The fourth principle of “Natural Eating” is to “Move onto something else once you have finished eating”. To be able to do this, the activity needs to be more exciting, interesting and compelling than the food. The key tool that enabled me to tune back into what my other pleasures were, was Personal Development. Once I started learning about myself and about other people who had been successful, I started to gain confidence and then began to improve my self-esteem. As that increased I was willing to try new things and once I began to have successes myself, the food began to have less of a hold on me.
It’s often, just about changing your state, which is very difficult if you are stuck in a negative downward spiral. I started by talking positively to myself instead of the negative mantras that were continuous previously. Simple affirmations, such as, “I am loved”, “I am confident” or “I am a wonderful person.” Then I started remembering what used to give me joy before, such as reading, writing, walking, going to the movies, catching up with friends, having a bath, singing out loud in the shower, going to the theatre. I was then able to turn to any of these things when I required comfort, instead of automatically binging on food.
This will also help you to “stop eating when you are satisfied” (principle number 3), because if you have something else to look forward to you are not likely to over-eat. You know there is something more positive to go and do instead of feeling uncomfortable and inevitably guilty.
Again this will help with all aspects of your eating. As you enjoy other things, you will start thinking about food less and less and will be more inclined to notice when you are actually hungry, (principle number 1). Then because you are eating from a positive frame of mind you are more likely to choose “what you really want”, (principle number 2).
You will gain more control over your eating because you have actually tuned back into what you want, not just with food but in all aspects of your life.
I am a Natural Eating Consultant, wife and mother who has recovered from 6 years of depression, a side effect of which was bulimia. I used to binge on food uncontrollably and then exercise excessively to get rid of it. In my mid thirties I was introduced to Natural Eating which together with personal development, allowed me to learn to love and trust myself enough to make a full recovery. My weight settled at 49 kilos in 1998 and has remained at this level for over a decade. Previously, I’d had weight and food related issues for over 20 years. I have now written an e-book entitled “Empower yourself by eating what you want – how to lose weight naturally without dieting.” For a FREE copy please click the following link http://www.weightlossandpersonalgrowth.com/Home.html
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