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Finding Peace With Food Through Yoga
Losing weight isn't always about eliminating foods, it's also about adding new behaviors. When my colleague included yoga in her life, she seemed to easily lose weight and feel peaceful, in control. When both were stopped, weight returned, control left. Start with the yoga, be at peace with your body, and you'll find that being at peace with food falls more easily into your life.
Copyright (c) 2007 At Peace With Food
Last May I had to opportunity to go to a conference in Florida with other health care providers from around the country. We were working together because of our common interest in finding ways to treat the obesity epidemic. We talked about many topics, including our children, the work we were doing, how some of us loved doing yoga, and, of course, food. Being the only nutritionist in the group, the conversation eventually turned, as it often does, to dieting and weight control.
Several of the women had been on and off Weight Watchers for years. It is a terrific program and the women liked going to the meeting for the support and encouragement, as well as the flexibility and difference food choices they can make. One woman’s story really struck me:
She told us she had once lost 40 on the program, and during this time was regularly attending yoga classes. She also found she had the ability to get into the meditative practices of yoga, which is difficult to attain. She also enjoyed practicing many of the postures, or asanas. More importantly, she said that during this time, she was experiencing such confidence in herself that she was able to drive past fast food places without feeling the need to stop and get something to eat. She sounded as though this was a very peaceful time for her, not just with her weight, but in her life.
Unfortunately, as often happens, the woman eventually gained back all of the weight (along with a few additional pounds) and she stopped practicing yoga. I found the combination of the two (practicing yoga and losing weight) quite interesting and I spoke to her about this. I suggested that she worry less about the “food” part and consider adding the yoga back into her life. Most of us have a very good idea of what it means to “eat healthy,” what we need to do in order to lose weight. Folks who have been to Weight Watchers are well-educated as to the various acceptable choices they can make, and which foods they can prepare. The woman admitted she did already knew all of this.
I suggested that she focus on rebuilding time for yoga first. The meditation, the postures, and the different yoga sequences would make her feel at peace with her body. Yoga always gives me a sense that, regardless of my weight, I can feel good in my body. Yoga is not just about being flexible in your body. It’s about increasing flexibility, building strength and endurance, physically AND emotionally.
I just know that as soon as this woman begins practicing yoga again, she will be able to permanently lose the weight. Not focusing on food while focusing on increasing activity improves one’s overall health and well-being.
When you are at peace with your body, it’s much easier to be at peace with food!