As young children, most of us ate when hungry and stopped when full. We gladly accepted food that tasted good and turned our noses up at food that didn’t. We probably did not give a second thought to the size of our body and its relationship with what food we ate. But as we grew older, we were exposed daily to images and messages that informed us how to look slimmer and younger and smell less smelly. We purchased books, watched videos, and read articles that explained what foods to eliminate from our diets if we wanted to achieve the best health. For many of us, the whole situation has led to addictive tendencies to sugary processed foods, extreme food restriction, malnutrition, overeating or undereating, feelings of shame and failure, and an exhausting, unattainable pursuit of perfection.
Giving attention to the intelligence of your beautifully unique body will help decrease the volume of these often conflicting and confusing messages and help you peacefully discover how your body prefers to be nourished, how it wants to move, and what it needs to be healthy for years to come.
Wanting to Look Good
The desire to lose weight is likely at the top of the list of reasons that lead people to change how they eat. A line from the movie American Beauty comes to me. The personal trainer of the main character Lester, asks him why he wants to begin a new fitness routine- to have more stamina, strength? Lester replies, “To look good naked.” Wanting to look good is natural, probably with evolutionary roots that helped us humans reproduce and survive- no need to deny it! Perhaps we can accept and maybe even love the shape of our physical bodies, including all the squishy stuff while also acknowledging that a part of us wants to look better or feel more desired. Let’s welcome whatever reasons this part has! However, problems arise if this part takes over and gets mean and critical and leads us to deny the body food and not get adequate nutrition in its endeavor to help us look good and feel loved and wanted.
Strengthening and Protecting the Body
One will not achieve long-term weight loss by severe calorie restriction (which weakens the metabolism) or the overconsumption of cold foods such as juices, smoothies, and raw salads (which weakens the digestive fire) but by a diet that nourishes and protects the functions of metabolism and digestion.* Unless these functions are strengthened, one will put the weight back on no matter how strictly one adheres to a diet.
Many of us have had painful experiences related to our bodies and our sense of worth. Often these experiences are held within the body, with extra padding protecting the more sensitive feeling self. When we make fun of our thighs and bellies, call ourselves names, and say cruel things to ourselves as we stand on a scale only creates an even more unsafe environment to be in. Inviting warmth, care, and friendliness to one’s inner life will be more helpful than unkind words.
From Starvation to Nourishment
The take-home message is those who want to reduce excess weight need to nourish themselves rather than starve or punish themselves. This can be done by eating a variety of warm, flavorful, and colorful foods; plenty of fruits and vegetables, soups and stews, whole grains and legumes, and a little meat if desired. Flavoring foods with warm, aromatic herbs and spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, and ginger will support digestive fire. Naturally, one must reduce sugar, processed foods, and refined starches such as noodles, crackers, and bread as much as possible for good health. Still, if these foods get replaced by an over-restrictive mentality, sugar substitutes, and deficient nutrition, cravings will increase and make healthy weight loss more challenging.
Eating a balanced diet of whole foods with the intention to maintain good long-term health will lead to a healthy weight and body and, most importantly, more enjoyment, peace, and nourishment through eating.
If you would like guidance in learning how to eat intuitively and healthily by bringing wholebody awareness to eating and loving kindness to yourself while making food choices, please get in touch.
*Intentional fasting practices such as Intermittent Fasting have many well-researched advantages to health. They do not have the same consequences as severe calorie restriction.
