Remove the toxicities.

Improve the deficiencies.

There you have it.

Based on this formula, it quickly becomes clear why health is such a moving target. This formula is simple and yet it is different for everyone.

It is also not size dependent. Bodies come in a variety of sizes and shapes and they can all find ways to feel good.

Your toxicities might be environmental. They could be physical. They could be emotional or spiritual.

For example, maybe you have an excess of toxic chemicals in your house. Or maybe you keep ingesting something that you are sensitive to and you don't realize it.

Or maybe you keep tolerating someone in your life and it's wearing you down. Or maybe you are absorbing the dogma of people you don't actually agree with and aren't sure where you stand.

What kind of social media do you fill your time with? Is it inspiring or toxic? You can tell by how it makes you feel.

Do you force yourself to do things you don't want to do?

Next, we look at what we might not have enough of in life. Do I have enough compassion and support for myself? Do I have nourishing habits?

Do I provide my body with what it needs to operate optimally? Do I support my nervous system with practices that help me self-regulate?

Do I fill my mind with ideas that inspire me or instill fear? Fear-based thoughts are toxic and an absence of inspirational thoughts is a deficiency we can address.

Am I judging where I am? Do I beat myself up for not being somewhere different? Do I think there is only one solution to my issue? Do I think I'm the only one who has this issue?

Toxic thoughts, feelings, and beliefs feel heavy and draining. Satisfying a deficiency feels light and aligning.

When it comes to the food we put in our bodies, we want to make sure we have neutral or positive thoughts before we put anything in our mouths.

If you eat something while you are thinking "this is terrible for me!", your cells are listening. Your body feels the tension. Your nervous system is in fight or flight and digestion will not be optimal.

Remove the toxic thoughts and beliefs from your food and your body will thank you, no matter what you are eating.

This is why the idea of "no good or bad food" is an important concept in intuitive eating. It doesn't mean that your body might not prefer one food over another, but work with your body to determine what is true for you.

If you think the cake will be bad for you, then it will be. If you are in an energy of love and joy and appreciation when you eat cake, your body will metabolize it better.

I know I can tell the difference between mindless, joyless, autopilot eating and eating that is nourishing and satisfying.

When I am bored, angry, irritable, or tired, and I eat from that energy, I don't feel very good. Especially if I judge it.

If I acknowledge how I am feeling and agree to eat anyway, that is a step in a more beneficial direction. At least your body doesn't have the stress of you thinking you are doing a terrible thing.

This is also why blessing our food is such a brilliant concept. When we take the time to acknowledge and appreciate all that went into our food, we prepare our bodies for eating and make sure are in a position to properly receive that food.

For more on that, I love this video: Food Foreplay, Making Friends with Your Meals, by Dr. Kim D'Eramo.

What are some of the toxicities that might be getting in the way of you feeling good in your body? What do you need more of in your life?

If you have a hard time telling the difference between how things make you feel, start there.

If you would like support with improving your quality of life using food peace wellness coaching, I am taking 3 new private clients in the month of August. You can set up an exploratory call here to see if this is something that would be a good fit for you.

If you know someone who might benefit from not beating themselves up about food anymore, please share this email. Thank you for your support.

Live Free,
Elizabeth