Dining WITH Our Bodies! (The Echo World, August 2018)
While most of us may think we eat to nourish our body, how often do we include our bodies in our choices? How much more could you receive from your food and dining experience if you included your body in your choice making? Allergic reactions, pain, indigestion, intoxication, sluggishness can be indications of choices that don’t work for our body. What if you could experience joy, relaxation, alertness and deep nourishment instead?
When I drop my judgment about what I should/shouln’t eat and ask my body, eating is much more fun! Note that as we ask our bodies, the intention is to not think of the right answer, it’s to invite our bodies to provide an awareness. The awareness may be immediate or come a little later. Trust you and your body. Would it be fun to try it? Drop your judgment and ask your body. YOUR BODY KNOWS WHAT IT NEEDS.
Let’s start with a simple tool to get yes or no answers: Light or Heavy? If a question or experience inspires you to feel light and expansive, it’s true for you; if you feel heavy or contracting, it’s not true for you.
Our bodies desire to work with us. You can even ask your body to adjust the intensity up or down for greater awareness and ease.
What questions would be helpful to ask your body? Think about the questions you might ask a friend you’re dining with…
Body, do you desire or require food? Would you like to eat alone or with someone? Who? (Have you ever started thinking about eating and have a friend call…was that your body letting you know who they’d like to eat with?)
Where would you like to eat?
What would you like to drink and eat? How much?
Have you ever looked at a menu and perceive one item as extra bold or bright? Is that your body communicating its preference? What do you know?
Let yourself be with your body and your food. Savor and be grateful for it. When your body says stop, stop. That’s the biggest difference I’ve found in developing my relationship with my body… we require far less than I’m used to eating! When I truly listen to my body, I enjoy my meal and I feel great afterward. Would you like some of that?