What's Your Food Story
It's not just the food you eat
We’ve been taught that it’s simply a matter of balancing calories in and calories out. We are told If we increase our exercise and activity levels the pounds will fall away. If we fail to see the results we want, we lose heart and society tells us we are not trying hard enough. IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE
FOOD & EXERCISE IS ONLY HALF THE STORY!
Your food story is the key to understanding the reasons behind your attitudes, habits, reactions, cravings and beliefs about food. By becoming more aware of what's going on behind the scenes you will understand how and why your history is such a powerful player in your weight loss goals.
Explore your own food story
Your unique relationship with food depends on:
Your culture, personal and family history - When I was growing up I always had to finish all the food on my plate.
Thoughts, emotions and feelings – Often nothing to do with food. We've all experienced difficulty swallowing food when we're upset.
Positive and negative beliefs about what you are eating - I’m going to pile on the calories after eating this.
All of these impact your metabolism and digestion.
Understand the mind body connection
This is the mind and body connection at work.
Think about how your body felt when you thought you had lost your phone or your car keys. Your heart rate increased, your breathing became shallow and your mind went into overdrive. At times of stress blood is taken away from the digestive process to deal with the now.
Unravel your personal FOOD STORY and find the source of the attitudes, habits, rituals and beliefs you are still hold today.
Free Tapping Introduction when you join Lighten Up
Let's GET Tapping
Learning the basics of EFT Tapping. See how Tapping can soothe your stress away.
Experience the first of many measurable changes that will snowball.
GET YOUR FREE TAPPING CHART - so you can continue Tapping each day.
Your food story and how to write a new one
How your Food Story affects your eating. A look at the connection between the mind and the body:
- your beliefs
- your thoughts
- your emotions
- your lifestyle
All impact your digestion and metabolism. Find out which emotions are known to create hunger.
The FOOD CRAVING CURE
Food can be a major comforter and it's at the center of many happy life events. It's only natural we would associate certain types of food with feeling happy, loved, excited or cared for. At times of difficulty we reach for these foods to bring us that comfort.
No wonder we develop cravings. Mine's cake and the FOOD STORY is my father has always baked wonderful cakes it's the taste of home, belonging, laughter, fun times and celebrations.
Recognising the emotions that cause us to reach for our trigger foods is a vital part of transforming them.
Transform from the inside out
Potions, Rituals and Tapping
Reduce your desire for sugary drinks and alcohol. Drink fewer caffeinated drinks and increase your desire to drink water!
Break your rituals and associations with drinking.
In our house, Sunday was treat day and we always had fizzy drinks. If you didn't get yours you felt hard done by. Or maybe you meet the girls on Friday night to share your troubles, giggles and a bottle of wine.
Curb unhealthy buying choices
If you don't buy it you can't eat it.
Leave the sweet and salty snacks on the supermarket shelves and get a kick from healthy foods instead.
Change can be difficult but all the family benefits from fresh new choices.
A DISCREET WAY TO TAP AT THE SUPERMARKET
Put the joy back into movement
How about increasing your motivation for exercise? Clear the psychological blocks and self-talk that stops you moving. Explore new ways of being active and creating new active habits.
Stress and weight gain
So how does stress cause weight gain?
When we experience stress it creates an immediate response in the body.
Stress creates hormonal imbalances that can cause weight gain, the release of cortisol (stress hormone) shuts down the digestion and slows the metabolism.
Unchecked high levels of cortisol cause
- high blood sugar
- increased fat stores
- high blood pressure
- muscle loss
The body diverts it's resources so it can react to the perceived threat. To do this it needs to be able to run fast, see and hear clearly.
Stress and diabetes
Stress cranks up the sympathetic nervous system. When the sympathetic nervous system is dominant as well as the extra cortisol we also create excess insulin and inflammation. When these are raised over a long period of time they contribute to weight gain, make it difficult for us to lose weight and difficult to build muscle.
Long term low level stress can decrease
- Immunity
- Cognition
- Memory
- Mood
- Energy levels
Appetite and stress
Stress and Anxiety also create Appetite Dysregulation.
- This dulls our satiety response - so we're not getting the signal we are full.
- Increases our desire for foods dense in sugar and fat (classic comfort foods)
- Increases the accumulation of abdominal fat.
The research into understanding all the chemical and hormonal responses continues. We still have a lot to learn - we do know that use of tapping means less stress - that's good for the mind and the body.
Tapping: the tool in your Pocket
Let go of the past and progress
Discover and release the underlying issues that have stopped you from making progress before.
Break away from social pressures and judgments and stop worrying about what people might think about you.
Tap to feel safe outside your comfort zone and excited about the new possibilities that are opening up for you.
The confidence to change
It's often challenging to make different eating choices around family or friends. Simply saying 'NO' instead of an expected 'Yes' can be difficult.
This can mean choosing not to partake of the weekly takeaway treat when you always have in the past. It could mean choosing not to have a bit of that sugary desert your Mum has always made for you in the past - it's all made easier when you feel confident and committed to your new way of eating.
Individual sessions are available
Sometimes it's helpful to have the support of a one to one session. Go deeper into a particular facet of your weight and self worth challenges. We want to make the changes you need for your individual progress.
Getting to the reasons behind your eating habits
We can't wait see how far you'll have come by the end of your first 4 weeks. True changes in emotional, psychological and physical well being and a new understanding of the way your body responds.
As we're interested in lasting change remember to be kind to yourself and that everyone works at their own pace.
LIVE SESSIONS ON ZOOM
We will get together once a week for a live tapping and phycology of eating session.
Zoom is easy to download on your phone, tablet or computer and simple to use. I send you a link each week so you can join.
Interaction is encouraged, but you decide how much. You can turn on your camera and be a part of the supportive, inclusive atmosphere or simply send and receive messages and watch the session live.
You can catch up on the sessions up to a week later in case you miss one or you just want to watch it again.
Join our private Facebook Community
Get support and encouragement without judgement from the private Lighten Up Facebook Community. People just like you who know how it feels to struggle with weight issues. Pairing up with your Accountability Partner means you have someone who really understands. They're on the same journey as you! They'll be with you throughout the program to keep you on track and encourage you as you go.
You will also get
WEEKLY UPDATES & INSPIRATION
I will be sending a weekly email to inspire, encourage and support your transformation.
Top tips to understand more about how food affects your mind and more understanding of the psychology of eating.
Option of Joining the Advanced LIghten up program
In this program we will focus on
- Body Image - Feeling body confident and happy with how you are today no matter what your weight!
- Mind over Metabolism . Understand how the mind is affecting your metabolic rate
- Discover what you really want when you are reaching for food.
- Mindful Eating maintain and continue to progress with your food choices and body confidence.