I'm deeply involved in the practice of observing myself and my behavior, including all my thoughts, words and actions... especially related to my body. I've been noticing that it's not so much the food I eat that makes me feel "heavy" or "light" but the way I eat the food.
These seem to be big factors for me in how my body processes the food I eat:
Why I'm eating...
Am I really hungry? Is it out of habit? Is it self-punishing (like overeating can be)? Do I "need" to eat it? or, will I be fine if I don't eat it?
How I'm eating...
Am I devouring the food as fast as I can? or, am I eating it slowly, chewing my food completely?
How I feel while I'm eating...
Am I in a good mood? Am I feeling happy? Am I feeling upset, stressed or in a bad mood?
Let's take a piece of pizza... for me, I notice that if I'm not really hungry but am eating out of habit, and I "need" to eat it, or else I'll have a tantrum, and I devour it faster than you can say "pizza," and I'm feeling stressed while eating it... my body feels really heavy after, and I don't feel so good. If this happens several meals in a row (no matter what food I'm eating), I gain a few pounds and my clothes fit a little tighter.
On the other hand, take that same slice of pizza... and I'm eating it because my body is hungry (not my "emotional body"), I don't "need" to eat it, I'm eating it slowly and enjoying every bite, and I'm in a good mood while eating it... my body generally feels light and happy after (well, as light as you can feel after having a lot of cheese).
In my experience, my body feels light and I don't put on extra weight when I'm eating pizza, or anything else, while I'm genuinely hungry, eating slowly and chewing my food completely, and feeling good, in a happy mood.
wow, there's so much to the human body and all the factors that play a role in how it processes food... so interesting...
xoxo
Niki
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
From the Inside Out
It's a beautiful day here in Portland, Oregon! The weather is warm and the sun is out... it's so lovely.
I'm feeling so good in my body today, such a great feeling. And when I feel good in my body, I feel good about my body.
What's causing me to feel good in my body? Well, my stress level is pretty low, I've been eating healthy foods that my body loves, and I got plenty of sleep last night :-) Now for a bit of exercise...
Hope you're feeling great, inside and out.
xo
Niki
I'm feeling so good in my body today, such a great feeling. And when I feel good in my body, I feel good about my body.
What's causing me to feel good in my body? Well, my stress level is pretty low, I've been eating healthy foods that my body loves, and I got plenty of sleep last night :-) Now for a bit of exercise...
Hope you're feeling great, inside and out.
xo
Niki
Friday, April 11, 2008
Guilt is Fattening
I had just finished a great 30 minute Curves workout, when I was running out the door to make my car appointment. Sifting through my purse, looking for my car keys, I saw the apple I’d been meaning to eat for the last three days. I thought to myself, “Great! I’ll eat this while I’m waiting for my car to be serviced.”
I made it to the dealership just in time, where I was greeted with kind courtesy and escorted to an incredibly cozy-comfy waiting area. It was actually pretty swanky for a car dealership!
Scanning the room for the perfect seat, I couldn’t help but notice the complimentary pastries, and instantly my mouth had a mission. I decided not to make a beeline for the sweets, and instead, took my seat, waited a couple of minutes, then casually made my way over to select my treat.
I chose an oatmeal raisin cookie over a doughnut- that was “better”- and reclaimed my seat with satisfaction. This was certainly a high quality cookie- raisins in every bite! I was thoroughly enjoying it, and then…
Halfway through my cookie, I realized that I had completely forgotten about my apple, again! But before any guilt could creep in, something even more shocking caught my attention, and it made me laugh:
There, directly in my line of view, was a huge bowl of fresh fruit. It was so big, I couldn’t even see the cookies and doughnuts behind it! Yet it had somehow melted into the scenery of “everything else but the sweets.”
I had a long moment of self-reflection. I acknowledged my habit of going for sweets first before fruit, decided I want to be more conscious of what I eat… and then I continued to eat my cookie- in peace.
I could have felt badly about myself and my habit, but I didn’t. In years prior, I would have plunged full on into the downward spiral of self-judgment. I’m happy I’ve learned to be kinder to myself.
Without judgment, I set my intention on the choice I want to make in the future- to at least notice the fruit in the first place :-)
There is one final thought I would like to leave you with. What I know from personal experience and from working with clients is this: Whatever you decide to eat, enjoy it. Guilt is fattening.
Love & Smiles,
Niki Svara
I made it to the dealership just in time, where I was greeted with kind courtesy and escorted to an incredibly cozy-comfy waiting area. It was actually pretty swanky for a car dealership!
Scanning the room for the perfect seat, I couldn’t help but notice the complimentary pastries, and instantly my mouth had a mission. I decided not to make a beeline for the sweets, and instead, took my seat, waited a couple of minutes, then casually made my way over to select my treat.
I chose an oatmeal raisin cookie over a doughnut- that was “better”- and reclaimed my seat with satisfaction. This was certainly a high quality cookie- raisins in every bite! I was thoroughly enjoying it, and then…
Halfway through my cookie, I realized that I had completely forgotten about my apple, again! But before any guilt could creep in, something even more shocking caught my attention, and it made me laugh:
There, directly in my line of view, was a huge bowl of fresh fruit. It was so big, I couldn’t even see the cookies and doughnuts behind it! Yet it had somehow melted into the scenery of “everything else but the sweets.”
I had a long moment of self-reflection. I acknowledged my habit of going for sweets first before fruit, decided I want to be more conscious of what I eat… and then I continued to eat my cookie- in peace.
I could have felt badly about myself and my habit, but I didn’t. In years prior, I would have plunged full on into the downward spiral of self-judgment. I’m happy I’ve learned to be kinder to myself.
Without judgment, I set my intention on the choice I want to make in the future- to at least notice the fruit in the first place :-)
There is one final thought I would like to leave you with. What I know from personal experience and from working with clients is this: Whatever you decide to eat, enjoy it. Guilt is fattening.
Love & Smiles,
Niki Svara
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