Time to Rejuvenate

Let’s Run Away…
Once a month I take off to the West Coast of Florida for four days of nothingness built around meditation, reading, praying, writing, and walking or cycling along the seashore. I don’t go out to eat or run here or run there. No, I sit in quiet with the exception of talking by phone to my husband and sister.

That’s it!

When I tell my students about my mad escape they wrinkle their nose, eyes rolling up shaking their head in disbelief. To them my weekend of quietness would be sheer torture worse than hanging by their toenails.

Why is silence so frightening
So, why is it some people can sit in silence but most people cannot? It seems most people need a bombardment of entertainment via text, television, movies, clubbing, and phone chats (though this last one is being replaced gradually by cyber and text chats)…because they fear idleness.

I learned in my psychotherapy practice most people are afraid of silence. Afraid of where their thoughts will take them. Afraid they will think about things they need to do, didn’t do, fear to do, or can’t do. They fear thinking about regrets and mistakes and hurts that continue….

Let’s get off the merry-go-round…

Silence is a chance to reflect.  Try doing nothing and take in silence. I love quiet. For me it’s recharging and getting a grip on what life is really about. It’s a connection to my Higher Source and to just be.

Take time to prepare clean foods

A first step is to embracing silence. The next is to take the time to prepare clean foods. If your shaking your head thinking no way do I want to make food. I hate to cook and I don’t have time. I get it. There was a time I didn’t have the energy or the interest in making healthy meals. I used to come to this very get-away where I’m writing this blog and binge-eat for days not coming up for relief or peace.

Are you a weekend binger?

I was. I didn’t know about my addiction to sugar flour and wheat. I didn’t know I couldn’t stop eating because I was addicted to these foods. It was long weekends, whether Easter break or Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday that I would find myself obsessed with food for an entire weekend. I would eat and eat and eat until Monday when I’d get on the scale and find I’d gained 10 pounds!

Yes you read that right!

I was a serious food addict…but not anymore. I eat well and I eat plenty, and I eat delicious “real” food. I maintain a healthy weight and live life to the best of my ability.

You can too!

How you might ask? Well, first take a step back and look at where you are and where you want to be. Do you want health over eating processed foods such as chips, cookies and pretzels? If you answer yes you are ready. Start with the 10 steps below and start to free the grip food has on you. 

10 Steps To Freeing Your Food Addiction:
• Admit there is a problem
• Recognize food is not the enemy but rather your relationship with it is.
• Create a daily menu mapping out breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack
• Make each meal real and whole and balanced
• Breakfast consists of protein, fruit, dairy, fat, and starch
• Lunch consists of vegetables, fat and protein
• Dinner consists of protein, starch, fat, and vegetables
• Snack or half meal consists of fruit and protein
• Meditate, Pray or carve out time for silence and self-reflecting
• Journal thoughts and feelings

This is only a partial list towards recovery but it’s a start nonetheless. I didn’t reach the place of peace and tranquility with my food over night. For sure it was a journey of three steps forward and two back. I’m not perfect but I don’t binge-eat throughout the weekend and my weight remains stable.

Connect with Me…
I’d love to hear from you! What food challenges do you face? Do you have personal recovery tips?

Release Your Obsession with Food!

Food addiction like all addictions is a lonely road. You don’t need to do this alone. Please join me on twitter or face book and learn ways out of your dilemma.

Also, check out Release Your Obsession with Food: Heal from the Inside Out …on Amazon or any bookstore close to you.

Hugs…I care…
Dr. Lisa                                                                                                                                              https://www.amazon.com/author/drlisaortigaracrego