“I watched this amazing documentary and I’ve changed everything. I eat so healthy now…I even lost those last 10 pounds right away. Now Sohailla, I just need you to help me figure out why I’m losing my hair in chunks and haven’t had a menstrual cycle in 3 months.” Hmmm… DANGER!
(This is her sink each morning.)
Do the media messages tune-out what your body has to say?
Those of you who know me know I have a conversation going with God 24/7. With the above request for help back to back with an eating disorder client at the gym this week, I asked our Maker, “Did you see this coming when you created food of every flavor and texture in abundance, and made bodies with amazing diversity, capability and wonder?” It turns out somehow we’ve taken these great gifts and used them to shame each other and confuse ourselves. Could we be taking every good thing to a disappointing extreme?
What about these other comments I hear?
“My app says I need only 1200 calories. I am starving all the time, but I’m losing weight!” Yay!?
“I tried a diet and it worked, but now that I’m done with it, I feel guilty for eating homemade black bean soup because beans weren’t allowed on that diet. I’m so confused now!”
Too many mixed messages! Which one to listen to? Consider listening to your body…it knows you inside out (literally), and it doesn’t lie.
- Have you ever realized that constipation is a God-given signal to your body that you are not having enough plant-based food going through your body (or not enough food or fluid at all)?
- Your hunger sensation is a “thumbs up” that means the fuel funnel is indeed draining properly and a cue to do what comes naturally next: fuel up.
- Sweat is a gift for cooling you off because you were meant to play hard.
- Bloating is often a “non-food on board” alert.
- Hair in gobs in your sink is a visual request to attend to your diet, and make sure you’re having enough calories.
- Headaches are typically your brain pulsing at you: “don’t forget to drink water…and it’s an hour past your lunchtime, too.” (And lay off the wine, please).
- Indigestion and reflux is like the beep on a big truck in reverse…pleading with you to back up and rethink moving forward next time with that food or beverage, or that much food.
- Dragging energy usually means the gears of your body’s mechanics need tending to (usually with plain ole water or minerals).
- What if excess fat tissue spilling out of your clothes is designed to alert you that excess is perhaps happening elsewhere in your life?
- Pain is a message from your body: “I need your attention right about HERE!”
- Shakiness from low blood sugar is your body shaking you by the shoulders and saying, “Listen! Either you ate too much sugar in the past 24 hours, or you’re going too long without food.”
- Stiffness is a plea for movement to loosen you up.
- Unexplained fatigue can be a life-saving warning about something serious, but resolvable on the front end if you get the message.
These signals are gifts. Gifts to keep us out of the bed, out of the pharmacy drive-through line, and out of the hospital.
So, who or what are you listening to? Is your smart phone app smarter than your body when your hunger level is clearly saying, “this is not enough fuel.” Is your friend who never struggled with an eating disorder counseling you to try a fasting diet without knowing how much you’ve invested into recovery? Is your favorite fitness guru telling you not to eat past 6 PM without considering that you have 5 hours ahead of you with a home full of teenagers? (Does he/she know you typically binge at the end of those 5 hours on ice-cream after holding out on hunger too long?)
After you watched that documentary, did your state of overall wellness improve or did your blood pressure increase? Is your favorite magazine introducing phrases to you like “thigh gap” that you would do better to never have considered? (If your knees touch, so will your thighs: solved!). Is your diet book suggesting you don’t eat beans…Really?!? The superfood of all time!?! Meanwhile your TV talk-show host is bringing breaking news about a previously undiscovered, exotic super-food (the flavor of the month), and then going to a stuffed-crust pizza commercial.
Listen to your body, your Maker and a trusted friend or two that knows your story. Turn down some of the nutrition noise and get back to the basics. As a registered dietitian, I’ve read the research daily for 20 years, prepared 3 meals a day (usually for a crowd), AND I’ve been the clean-up crew for all the confusion, sitting face to face with real people who want to be well. And believe it or not, it’s really more simple than it’s made it out to be. You’ve got to major on the majors. And you will likely need some support to do them long enough to see and feel what the best version of you is like.
If you are looking for a fresh new way to approach healthy living, I can help! My interactive Success Journal will guide you step-by-step to Your Best Body over 52 days, providing you with daily strategies, resources, and accountability, so you can feel and see results along the way. Download the E-book now and start soon!
