When it comes to the festive season, our patients often share their fear of over indulging.
We suggest bypassing the scales and the fear for many reasons. It interrupts the natural ebb-and-flow of the human body and it can bring toxic feelings of shame and guilt when completely unnecessary. Instead, we encourage listening and letting our body and clothes remind us of what serves and what doesn’t.
This doesn’t mean we eat with abandon, so how do we indulge without overdoing?
Avoid depriving - when we are eating wholesome foods majority of the time, our body can handle that slice of Christmas pudding, and our mind is freed from the guilt and shame, we feel part of and whole as a being.
Stay hydrated - drinking water aids our digestion and comfort and maintains strong cellular health. Dehydration turns on our hunger hormone (ghrelin) and turns off our hunger-suppressant hormone (leptin), making us feel hungrier and more likely to overeat.
Bring a dish to share - it can feel stressful when the food at a gathering isn’t what we know will feel good to eat. Instead of feeling hungry, or going with the flow and paying the price later, bring a healthy sharable dish that all can enjoy - everyone will be grateful, as will their bodies!
Move your body - movement is good for us in so many ways. Go out with your family, arrange to meet a friend or two and go for a walk or take a class. Make this a regular gig! Meeting people is a great motivation to get us out and about moving our bodies.
Breathe - a slow, easy breath deep into the belly is the quickest and most effective way to bring our body into ‘rest and digest’ mode. It is also a lovely way to stay grounded.
Most importantly, shift the chatter that indulgent foods will throw us off balance. Remember, stress and guilt can be more toxic than any sweet treat.
Food is absolutely our fuel, it is also about our family, our friends, our community, our identity. When we eat well, we nourish all of these things.
Healthy Gut, Health Mind, Healthy Life.