I bet you didn't know that today is International No Diet Day. Well it is, and its observed annually on May 6th. It's a day dedicated to raise awareness regarding the dangers of dieting and to celebrate body acceptance and body shape diversity. Despite the entrenchment of the diet mentality in our culture, research demonstrates that diets don't
emotional eating
Ten Steps for Beating Food Addiction
August 15, 2014 – Posted in: blood sugar imbalances brain chemistry imbalances delaying gratification emotional eating food addiction food allergies high insulin levels insulin resistance mood disorders overeating, dieting, weight loss reducing stress resolving emotional eating stress and overeating stress eating sugar addiction weight lossHow many times have you vowed, on a Sunday night or Monday morning, to start the week clean and stop eating foods containing sugar or flour, stop eating fried foods or rich dairy products, or drinking alcohol, soda and other caffeinated or sugary beverages? Probably more times than you care to admit. So what happens to
Do You Feel Worthy of Self-Love?
May 10, 2014 – Posted in: adjusting expectations compassion emotional eating forgiveness losses and disappointments overeating, dieting, weight loss perfectionism procrastination resolving emotional eating self connection self-acceptance self-love self-worth unmourned losses weight loss worthiness wounds from childhoodWe've all heard it said that you can't love anyone else until you love yourself. And although we know there's truth to this old adage, most of us persist in looking for love outside of ourselves, often in all the wrong places. In one of my emotional eating groups this week, we discussed the concept of worthiness. I asked the
Do You Turn To Food When You’re In A Transition?
January 28, 2014 – Posted in: delaying gratification depression dieting emotional eating loneliness and overeating overeating, dieting, weight loss procrastination resolving emotional eating stress and overeating transitions weight lossThe Random House College Dictionary defines a transition as "a change from one position, state, stage, subject or concept to another." Many emotional eaters have difficulty with transitions and turn to food as a way to comfort and soothe themselves during the transition process. Here are a few examples of what I call "transition eating":
Setting Limits Means Delaying Gratification
August 30, 2013 – Posted in: delaying gratification emotional eating overeating, dieting, weight loss overwhelm procrastination resolving emotional eating self-love stress and overeating stress eating weight lossM. Scott Peck, MD, author of The Road Less Traveled,defines delaying gratification as "a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure by meeting and experiencing the pain first and getting it over with." Most children learn the skill of delaying gratification early in life,
Is Wheat Making You Fat, Sick and Tired?
April 24, 2013 – Posted in: brain chemistry imbalances dieting Elimination Diet emotional eating food addiction food allergies overeating, dieting, weight loss recovery resolving emotional eating Rotation Diet stress and overeating weight lossI have always had a love-affair with flour products, the doughier the better. Especially bread, the staff of life, right? Feed me anything made from wheat, like pasta, tortillas, scones, pretzels, crackers, cookies, croutons, and even licorice, and I’m in heaven. I feel immediate bliss. Well, at least my brain does. My body, on the
The Diet Gurus–What do they agree on?
October 8, 2012 – Posted in: dieting emotional eating food addiction food allergies overeating, dieting, weight loss resolving emotional eating stress and overeating weight lossThere is always much debate surrounding the issue of diet and among the experts, there is still quite a bit of disagreement. Are starchy carbohydrates like potatoes and corn okay to eat or should we limit them? Should we follow high-protein or low-to-moderate protein eating plans? Is it wise to eat foods of animal origin like meat,
Emotional Eater’s Don’t Just Eat when They’re Sad or Depressed
June 15, 2012 – Posted in: compassion embracing emotions emotional eating identifying emotions and needs loneliness and overeating overeating, dieting, weight loss purpose of emotions resolving emotional eating self connection self-acceptance self-loveAt a seminar I gave recently on emotional eating, Cyndie, an attractive, well-dressed woman in her late forties came up to me and shared: "Even though I'm obviously overweight, I don't think that I'm an emotional eater because I don't eat at all when I'm sad or depressed. In fact, I can't eat at those
Do you have an inner nurturing voice?
April 28, 2012 – Posted in: compassion emotional eating identifying emotions and needs overeating, dieting, weight loss reducing stress self connection self-love stress and overeating Uncategorized weight lossWhen the adult voices of our childhood are primarily warm, kind, encouraging, hopeful, validating, soothing and nurturing, we begin to develop a supportive voice within that can restore us to emotional balance when needed. As we mature into adulthood, this supportive voice becomes the voice of what I call our Inner Nurturer, our main source of validation, approval and
Gain Self-Care Skills, Lose the Weight
March 19, 2012 – Posted in: dieting embracing emotions emotional eating exercising hope identifying emotions and needs UncategorizedIt makes me crazy when I hear supposed weight loss experts preach that the road to weight loss begins and ends with calorie counting, daily weigh-ins and intense workout regimens. This kind of advice couldn't be farther from the truth and, in fact, it encourages us not to listen to the wisdom of our bodies. You were
