the offer as work opportunities are not exactly plentiful right now here in Ontario.  I was happy for him as he has obviously impressed his employer however I was also overcome with sadness as I was looking forward to him coming home in mid April.

I cried when I got off the phone but I could not shake my feelings of disappointment, loss and sadness.  Then came the cravings for something to eat.  I knew I was not hungry as we had ate dinner earlier.  I just wanted something - the urge was powerful and persistent.  I asked my husband if he would go get some chips and he declined (thank God!).  I then started to think about what we had in the house that might "do the trick".

Next think I knew, I had devoured 4 chocolate chip cookies and a Mr. Big chocolate bar.  I do not even really like chocolate bars.  These Mr. Big's had been in our closet since before Christmas and I have never been tempted.  But right now, they were my target.

After eating the cookies and chocolate bar, I felt terrible.  I was overwhelmed with guilt and frustration for having given in to "emotional" eating and my stomach did not feel well. I had fallen victim to the "emotional" eating trap that so many of my clients experience.  

Did my eating solve anything?  Absolutely not.  In fact, it made things worse.  I was now mad at myself for giving in to something I try to help others avoid.  I had not practiced some of the strategies that I offer others - journaling, reading, make yourself a cup of tea, go for a walk, work on the computer, call someone on the telephone, etc. etc.   

However, what I also realized was that my feelings are powerful, legitimate and must be acknowledged in a healthy way.  My initial crying was not enough, I needed to do more.  Probably cry more, talk and write. 

Emotional eating is all about not fully acknowledging, accepting and allowing ourselves to actually feel our emotions.  My emotions were deep sadness, loss and disappointment.  I did not allow myself to fully feel those emotions - I chose to try to push them away with the temporary pleasure of food.  The satisfaction the food brought was very brief and then came the anger at myself for having given in.

My emotions are real and I have to acknowledge that it is okay to allow myself to feel them.  It's scary as I really don't think we allow ourselves to go there - to be raw, to be vulnerable, to be real.  I guess that is what it means to live in the present and "let it be".

I have more work to do in this area.  The next time I find myself craving food, I have to try to stop and allow myself to feel the emotions that I am trying to push away with the food.  This is where the real work on finding out more about who I am begins. 

The Weight Loss Plan

Losing weight - almost every client who walks through our doors wants to achieve this.  Body Design offers assistance to help people who want to lose weight but we are not a quick fix option.  We promote the benefits of exercise and healthy eating choices as the best way to lose weight and keep that weight off. 

But everyone wants a "quick fix".  That is why Americans spend over $40 billion each year on weight loss programs and products.  However, over 90% of the people who take the pills, eat the prepackaged meals, take the injections, read the books, or buy the fitness gadgets on the Shopping Channel fail.  If they do lose weight, most will regain the weight within a year and then some!

The other scary thing about the diet industry is that it is an unregulated industry.  All the promising weight loss, fat burning pills and potions that are on the market are not tested by government health organizations and no one really knows the long term effects of many of these products on the human body.

So, how do we solve the weight loss problem? Well, the bottom line is this - food tastes good, so we eat lots of it.  However, we gain weight because we take in more calories than we burn off.  The only way to lose weight and maintain your weight loss is to eat less and exercise more.

One lb. = 1500 calories.  If you want to lose 1 lb. in one week, then you have to either eat 1500 less calories per week or burn 1500 more calories in a week.  Eating 1500 less calories per week is a lofty goal for most people and burning an extra 1500 calories is also difficult especially if you have not been active on a regular basis.  I recommend that you combine both options - eat less calories and get more active. 

It's as simple as that - eat less and exercise more.  This is the only proven weight loss "plan" that works - it just takes time.  The time involves making lifestyle changes - fitting exercise into your life on a regular basis and making healthy eating choices on a consistent basis. 

I "work" this plan every day and I see clients on a daily basis who are "working" the same plan.  The results do not happen quickly but they do happen.  Permanent weight loss is possible, you just have to "work" the plan.

Wow, You Look Like You've Lost Weight!

Wow, you look like you've lost weight!"  How many of you feel this statement is a compliment? 

In my business, most clients seek our services initially to lose weight and tone up.   Their focus is what the scale tells them - is the number up or down?  During our time with each client, we try to educate them that the benefits of eating well and exercising is about much more than just what the scale says. 

Eating well and regular exercise can create huge changes in a person's life.   I get really excited when clients start telling me how good they're starting to feel, how they have so much more energy and are sleeping better.  They also start telling me stories of how they have found themselves doing some household chore and noticed that the task was now much easier to do.  I hear this alot in the winter regarding shovelling snow. 

To me this is progress - this is improved health.  Improved health is about more than just what the scale says.

So instead of saying to someone, "You look like you've lost weight!"  Take the opportunity to congratulate and acknowledge success by adopting other verbal phrases. "Wow, you look so healthy!"  "Your eyes are beautiful - you are just glowing!" "You look so fit and healthy!"  or "You look amazing - I love the energy you're sharing!" 

I recently received my annual Milk calendar and at the back there is a full page ad from the Dairy Farmers of Canada.   The caption reads, "It's better to have a body in shape than to obsess about the shape of your body".  What a great message - I could not agree more.