The Science & Spirituality of Healing

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The Science & Spirituality of Healing

What I'd like to share with you today is an essay I wrote on healing. You can use this information to apply to anything in your life that feels like it's not working the way you want it to. You don't ever need any fixing, but sometimes we could all use some healing. The link to this post on my blog is here in case you want to share this with others.

I also found it enormously helpful to realize that sometimes - all the behaviors we beat ourselves up for (the ones we wish we did and the ones we wish we didn't do) might be part of our conditioning and programming and are not moral failings. Phew! Good to know!

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Gentle Nutrition Epiphany

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Gentle Nutrition Epiphany

I recently had an epiphany about our relationship with food and body. This epiphany had multiple parts and has actually been brewing over the past year. It will take some time to fully flesh out and explain but here is the relatively quick version.

I also want to make it clear that this epiphany has come after practicing intuitive eating for 7-8 years in addition to receiving my own life coaching, sifting through layer after layer of emotions and embracing my own spiritual transformation as part of doing the work required to heal my own relationship with food and body.

My epiphany is:

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What Does it Mean to Do the Work?

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What Does it Mean to Do the Work?

Wow, wow, wow - what a week it's been. I am so grateful for the awakening that is happening on the planet and so inspired and appreciative of the black women who have been so full of grace and love as we find our way through this next iteration of our evolution.

I am also awed by the anger and rage and thankful to everyone who has shared their experiences. It is humbling and heartbreaking and inspiring.

Growth and love - this is all about growth and love.

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What We Can Learn From Adele's Instagram Post

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What We Can Learn From Adele's Instagram Post

The internet was in a tizzy yesterday as Adele posted a picture of herself on Instagram. In her picture, it was clear that she has lost a lot of weight. Her face isn't really clear, but if you showed me the picture without knowing who it was, I would never have recognized her.

It was also international no-diet day yesterday, and I thought I would end up writing a scathing post about how awful dieting is (which is true) but there are several other factors beneath the surface in a story like this that I wanted to talk about, like the fact that I actually don't know what is going on with her body any more than anyone else does.

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This Could Also Happen During Quarantine

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This Could Also Happen During Quarantine

Last week I talked about weight gain during the quarantine since many people are worried about that (thanks to diet culture and diet mentality and our social conditioning). This week I'd like to talk about what else could happen.

It's just as possible that people will lose weight during the quarantine.

Or people may stay the same.

Disruption of routines can affect people in a wide variety of ways.

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Mind-Body Healing and Energy Medicine Resources for the Pandemic

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Mind-Body Healing and Energy Medicine Resources for the Pandemic

So today is going to be really fun. I'm sharing all kinds of resources from the world of energy medicine, energy healing, mind/body healing and spirituality. If this does not appeal to you - no worries!

I love this realm because it is full of possibilities. As a recovered chronic dieter and people pleaser, I spent most of my life trying to find the "right" answers and do the "right" thing.

I love the world of the spirit because it reminds us that there is no such thing and that "right" is different for every person. It also reminds us to go within to find out what that is. It asks us to question, "What Else is Possible?"

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We Interrupt this Panic With.......

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We Interrupt this Panic With.......

.....a message of love and hope.

So I don't know about you, but I spent the weekend in a bit of a fear spiral. I knew it was happening but I was drawn to CNN like butter to a potato.

It wasn't an all-out panic but it was enough to remind me that it doesn't help and it doesn't feel good and it's actually not necessary.

I know it sure feels necessary right now but one of the real challenges is not letting that voice and that energy suck you in.

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What Else is Possible?

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What Else is Possible?

I'm feeling inspired today to share what I believe. That way, you'll know if you are in the right place and if you want to subscribe to my newsletter and receive weekly(ish) support and inspiration on your path to food peace.

It's hard to capture everything, so this list will be incomplete.

This list will also change often because we are always changing. Change is about the only thing we can count on.

