The see-food diet wins a brain reward every time!

                                     

If chocolate's on the menu, unless I have a great deal of restraint, or a strong awareness of being full, there's a likelihood of me having this reaction (Abby Lee Miller of Lifetime TV's Dance Mom's fame). It's a challenge all humans face around the 'not so good for you' food. We've not evolved quickly enough on from our hunter/gatherer years when food was not freely available, so we seek high density foods, like those high in sugar or high in fat.   

We get a 'reward' and particularly with chocolate, the release of 'feel good' hormones. Our brain seems hardwired to go get that fatty, calorie-loaded food.

It's the same with Ice-cream. The high fat addition to many cheaper value ranges, make people respond just like Abby did in the picture above. 

People 'see food' and start to get a reward in their brains before they even get a dollop of it on their tongue. Advertisers know this. Just seeing an image of chocolate I can honestly 'smell it' and salivate, particularly when I'm hungry. Those pesky advertisers.... 

Back to Abby (above pics) who recently lost a lot of weight after nursing her elderly mother in a hospice. I feel for anyone dealing with someone during late stages of life. Abby was quoted as having tried to get her mom to eat by even taking in her favourite restaurant food. Her mom could not eat it and feeling nauseous much of the time. Seeing this may have prompted a reaction from Abby. Stress can lead to not eating or to over-eating.  Normally a positive response to food from others encourages us to 'go ahead'. Seeing her mom refuse food may have also enabled Abby to put her food brakes on too. This and the recent bad news of having 'diabetes' another reason for her weight loss plan. Either way, I hope Abby fits well into her life. She's a force to be reckoned with and I admire her tenacity. It's one quality needed to overcome a food addiction/ emotional response to food. We all have it, some just need to find what makes them really want to stop over-eating.    

Through HypnoShape ®  I've helped others to find their way forward to seeing food as a fuel and not an emotional need and putting their food brakes on.  A recent testimonial: "I would recommend this programme because it will change the way you think and feel about food" & "My thought process (around food) is much more positive and mindful"

Want to know more about HypnoShape - A 6-session weight reduction programme? Please get in touch.  Email: info@angiegiles.co.uk or via telephone number below. 

Thanks for reading.
Angie

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http://www.angiegiles.co.uk/
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Facebook: Angie Giles Hypnotherapy

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About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich, NR3 4AG. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or call Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping people achieve their potential at work, in life and finding greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques. 

What are you leaving behind in last year?

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015. 

It's an exciting time, with many changes happening in the world around us (and in the UK, if you are interested, it's a general election year). It's a time for new opportunities and I think  'personal choice' about our wellbeing fits into that view.  If you want to make a few changes or improve on what you already have, its a great time to get focused on that idea. All good intentions start with an idea..  If over Christmas you've faced relationship or family challenges, put on a few pounds, been hibernating or getting over an illness, it may be time to spend a bit of time looking after your body and your mind. 

Sometimes it's a challenge to get motivated to begin afresh. With spring around the corner (I say with all good intention) it's a good time for us to take care of personal maintenance routines. It's why you often see people at the gym as they set out to lose weight and get fit. 
I personally prefer not to set 'resolutions' as they can seem so set in stone and are quite scary. Things change, so I think choices and goals need to have some flexibility. Sure, go to the gym and gradually increase what you do rather than going 'full tilt' on the running machine. Your body will thank you for building up exercise gradually. 

Setting an intermediate goal with small steps towards a bigger plan gives you a chance to celebrate achievements along the way.  Even taking one small step towards a target can give you a boost of motivation 'I did it!' you say, so you keep going. The ability to see changes and feel them happening through those small steps enables you to keep moving forward and not give up with changes to lifestyle. 

Of course, I believe in the power of the mind in supporting transformation. If you want to know more about the boost that hypnotherapy, counselling, coaching or weight management (Hypnoshape ®) can give, just get in touch.  Here's to the best year ever!

See:
angiegiles.co.uk
Twitter: angie_therapist
Facebook: Angie Giles Hypnotherapy

About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work ,life and find greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

'Listen to me (please)' says your body

Do you 'listen' to your body? Do you pay attention to sensations in your body? Are you sat for ages at a desk or slumped in a chair and not taking breaks or getting up and moving around? If so, your body will not thank you for it. You probably have not been aware of the impact on your muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels or major organs in your body. 

If you've ever woken up after a nights sleep and wondered why your neck muscles are tight, then you may have forgotten to listen to your body. Perhaps you held your shoulders unevenly, or were sitting with your feet tucked underneath you and were twisting your spine. Perhaps you were breathing very shallowly and getting insufficient oxygen into your lungs and then anxiety affected you, without 'real' awareness of what happened to cause it. 

We only get that one, precious, body to see us through all our life. Our brain that sits inside our body, it thinks it's in charge sitting right at the top. Well it is in charge, mostly. We need to remind it that being at the top also means being totally responsible for the miraculous thing that is our own, unique, vehicle in life. It might not be the perfect body, but it is the only one we will get. If we don't look after it, eventually we will become less efficient, less able to move and unable to do the things our brain needs and wants us to do. We must take time to repair, refresh and keep the moving parts, moving. 

Conversely, we need time to 'rest' the brain and let it 'free-wheel' for a while. To close down awareness on constant noise, thoughts and input that the brain receives 24/7 is a feat that challenges us, unless asleep. Learning to connect what is happening between your mind and body takes time. I see and experience a link between physical activity and calming of the mind. I've had those sudden solutions to things I've been mulling over, all because I have taken a break or done something physical after being static for a time. 

I really enjoy the physical challenge of yoga and swimming. I'd love to swim every day if I could! Yoga is something I do easily at home and sometimes I attend a class, subject to work commitments. I find both activities give me something different and both really clear my mind to allow a natural 'pause'. I find that because my body is active, my mind is quieter. For most people this makes exercise a big 'plus' and it's why sports are great for releasing tension and building stamina. 

I wonder if you have reminded your brain of it's responsibilities as your vehicle (body) owner of late. If not, is it time for an overhaul of your mind and body? 

I run 6 session HypnoShape ® weight programmes in Norwich, UK. It's a programme that helps you get back in touch with your body (and mind).  It's particularly helpful if you notice sometimes you eat for emotional reasons. It's not a diet, it's about getting a healthy lifestyle. It'll help you find ways to manage stress, improve how you feel about yourself and deal with emotion too. Contact me or info@hypnoshape.com for more information on daytime and evening classes running at the Norfolk Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich. 

Angie
See:

angiegiles.co.uk
Twitter: angie_therapist
Facebook: Angie Giles Hypnotherapy

About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work, life and finding greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.