“Close your eyes and follow your breath. If your mind wanders off, just come back to your breathing.” Some of us are familiar with this type of encouragement being voiced during a guided meditation session. Developing awareness about our sometimes entertaining and exasperating stream of thoughts is one benefit of a meditation practice. To experience the peace, joy, and well-being found in the present moment, we can simply follow our breath and allow our thoughts and feelings to fade into the background. Like meditation, the practice of intuitive eating allows us to become familiar with a host of vital body signals, which most of us overlook, override, or suppress.

The Obesity Epidemic. I admit I don’t always know how exactly to respond to this…phrasing. Sometimes, I think it gets thrown around with me more than other people. Those who know I went to nutrition school, or even those who spend more than five minutes with me, know that food – quality food – is an integral part of my life. Elbows are nudged when a fat person walks by, or someone who is overweight orders a large plate of meat (with a side of meat) at a restaurant where we eat. Some who don’t know me well, but have been around me a bit, expect that I’m vegetarian. There are people who’ve known me for years that forget I’m no longer a vegetarian. There is often more than a moment of shocked silence when I finally express my feelings around the words “fat” and “obesity” (and not being vegetarian).

Cleansing usually feels good in the long run, but can equal a painful process in the present.
Challenges: Dramatic cleanse response, exhaustion.
Beneficial results: Insight into bodily well-being, connection with other cleanse devotees, release of heavy addiction to meat.
Adherence to the Diet: I out-dieted the diet.
Weighty Decisions
Last week, after completing a three-week cleansing program, I began a 28-day elimination diet. The elimination diet begins with two days of a liquid diet more strict than the cleansing diet, followed by a solid diet of rice, beans and fresh produce. Potential allergens such as …

Week three of my 21-day cleanse has come to a joyful close. I am guilty of several outbursts of happy dancing, a nine-pound weight loss and a significant improvement in the stress to relaxation ratio; but no glitches in following the diet. It’s the first time I’ve achieved complete adherence, after four tries! Yeah, there was the accidental banana bread ingestion, but my intention remained consistent. I’ve renewed my commitment to eat mindfully, choose quality over convenience, and prepare food with love, creativity and enthusiasm. For however long it lasts, it’s an improvement.

At this point, it’s no secret that I’ve lacked the tendency toward one-night stands and such. Even had a downright aversion to them. But I’m not sure I’ve actually explained why before, or I’ve only vaguely insinuated the reason. And I think in a way, that’s been on purpose. Sex has always meant more to me than maybe the average person. Ok, mass over-generalization there, but culturally, a fair assessment, I believe: people tend to jump in the sack pretty darn easily, whether fueled by alcohol/drugs, an addiction, or just simple horniness. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just not really been a part of my makeup.

The sacred ritual of eating food binds us to a place and time, and binds us to the company we keep. It’s why we loathe eating in hospitals, and love eating at celebrations. In Greek mythology, Persephone eats a pomegranate given to her by Hades, and becomes forever bound to the underworld. Eating connects us to the values, conditions and processes that created our food – ideally not from the underworld. Many of humanity’s sacred texts articulate rules on abstaining from some foods and carefully preparing others. In researching biblical texts, talking with friends, and doing a little soul searching, I concluded the message behind all of this is simply that food choices matter.

Ever feel like there’s an unwanted part of you that is making decisions that is against your better self? A part that makes choices based from fear rather than from your own spiritual, and cerebral intellect? Ever feel like it’s just NOT YOU who is in control of YOU? Through my developed awareness practice, understanding of consciousness (and unconsciousness), and wisdom of working with the body’s bacterial landscape, I discovered a phenomenon that I was fortunate enough to experience. I have always understood the value of a person’s consciousness or Spirit (as defined in Traditional Chinese Medicine as that which expresses the life of an organism) in being a key element to a person’s health. The Spirit guides us, animates us, enkindles us, and gives us true satisfaction and passion in life. It is what is worth living for.