Day 59 - Is the Recession Making You Fat?

Have you ever had a negative conversation about money, the stock market, the economy or the state of the world, and subsequently felt hunger bubble its way into your awareness?

Have you ever watched the news packed full of war, murder and rape, and suddenly felt the desire to snack on something rich and dense?

What about watching a horror, suspense, or doomsday movie? Do you have the urge to calm your nerves with food during or after?

A recent study was presented August 5th at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C. In it the researchers took two groups of participants. One group was primed to have a 'survival' mindset with words like "withstand" and "deprivation." The other group was primed with an abundance mindset with words such as "plenty" and "ample."

The participants with the survival mindset ended up choosing food that was high calorie and dense, while the abundant-minded participants simply chose the items that were the most tasty to them at the moment.

What this study is implying is that when we feel that resources are in jeopardy we naturally compensate by choosing calorie-dense, life-sustaining foods. 

Normally there is nothing wrong with this. Our psychology is intertwined with our physiology; we are designed to perceive a threat or coming famine and act on in with instinctual behavior. This is one of the reasons why the human species is still here.

The problem is that we are bombarded with the survival mindset constantly. Any news segment proves that with the now standard phrases of the 'bad economy', the 'stock market falling' and 'the recession'.

You may even have due reason to react. Maybe you have been out of work, your investments are in peril or there has been talks of lay-offs at your company. You could be skimming by every month to pay your mortgage.

The key, no matter what your situation, is to realize that a healthy and happy body is THE most important asset in whatever may come. 

So, our goal today is to get you to shift from instinctively reacting to joyously embracing the world.

Here are some tips to shift your mindset to abundance, 

and truly believe it:

1. 80/20 Rule: 80% of the time that you watch or read something, have it be positive, good-feeling news or entertainment. 20% of the time become informed by observing the negative things. You are not putting your head in the sand. You are becoming aware, while also choosing to feel good and grateful for what is working in your world, and THE world. 
1. One way I do the 80/20 Rule is by simply watching 15-20 minutes of the evening news (morning news seems to be more fluff) while devoting all of my other free time to inspirational or comedic reading, movies or TV programs.
2. Solution-Mindset: Every time that you find yourself experiencing negative emotion when you come up against the survival aspects of living, simply find a quick action-step. For instance, if you get fearful about the rising cost of food, make a commitment to, instead of buying your Iced Latte every morning, putting that money away to buy canned goods and non-perishables for your pantry. This feels good and 'abundant' verses feeling helpless and doubtful.
3. The Power of Three: Every time you think a negative thought, come up with three better-feeling ones. This one works like a charm!
4. Spend Money on Food: I know this sounds pretty silly - but so many of us spend money on other things; coffee, clothing, trips, tickets, alcohol, etc. Make sure that you are stocking your house full of food so that you do not get caught in the 'survival' mindset. 
1. I know this one sounds counter-intuitive. Nutritionists have been saying for eons to not buy too much food, because we will end up eating what is available. Yet we are finding that deprivation and the feeling of  'not enough' is what perpetuates detached eating behavior (just like the above study shows).  

When you use the above tips, you will notice a dramatic increase in your ability to function and thrive no matter what economic environment you live in.

To a day of abundant-mindset thoughts and eating...

Nat

Resources: Wild Stock Market Could Make You Eat More, msnbc.com, by Rachael Rettner

Day 56 - Lose Weight In Seconds

Have you ever felt weighed down by your body?

Maybe you feel bloated after eating a food that did not sit well.

Perhaps you stuffed yourself into uncomfortable fullness and you are crawling in your skin.

Most likely your issue with weight eventually turns into an inner dialogue of disapproval and even disgust towards your current state. You may feel ashamed or guilty for engaging in a diet 'indiscretion.' Your inner dialogue becomes consumed with negative and destructive self-talk.

A recently published UK study found that 97% of women say 13 negative things about their body a day (such as, "I hate my thighs" or "I'm ugly"). Are you one of them?

I am here to teach you how to lose weight in seconds.

This one technique will release your feeling of being 'fat' or 'ugly' and increase your appeal and attractiveness to others (and yourself!).

Whenever you have a negative thought about yourself, find an alternate better-feeling one. 

Imagine that you are talking to a friend or a child with a compassionate tone. Here is an example:

• "I am fat and disgusting for eating that whole carton of Haagen Daz."
• Alternate better-feeling thought: "I am feeling some heavy emotions from not listening to my body. I think I will take care of my body now by relaxing. I appreciate that my body gives me the opportunity to learn this lesson."
• Alternate better-feeling thought: "Eating the whole carton of ice cream made me feel tired and bloated tonight. I would not choose to have this experience again. I am appreciative of this experience, that is teaching me how to listen to my body's wisdom."

Within seconds you can lose the weighted and heavy thoughts of your mind and move forward right away into better-feeling actions and experiences that feed a healthy and sexy body. 

To a day of losing the weight of your negative thoughts!

Nat

Day 53 - The Ultimate Goal After Every Meal

Why do you eat? What is your ultimate goal from every meal or snack?

I know, a very simple question at first blush. When you really start thinking about it, though, you can begin to understand its depth. The answer to this question is one of the essential keys to awakening your healthy, vibrant and sexy body.

Take a moment to ask yourself what your prime motivations are for eating.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I eat to appease my body's basic needs?
• Do I eat for energy?
• Do I eat because I'm hungry?
• Do I eat to feel stuffed and full?
• Do I eat to distract myself?
• Do I eat to get temporary taste-bud pleasure?
• Do I eat to just get through the day?

All of the above illustrate one of the primary blocks to achieving long-lasting success developing a healthy relationship with food and body. Our true core reasons for eating are not reactive and surface-oriented; they are far deeper than you may realize.

What would happen if you felt like this after eating?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I eat to feel light?
• Do I eat to feel energetic?
• Do I eat to enhance my body's pleasure throughout the day?
• Do I eat to nourish and give to my body?
• Do I eat to feel confident?
• Do I eat to care for myself?

The truth is that our ultimate goal when eating is to end up feeling better. Our prime core reason for eating is not just for energy or pleasure in the moment that we eat; it is for a prolonged experience of gratitude and positive sensation well after.

When I ate my mid-morning snack today my goal was to end up feeling light and free. I imagined my body getting nourished and feeling improved from where I began. I cut my banana up and found that half-way through (after slathering almond butter on top) I was calm, centered and light; I no longer was hungry and was at a comfortable fullness. I took the remaining snack and put it away for another time, knowing that the pleasure I derived from half would supplement the bliss of continuing my day in a body open and easy.

Next time you sit down for a meal or snack, ask yourself why you are eating; what is your ultimate goal or motivation for when you are done? Write down the intention that you have and see that by simply setting the target, your body's natural wisdom will lead the way.

To a day of long-term pleasure and ecstasy in the body!