Shine: Inside-Out Weightloss

Although this post is called inside out weight loss it’s actually about the link between our mind and our attitude to our bodies, our health and fitness and the way we nourish ourselves. Many people are unhappy with their bodies; an unhealthy attitude towards food is conditioned in lots of us from early childhood. We are bombarded with body images from all directions, we compare ourselves and cast judgement…. too fat, too thin, too less, too much. We try these diets that exercise advice, a new miracle cure, and with each new idea we expose ourselves to more stress and firmly embed the impression that we are not good enough as we are. But what if rather than looking at what we should eat and how much activity we must do we just stopped and listened very carefully and quietly to what our OWN BODY is really asking for.

That’s the idea of inside out weight loss. Each and every one of us is individual; we will all have personal reasons for adopting unhealthy relationships with our bodies and food. If we stop looking outside to an expert tell us what to eat and instead pay attention to our own thought process, get in tune with the inner workings of our mind body connections, and pay attention to the deep emotional needs that drive us towards an unbalanced lifestyle, then our bodies would regain the equilibrium that we crave. Your mind is your most powerful tool in creating your healthiest, fittest and attractive body. It influences every single process in the body including your fat storage hormones. I could go into the whole stress – cortisol – leptin- insulin weight gain cycle but I think you may just switch off. When I help people with their personal journey back to the fit and healthy body they deserve stress is the first topic we unravel. Once cortisol levels lower, the stress response is switched off and leptin is functioning optimally, the cycle rights itself and making healthy eating choices just comes naturally.

THE CRASH CYCLE

I use the CRASH cycle to explain how we respond and react to stress and how poor food choices increase stress to create a downward spiral. Of course we are able to use the same functions to encourage an upward spiral to health and vitality when we activate the relaxation hormones.

An easy way to start listening to your own responses to stress and food are to add ‘Vitamin T’(Time) to your diet - Take time to savour and enjoy everything you put into your body; use all of your senses when you eat, make each meal slow, tasty, pleasurable with a sense of occasion. And take the time to listen to how your body responds; if you feel sleepy after a meal that is your body's way off dealing with the stress needed to process a food that doesn't agree with your system.

It’s important to get a daily dose of ‘Vitamin P’ (Pleasure) to flood your body with the happy hormones; pleasure and stress cannot live side by side. Do Stuff that makes you feel good (see previous posts about love and oxytocin). When we take the time to incorporate a daily relaxation practice into our lives we release a whole basket of positive chemicals that leave us feeling good for hours after; Serotonin the happiness hormone which regulates the mood, prevents depression and makes you feel super happy. Endorphins make you feel even more relaxed, reduce your anxiety and your sensitivity to pain. Dopamine helps you to feel mentally alert, lack of it might cause lack of attention, lack of concentration and bad moods. (Tip -Dopamine can be also be released by eating foods that are rich in protein.) Phenylethamine is the hormone that results in the feelings we get in the early stages of a relationship. Gherlin is another hormone that reduces stress and can help you become more relaxed. And of course Oxytocin which makes us love ourselves, love others and bliss out.

So If weight loss is your goal ask yourself, what if in letting go of the stress my body were able to let go of the FAT.... just like that... how would that feel? Allow the time, the space and the pleasure to savour the idea of how your life would be if you could achieve the healthy body goal you have set yourself. What would you look like? How would others respond to you? How would you feel about yourself? What would be different in your everyday life? Come up with novel and ingenious ways to give yourself the love and praise that you need to be fulfilled, happy and full of vital energy. Start with the smallest steps and choreograph your own dance back to the amazing you that is waiting to emerge. You may find that you move onto the 5 D's without even being aware of the changes as you begin to trust your mind to know what is best for you; when you feel safe, secure, relaxed and at ease you effortlessly experience a healthy balanced attitude to food and work with your body to produce the best YOU available.

THE FIVE ‘D’s