…I was sitting down to write my post for today… and looked at yesterday’s post and realized the title of yesterday is so applicable for what I am writing about today. Well, with a tweak to it… but still. I wanted to share another connection that I am really experiencing and loving: a food-body connection…
…Now I know we have heard over and over (and over) about how food affects us on a mind-body-emotion-spirit level. I also know we hear over and over about how the food we eat actually becomes our body. I know these things because I have written and shared on them myself!… But today is an even greater experience and I wanted to share this with you here…
…I really do “practice what I preach”. I do. I write these things- but also DO them myself. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I see a nurse, health coach, wellness practitioner, nutritionist, (fill in the blank with the professional role), etc. speaking and teaching one way of life but then living an entire other way. I really live the tools I share with you in my blog posts, articles, monthly calls, etc. I do. I really, really do…
…And today’s post is a testimonial to that. I was at the beach all weekend- Cape May, NJ. My favorite place in the whole-wide world! I will live there some day. I know it. But for now- my parents have a vacation home there and I go as often as I can. We have been traveling to Cape May for the summers since 1987… WOW. And since 2007, my parents have owned their own home…
…I was there alone- which is fine for me- as I have plenty to “do” to keep myself busy, but also it provided me with time to just “be”. I definitely needed some time and space to relax and rejuvenate myself. I have a book project I am working on, the Rejuvenation Collaboration starting in 7 days, and so much more! I welcomed the chance to just breathe and recharge at the beach!…
…But not only that, I also really was mindful -and totally in control of- what I was eating. I was the only one there. I did not have to eat what other wanted, go out to eat, make compromises on my food decisions. I was able to choose the food, prepare the food, and eat the food when and how I wanted to. And so I chose my meals, ingredients, and recipes based on the healthy choices I wanted to put into my body!…
…I pretty much ate whole foods all weekend. I ate fruits, veggies, nuts, hard boiled eggs, some fish… hmm… and that is about it. I make my green smoothie in the am and have my hard boiled egg, with my cereal with almond milk. I had my spinach salad with beans, couscous, fruits, and nuts for lunch. I had my hummus with veggies snack. I had fruits during the day. I had vegetables (Brussels sprouts, tomato, and sweet potato) with organic ravioli for dinner. I loved it!…
…And I have to tell you… I continued this on through yesterday. I made caprese salad and green bean salad for a barbecue I went to yesterday. I ate only vegetables at the barbecue and was satisfied! My body has been feeling light and healthy. I feel toned and strong. I feel energetic and not tired at all! I love this. I realize -I mean I always knew- but I realize because I am really paying attention and seeing how my body feels after each meal…
…You can do your own “taste-test”. And I encourage you to do so… Eat… and then observe how you feel. Observe how you feel before the meal. Observe how you feel while eating. Observe how you feel immediately after eating, an hour after eating, and two hours after eating. Observe how the body feels, how the mind feels, how the energy level is. You might try keeping a journal or taking notes:
- How do I feel immediately before I eat?
- Why am I eating what I chose?
- Am I even hungry right now or is something else causing me to reach for food?
- What need am I trying to fill? What emotion am I trying to experience/not experience?
- As I am eating- how am I eating?
- How long did it take me to eat?
- As I am eating- can I notice when I am full?
- When I am full what do I do- do I keep eating or do I stop?
- Now that I am done eating how does my body feel?
- Where is my energy level at? Now? Two hours from now?
- Am I full for a good length of time or am I hungry 20 minutes later?
Check in with yourself. How do you eat? When do you eat? And when you eat how does it make you feel- in body, mind, emotion, and spirit?
