~~What’s New at Centered Living?~~
Welcome to Autumn! If you’re in the Traverse City, Michigan area, I trust that you’re savoring the extraordinary late summer weather. It’s been glorious!
What have I been up to? I’m offering counseling and coaching services in my Traverse City office and via telephone as well as introducing a fun and enlightening workshop series about “Mindful Eating” and weight loss. I can’t remember the last time I was so excited to share information and guidance! The slower pace of summer always renews my energy and enthusiasm.
If you’re curious about the new Mindful Eating programs, visit my website or simply click here. Next week I’ll send a brief announcement of the next teleclass starting date (it’s going to start soon), so please watch for that email.
If you’d like to see the flyer for the “in-person” Mindful Eating workshop in Traverse City, Michigan, click here.
And – If you’re a coach in training, or a new coach, you may already know about my Mentorcoaching program. This self-guided mentoring program is an affordable way to access guidance and resources I share from my experience of launching a private practice. I often learned the hard way, but you don’t have to! For more info, please click here.
I welcome the opportunity to support you on your journey!
~~Feature Article: “Eating the Moment”~~
In the months and years to come, you’ll likely be hearing more about the philosophy of Mindfulness (experiencing the present moment). Mindful Eating is an application of Mindfulness which offers an approach to maintain a healthy weight and promote wellness. You may be wondering – “What are the benefits of Mindful Eating? What’s the point and what’s all the buzz about?”
Well, let’s first define the concept of “Mindless Eating” (which is what a majority of us engage in most of the time). Mindless Eating implies that we are not fully experiencing our food because we are rushed, distracted, or using food to sooth ourselves (otherwise known as “emotional eating”). Before we know it – ugh – we’re stuffed and physically uncomfortable. When we mindlessly eat, we overeat. When we eat more than we need, our body stores the excess calories as fat. Feeling discouraged as a result, we tend to repeat this cycle of Mindless Eating.
Compassionately and honestly ask yourself if any of the following experiences ring a bell for you:
v Munching on crunchy food to release physical and emotional tension.
v Devouring a bag/box of cookies or other “comfort” food and then feeling guilty almost immediately afterward (and certainly not comforted).
v Eating an entire meal, only to look at the empty plate afterward and wonder where your food went and even feeling unsure of how it tasted.
v Eating because of boredom/stress/fatigue/sadness/anxiety/happiness or any combo thereof. Whew!
v Eating to “numb out” at the end of the day, usually while staring at the computer or TV.
Remember, times of reflection on experiences like these are when the word “self-compassion” is so important. We’ve all been in these places at one time or another. Beating ourselves up is pointless and only fuels destructive and discouraging cycles. We eat, we feel guilty afterward, then we do it all over again. This is mindless eating and it leads to weight gain, discouragement, bewilderment, and more of the same self-defeating behavior.
What’s the answer? First, awareness and acceptance of our relationship with food; and next, appreciating how this relationship developed in the first place. Along with gentle self-assessment, make a commitment to yourself to savor and truly experience your food. By practicing mindfulness and “eating the moments”, we reconnect with our bodies and the way food tastes, as well as our own sensations of hunger and fullness. As a result, we enjoy food more AND we don’t overeat. Don’t you love it?
The concept of mindful eating is simple, but not easy. It is, however, a path filled with great reward. Mindful eating offers us an entry-point, a guideline for how we can live with a greater sense of well being, experiencing the joy of “here and now”. We feel in charge once again, and this infiltrates all dimensions of our lives. It starts with food. Plain and simple.
This week, I challenge you to simply be aware of those times when you are eating mindlessly and gently encourage yourself to shift toward the place of Mindful Eating. Start simple. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Minimize and ideally eliminate distractions such as the TV or computer when you eat.
2. Ask yourself “Am I hungry?” before and during meals. Just notice. Don’t criticize!
3. If you are not physically hungry, then what is the food doing for you? Again, simply notice and be aware of the answers that emerge. What would nourish you instead of food? What do you really need? How can these needs be TRULY met, knowing that food is only a feeble and ineffective substitute?
How would you like to ‘Eat the Moment’ this week? What are you hungry for in your life? With kindness and honesty, we can shift from mindless to mindful eating and feel truly nurtured, soothed and optimally full. This is authentic wellness.
May you be nourished as you create meaningful experiences of “Eating the Moment”.
Until next time,
Lori
Dr. Lori Gray Boothroyd is a fully licensed psychologist and a professional certified coach, specializing in whole health psychology and facilitating retreat experiences. She is dedicated to helping women eliminate emotional eating and banish “yo-yo” dieting forever! Lori co-authored the book “Going Home: A Positive Emotional Guide to Promote Life Generating Behaviors” with her husband, Dr. Gregory Boothroyd. They reside with their furry family in Traverse City, Michigan.
