Food is often the band-aid, not the problem.
Learn to Speak “Body”
When we are young, we learn to watch and interpret other people’s body language and respond appropriately. Rarely are we taught to tune in to our own body language. Specifically, the internal messages that our bodies are communicating with us.
Our bodies communicate with us all the time; the challenge is, we don’t often understand what it’s saying; there is a language barrier.
I often share with my Body Peace & Food Freedom clients to think about Body Speak as if you were learning a foreign language. At first, none of the words make sense, then with practice, the words that were once challenging become comfortable, and then our fluency increases. Listening to your body is one of the critical components of Intuitive Eating.
While our bodies don’t talk in words, it does speak in other ways, often loudly and clearly, when we choose to listen.
Our bodies speak through:
Pain
Anxiety, stress, or sadness
Inflammation
Chronic illness
Energy levels and fatigue
Changes in breathing, heart rate, or sensations in the chest
Changes in our digestive system
Sensation changes in our throat, upper chest, or shoulders
If we're not paying attention to those signals and addressing the root cause, the body will start to speak even louder. Our brain wants to keep us in “safety”, so it continues to ignore or desire to discover the root cause. Change is challenging to our brains, even if our patterns aren’t supporting us in a positive way, it is what is easy and comfortable.
Our bodies will continue to ask or demand what it wants until we are willing to discover what the messages are saying. We may not answer or acknowledge our body’s information because we haven’t developed the correct vocabulary to do so.
Learning to ask the two foundational questions of Intuitive Eating; what am I feeling and what do I need will be the beginning of creating the needed vocabulary. When you listen and can hear the messages, you become self-aware, which in time will build trust and respect with yourself creating an outcome you desire.
“To eat” is a tool or message our body uses to express its distress about something unaddressed, it is the synonym for stress, anxiety, boredom, procrastination, exhaustion, or even excitement.
It makes sense because eating is calming, and our body naturally releases dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone. When we receive the “feel-good hit”, we don't have to think unpleasant or stressful thoughts, have difficult conversations, social interactions, or feel painful feelings. The rest of the world temporarily fades away.
It’s common for people who struggle with their relationship with food to also experience other challenging behaviors or symptoms such as…
Over-exercising
The need to sleep more
Drinking alcohol excessively
Excessive smoking
Depression or anxiety
Working too much
Challenging relationships
Again, these are examples of the many ways that our body is trying to speak to us. We need to continue to grow our vocabulary so we can understand what our bodies are saying.
When we don’t take the time to understand the messages from our body, we often use the band-aid method, which is to eat. If I eat, it will make me feel better. Unfortunately, it’s only a quick fix.
Think of it as putting a band-aid on a freshly skinned knee. The skinned knee still has the dirt, the tiny pebbles, and all the germs in it—no washing or cleaning. With time, an infection will appear. The band-aid only covered it up, so we couldn’t see it. The problem is still there. Food is often the band-aid, not the problem.
We need to discover the root cause!
Grief and loss. The loss can be of a person or pet, an idea, an identity, or a way of life (for example, if you've lost your job or had some of your life illusions shattered). It can also include trauma.
Life change. Perhaps you had a baby, taken on a new job, moved, or are recently divorced. Your identity and life circumstances have shifted.
Relationship problems. Relationship discord between partners, family members, friends, or coworkers can create stress and anxiety.
A lack of Intrapersonal skills. Not having the capacity, skills, or tools to manage the challenges that are present in your life. You might feel like you're often misunderstood or alone. Perhaps you struggle to connect meaningfully with other people. It takes time and practice to build resilience.
With this information, if you are willing, think about your relationship to eating and how is your body speaking to you? Can you take a minute to pause and ask yourself, what am I feeling? What do I need? What clues is your body giving you that is causing you distress and the need to soothe with food?
Learning to speak “body” will provide you with insight, awareness, and power as you develop the skills to listen, trust, and respect your body. This is your first step to ditching the diet and becoming the expert on yourself through the practice of Intuitive Eating.
The word "yet" can be a powerful mindset shift and create a foundation of trust, both needed for better health and wellness.
The word "yet" is mainly used to refer to something a person is waiting for and expecting. The event has not happened so far.