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A Day in The Life of Self-Acceptance

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A Day in The Life of Self-Acceptance

Hi all! I'm popping in today to share a few tools that I have been using lately in my self-acceptance practice.

Cognitively, it was really easy for me to grasp the importance of self-acceptance and the benefit I'd receive from reducing the negative thoughts that I had for myself and my body. 

But it has been more of a challenge to release the fears I had embedded in my body, about my body, and to practice my new beliefs in real life.

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A Reader Asks - Have I Been Duped?

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A Reader Asks - Have I Been Duped?

And now for a reader question!

JB says that she let go of dieting for 18 months and her weight stabilized. She didn't have a bottomless hunger anymore and was feeling better but…..

"I recently got married and now I've put on a bit of weight, I feel more drawn to sweet things again and am hungrier like at the start. I know that the key to all this is acceptance rather than liking it but I have a whole new set of clothes that aren't going to fit me again if I keep going and why now!

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An Intuitive Eating Word of Caution

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An Intuitive Eating Word of Caution

Among other things, I'm a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor.  My clients come to me because they want to learn Intuitive Eating. However, I'm also a Certified Professional Life Coach and what I also really want to share is that if you go straight to Intuitive Eating (IE) in order to heal your relationship with food, it's like "putting a vitamin in your poop" (a great phrase I heard from Melody Fletcher the other day.

Diet and exercise, in order to change your body and make you happy,  is also like putting a vitamin in your poop.

What you are eating and how you are moving, whether it's intuitive or restrictive, are the behaviors you have, which means they are the last step in the process when we make choices.

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Oh boy - heading to the doctor's office again. This is what I am bringing with me this time.

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Oh boy - heading to the doctor's office again. This is what I am bringing with me this time.

I'm headed to the Dr. today.  I have been having some pain and numbness in my arm that is causing me to lose sleep. Frankly, I think it's "Holidayitis" - it happens every year in some form or another. I actually know what I need to do - rest, relax, let go of some shit and have some holiday fun.

But this blog isn't about my aches and pains.  This blog is an effort to inform and educate those in the medical profession who might need to change how they do business in 2020.  This change has been needed for decades and I'm hoping it will start to sink in soon.

This blog is about health forms and the impact they have and how we can make sure they are having the impact that is most effective and intended.

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Want to Feel Good in Your Body? Clear the Clutter of Thoughts Holding You Back

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Want to Feel Good in Your Body? Clear the Clutter of Thoughts Holding You Back

This morning I thought of a great analogy between a popular book and working on your relationship with food and body.  I'll probably look back and realize I said something similar a year ago but that in itself brings up another good point. 

During this work, we will often revisit the same issues, concepts, and feelings that we may have already addressed in the past. It doesn't mean you are taking a step backward, you can never take a step backward. 

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Don't Blame The Cookies!

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Don't Blame The Cookies!

It's not uncommon that what is coming up for my clients is coming up for me and coming up for many people in my world who I am having conversations with. 

I know this isn't an accident because we are all connected.  

What I am noticing right now is the tendency we have to ignore how we are feeling about something, consciously or unconsciously, and then blame something, totally unrelated, for how we feel. 

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If it's Your First Holiday as an Intuitive Eater or Trying to Accept Your Body

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If it's Your First Holiday as an Intuitive Eater or Trying to Accept Your Body

Congratulations! That is so exciting that you have chosen to leave diet culture behind and repair your relationship with food and body.  Bravo to you. This work takes courage and strength.

To help you on your way, I wrote this post to give you some support as you head into the holiday season.

If it's the first time you are seeing family and friends since you gave up dieting, it can be intimidating and uncomfortable, it can also be incredibly freeing and exhilarating.

Here are a few things you can do to navigate those first few holidays.

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10 Body Image Tips for Parents - Just In Time to Share with Family at The Holidays

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10 Body Image Tips for Parents - Just In Time to Share with Family at The Holidays

Did you grow up despising or disliking your body? Did your parents like their bodies? Have you spent years and perhaps decades (like me) trying to change your body? How do we make sure we do not pass our harmful limiting beliefs and attitudes on to our children?

