embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and quiet that critical voice!)

When we focus on pleasurable self-care we have a much better chance of maintaining good health. As Sobel and Ornstein discuss in their book Healthy Pleasures, it is in our genetic coding to engage in pleasurable behaviors because this gave us a greater chance of survival as we evolved as a species. The enjoyable activities and flavors pursued by ou

“Since a person’s actions derive from her unique observations and reflections, she can always choose. Though her reactions are conditioned by previous experience, present circumstances bring ever-new perceptions and opportunities.”

Become Your Own Health Expert “When we rely on authorities to tell us what we need, we have little ability to filter these messages and pressures. If we become our own authorities, we can learn what’s right for us. We can take in information and say, ‘No, this isn’t for me, or maybe, ‘Yes, this feels right.’ With this ability, we find our balance.

•Is it food I’m hungry for, or something else? •What am I feeling? Boredom? Stress? Anxiety? Grief? Anger? Loneliness? Something else? •Do I need solitude? Creativity? Community? Movement? Time to breathe deeply? Connection with my spirit? A nap? Contact with another person or pet? •What obstacles are blocking my ability to meet these needs? •Will

perspective on women’s struggles with food and the quest for thinness. I became angry at the societal messages that aggressively promoted a single standard of beauty—a standard that had caused me to spend most of my life seeing ugliness in myself and believing my body wasn’t good enough the way it was.

•Without judgment, think about why you chose the food on your plate. What went into your decision-making process? Do you like your decisions? Did you forget something? Is there a food on your plate that you now don’t want to eat? Take time to get it right—remove what you don’t want and go back for anything you do. •Now, look over your plate and cho

Your body does not have to be the cause of your suffering. You might try thinking of it as the amazing vehicle that allows you to move through this world, or a vessel to be filled with life’s rich experiences. Each and every one of us has unique gifts to offer, which are meant to be shared. When we stop blaming our bodies for our struggles, we have

It takes courage to make your own choices about what, when, and how much to eat. Intuitive eating brings you back to the basics: What do I want? and How do I feel? Through your practice of deep listening, you become intimately aware of your physical hunger and satiety cues and how food feels once it has been eaten. You learn to follow the food you

like a heaviness in the stomach, but is also apparent when the food you eat starts to lose its flavor and appeal. If you have a hard time recognizing these signs, it may be that you’ve learned to suppress your body’s signals, and eating on a regular schedule (every three to four hours) will be helpful for awhile.