Let’s talk about the elephant in the room!
O.K. so now I really have the “ what” and “where” down pretty well; but, “how much” still seems to be disordered! I get distracted, truly, lose focus, because of conversation, length of time at the table, or it just plain tastes sooooooooo good!
Having learned the art of making pizza this summer, my friend says that even though I am satisfied ...
Helen's Blog
I met Helen on a dismal, drizzly day in New York City. A member of my Aids Walk 2011 group, she was a new face in the crowd. Helen was dressed and ready to march in a bright yellow rain poncho. Or maybe it wasn’t bright yellow and I just I think it was. That’s the kind of brilliant personality Helen has—sunshiny and radiant.
As I’ve come to know and work with Helen as her nutritional coach I’ve learned that she’s not just an extremely positive person; she despises negativity of any kind, especially her own. Helen is a joy junkie. If for a moment she is not feeling loving, happy, accommodating, and entertaining she becomes uncomfortable. And this discomfort often sends her to the grocery store, not just for goodies that she can later gulp down to quiet any negative feelings, but because this is where she recalls wonderful memories—for example, loving recollections of her mother driving to the market, singing along the way.
It was clear to me that Helen’s expectation of herself as a consistently luminous and upbeat person was unrealistic; it was self-defeating, really. One of my goals is to help her understand that negative feelings are normal.
In our first session we discussed the notion of riding a feeling rather than hiding it because, like it or not, that emotion will probably surface again. When it does rear its ugly head, we want to make sure it’s not accompanied by a bottomless bowl of guacamole.
Helen has taken to eating in her likeness in the same way that a fish takes to water. Before I had a chance to offer her an opening assignment, to write a goal and an affirmation, she told me about the affirmations she was scripting and scattering about her apartment.
Helen is ready for a plan that is authentic and sustainable. Willing, finally, to trust herself outside of the confines of a diet, she’s eager to learn how to discern true hunger as opposed to an urge to engage in dissociative (mindless) eating. Helen is also eager to reveal, in this blog, what she is discovering.
I’m a firm believer in learning through the experiences of other people, and I’m very grateful to Helen for opening her journal with the intention of benefiting others who struggle with issues of eating.
Take it away, Helen!
During the past month I hear the word “hungry” and give pause, and think am I truly hungry? In almost all cases, the answer is no. But, now when I hear anyone even say the word, I think about the fact that when I want something to eat, it is a desire for a specific “thing”. . . protein, a vegetable, some fruit, or something chocolate and/or sweet. It is not some random ...
Staying focused on whatever I am doing is so important! I have been easily distracted and disordered in my behavior, but now I have a tool which is always available to me . . .”self talk”! I used to do it in a way that was detrimental to myself, “don’t you”ll fail” all kinds of negativity, left over from my “past”. This week someone sent me a sentence that I appreciated! It said ...
In thinking about my goals which I now say every day, I noticed that there was something that is an extension of “management”, and with regard to my affirmation, a further explanation of “extreme self care”. Being calm and at peace makes so much sense with regard to all relationships with others, as well as with myself. I am beginning to see that with regard to nutrition and eating, this ...
Barbecue Yesterday that was what I had a yen for . . .and intellectually I know that that is not a healthy choice for me…but Carol says what you resist persists . . .so I bought a small jar of fancy, hot (no chemicals) barbeque sauce, steamed some broccoli, and dipped it in for a little flavor . . .and believe it or not, that did it for me! Again, the “listen ...
I was with close friends/family who have an anniversary the day before my birthday, and are never around to celebrate, me with them, or them with me! So we talked about it, and it got me thinking about what I really want. Meanwhile, Carol sent me a paper about setting goals and affirmations . . .something that she did at the beginning of my journey with her last summer. After much thinking about what I ...
So I went to the Reebok on Monday to get tested after my workout, and 1/2 hour in the steam to relax …ha ha ha ‘cause that was the wrong thing to do before the test. I didn’t have enough water in my system to get a correct reading for the percentage of fat, BMI, which he said he would redo on another day. In terms of my flexibility I am in the “elite” ...
I was told that at the Reebok, my club/gym, there is a machine that takes your measure in many ways! So I asked if I could do it myself, and was told no; but, that they would set something up for me at noon today. I am wondering so many things . . .do I want to know really, and will it change my thoughts or behavior? I lent a lace and satin ...
On my way up to my exercise class, which is water aerobics in the pool, I pass the Richard Tucker Triangle, where there is a Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning! I could smell the apple cider doughnuts as I passed, and I love the size . . .they are small . . .two and a half inches in diameter, and seventy-five cents. Did I say fresh and yummy!? So I bought one, ate ...
I am told that whatever you focus on expands! I guess when it came to food/nutrition/eating in the past, I always had too much on my plate, and too often! Now when it comes to the rest of my life, I need to manage, prioritize, a whole lot better . . .I am overwhelmed for the moment; but I will take it one day at a time, and have realistic expectations. Just don’t have ...
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