Or if thinking about your body negatively has never occurred to you, but it seems to be happening to your child, what can you do?

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16 Healing Practices for Stressful Times

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This fall has been one of transition. I have a new office, my kids are back to school and my oldest has gone off to college for the first time (Go Huskies!).

As usual, I have been monitoring how I feel during this time and noting what feels good and what doesn't feel so good so I can figure out the most nourishing ways to support myself.

I compiled a list of some of the things that make me feel good and help me stay grounded and centered even during a time of change and not knowing exactly what is going to come next.

  • Journaling: I do this every day. It's the first thing I do with a cup of coffee, before checking any email or social media. It helps me make sense of what is happening and get clear on what I want. I've been doing this for decades because I look forward to it.

  • Feeling: When I felt sad about the college transition, I sat with it and I felt sad. I let it flow through. I gave myself some space.

  • Music: When in doubt, throw on a new playlist! Some of my favorites this summer have been; Maggie Rogers, Juke Ross, Sleeping at Last and Jukebox the Ghost. I make playlists that make me want to move and playlists to calm and soothe when I am feeling anxious.

  • Sound healing: Youtube has tons of sound healing options. Our bodies are made out of energy and they respond to sound. (That's why we love music so much.) I listen to this and this when I can't fall asleep or I wake up in the middle of the night.

  • Walking outside, getting sun on my face or even just standing in the grass if I'm too tired for a walk. "Grounding" is literally something our bodies do when they are in contact with the ground. (Mom, that's why you always love being barefoot!) Whether it helps or not, it sure can't hurt.

  • Laughter: We've been watching The Good Place on Netflix. So funny. Also, we enjoy being "that" parent and embarrassing our teenagers. It's highly entertaining.

  • Food: I've been loving the start of cold weather foods from chili to broccoli soup. I also love a bowl of Hood's Green Monster Mint ice cream while watching tv at night. Yum.

  • Movement: Walking has been a favorite this fall and energy medicine yoga which combines the principles of energy medicine with a yoga routine. I love killing two birds with one stone. (Wait, what? Why is that even a saying?)

  • Sleep: I love 20-minute naps!

  • New classes: I find nothing breaks me out of a funk like a new class, I guess I'm just an academic at heart. So I'm diving into several self-study classes this fall like the Coaches Rising class on The Neuroscience of Change. Fascinating!

  • Support: I get my own coaching, mentoring and supervision often. We all have our blind spots and places we'd like to be stronger.

  • Connection to others: I try to have a coffee date or phone call at least once a week with a friend, or new colleague or someone I want to get to know better.

  • Breathing! It seems so simple, but it's so incredible what breathing does for our bodies. Focused and deliberate deep breathing. There is also the breath of fire, nostril breathing and simply putting your hand on your heart for 10 deep belly breaths. I'd like to make this a more regular part of my day but when I am feeling tense - it's my go to. You can do it anywhere.

  • Heartmath: - this is a combination of breathing and centering techniques with a focus on gratitude and channeling the feeling of love and sending it out into the world. It has science and evidence to back up its benefits and is a great tool for decreasing anxiety.

  • Connection to something bigger than me: In addition to learning about energy medicine and using meditation and deep breathing, I love to notice and be grateful for all the ways I am guided and supported in this life. This book is one of my favorites on that topic.

  • Pet snuggles: And when all else fails, lying on the floor and spooning with our Bernese Mountain Dog, Sammie, never fails to comfort.

So those are all my secrets! Relying on these tools has helped me stay present and enabled me to take care of myself during what is typically a stressful time.

This also keeps me from turning to dieting to feel a sense of control or focusing on my body as a problem when feeling stressed. There is no right or wrong way to take care of ourselves especially if we are coming from a place of loving care and curiosity.

What tools do you rely on in stressful times?