It’s February and presumably you are continuing to stay committed to the goals you set for yourself as the New Year began. Where your goals to lose those stubborn pounds? Get to the gym more often? Go gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free? Switching to organic foods?

I applaud you if your efforts are in the interest of having a healthier body and a nourishing relationship with food. Are the changes you wish to implement ones that you can truly embody? Sustainable and realistic change happens when we are totally submerged in it – to change our bodies we have to be “in them”. Many of us are checked out, not fully present, not sensitive to body wisdom and feedback. When you exercise, are you focused on your body or in your head? When you eat, do you focus on the food or are you immersed in your mind’s chatter? Checking out of our bodies removes us from the ideal state of digestion, nutrient assimilation and calorie burning. We could be eating the healthiest food on earth, but if we are not present to the experience, which promotes the physiologic relaxation response, then we’re not getting the full nutritional value from our meal, nor any pleasure from it.

Eating under stress causes us to excrete nutrients, suffer digestive distress, secrete hormones such as insulin and cortisol which can stimulate weight gain and de-regulate appetite, impair the function of healthy gut bacteria, and the list can go on.
In other words, when we are in a state of relaxation, we are processing our food as we should.

Is pleasure a part of your relationship with food? Often our food choices are served with a hearty dose of guilt. I often see this with my clients who have a genuine interest in nutrition. Pleasure and loving kindness towards one’s self is often missing in the majority of weight loss diets and nutritional approaches. Whatever your food philosophy is, whatever you choose to eat, do so in the most optimal state.

Eliminate distraction, even that which comes from the voice of confusion and negativity, slow down, take time with your food, take small bites, and savor every one.