Seeking Health

I’ve been eating a low fat, wholefood, high raw, plant based diet for a while now and I thought I was over food cravings but the last couple of weeks I’ve had them big time.

I used to get cravings a lot. As a teenager and young adult, I was always on some fad diet or other that would require me to restrict my food intake. And after a while, I’d cave in and binge eat everything I shouldn’t. My weight would yo-yo up and down, yet it never occurred to me that this was abnormal.

The cravings went away when I started to truly nourish myself, not just my body, but my mind and spirit as well. I ate when I was hungry, and stopped when I was full. All was well, I thought.

But every now and then, the cravings come back.

The good news is the cravings are NOT for processed junk food, so it could be worse. But there is still the need to fill myself with something sweet when something else in my life is amiss.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things about cravings. So this time around I know exactly what that ‘something’ is.

Since coming back from my holidays, I’ve been working really hard – sometimes staying up late at night to finish work, and it’s creating an imbalance. Not getting enough sleep creates disharmony with your hormones, especially leptin. This hormone sends a signal to your brain when you are full.

The day after a poor night’s sleep, your appetite tends to soar!

I also haven’t been exercising as regularly as I usually do because of a tight schedule. I’ve been spending a lot of time sitting (or standing) at my computer writing plans, modules and putting new programs and events together, and have sacrificed my exercise more times than I care to admit. That lack of an important component of a balanced life is throwing things off for me.

Exercise releases endorphins, the feel good chemicals responsible for what’s known as ‘the runner’s high.’

I’m also a fan of massage as a way to invite the body to release those delicious endorphins. Sadly, no one’s given me a massage for far too long.

As a result of not getting my ‘feel good’ hit as regularly as I’m used to, I think my body is looking for pleasure elsewhere.

And food can be an instant source of pleasure and gratification.

One of my favourite snacks are Bliss Balls - wonderfully delicious energy balls (in my “Secrets of Raw: Uncooking” ebook and always one of the recipes in my programs). These snacks that fulfil my cravings and indulgences might be considered innocent and even healthy by most. Still, it’s the emotional state with which the cravings and indulgences express themselves that’s out of sorts.

So I am making a public commitment to nourish myself, exercise every day, get to bed 30 minutes earlier each night and to get a massage ASAP.

In my Eat More to Weigh Less program, I discuss that what really causes food cravings is a deficiency of one of your basic needs. When nutrients are out of balance, your body craves food to rebuild its stores. When you respond to the cravings with sugary, fatty, salty and nutritionally depleted and harmful foods, you add stress to your body. This stress burdens your adrenal glands. Giving in to food cravings can contribute to adrenal exhaustion.

In this program I share why and how breaking free from emotional eating and providing the nutrition you really need will stop cravings in their tracks. By supplying your body with the building blocks of a healthy mind and body, you allow your adrenals to rebuild, your body’s response to fatigue and exhaustion is stronger, and the cravings lessen.

Look out over the next few weeks for an invitation to my Eat More to Weigh Less workshop here in Christchurch on Saturday 21 February.

I look forward to having you here on my journey.

Comment below about your experiences with cravings and emotional eating. Also, be sure to share what strategies you’ve developed. And if you need some amazing massage endorphins, make a booking ASAP. Let’s hold each other accountable to finding joy in places other than the refrigerator!

Please share this with anyone who might find it helpful.