Emotional Eating

By reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and emotional stress we can often discover the trigger to our ongoing battle with food. Also, sustaining a healthy relationship with someone may be difficult when we don’t have a healthy and loving relationship with ourselves first. This is such a basic fact but one which many people push back into their subconscious minds when seeking love and companionship. It’s too easy to expect that by having someone love us, all else will be just fine.

Development of better social and emotional skills will help increase the awareness of those triggers which set up bad habits. By knowing what it is that creates this, you will be free to enjoy greater physical health plus a better quality of life will prevail.

Poor Diet and Lifestyle Habits

Simply being happy and enjoying too much of all the good things in life may have led to a slip up in healthy eating practice. Exercise is also a factor in the feel good process, and having worked in fitness centres I couldn’t help but be amazed at how people could commit so much money to joining a gym and yet still have very little commitment to or passion for their lives. Often a cycle may begin whereby weight loss and body image become the goal, hence an ongoing battle begins. Personal trainers are great in helping you to keep on track and understanding how equipment works, however if you aren’t in it for the love of an overall overhaul, then you will soon slip back into bad habits. Be mindful of what your goals are and be realistic about what you are truly capable of committing to.

Also are you really enjoying the exercise and is your spirit moving you, or does it all become overwhelming and depressing? If it all seems too hard, maybe it’s time to get some support, and together we can look at ideas and ways in which you can make some small change, helping to make living less an effort and more enjoyable. This too will hold you in good stead health wise, especially if there is any history of diabetes or heart disease. So let’s get started then.

Food

When we talk about diet and food, there’s more to think about for some of us. These days we’re bombarded with products on our supermarket shelves claiming to have certain health benefit. Whilst there’s a governing body set up to keep many companies in line with specific standards and guidelines, often it is our responsibility to know what it is our body will like or reject.

Too much processed food can be harmful as it may contain high levels of salt or sugar. It’s important to listen to any signals your body is giving you when eating these foods as it may be an indication of sensitivity. Also be aware of any additives which may be the cause of some allergies or bloating.
Our bodies rely upon natural organic foods to survive, and I do realise that it’s not always possible to eat fresh, however, it’s important to stock your trolley responsibly. Be mindful each time you reach for certain products; having a problem with knowing how to balance your eating effectively may mean your body has forgotten how good the ‘real thing’ tastes. Why not try experimenting with some new foods such as exotic fruits; or oriental vegies in a stir fry? Your health will benefit in the long run, and food will become more exciting and enjoyable again.

Lack of Self Esteem

It’s a sad fact that all too often dissociation between one’s body and thoughts can endure throughout our lives when we encompass an obsession with how we believe we should look and feel. This is an ongoing topic in our society and it seems we still haven’t got the message. Just look at how much is written about the issues relating to body image and eating disorders. Lack of self esteem can embody a person’s whole sense of wellbeing and in the end manifest in ways that can not only create illness, but often become destructive to our relationships.

Building Self Esteem can be a difficult and sometimes painful experience; however it’s a journey worth beginning now. The result can be a more clear understanding of how happiness is possible when barriers are finally removed, especially if you have a poor sense of body image too. Everyone has their grudge with at least one aspect of themselves so it’s time to deal with it – you have one body and it needs your love to survive.