How Can You Find Health?

According to World Health Organization: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Most of the people do not know the real importance of health, and even if they do realize its importance, they disregard it. Good health is a prerequisite to perform well in home as well as in office. When we talk of good health, it does not only refer to the sound conditions of body; it equally refers to the sound psychological conditions of mind. Psychological health is as crucial as physical health.

Disease usually originates from mind. A man can be labeled as healthy if his body is free of any disorder and his mind is neat and clean. Unbalanced mind results in psychological problems. Most of the people do not have physical problems even then they don’t feel comfortable. They may suffer from stress and insomnia. They may feel aimless, irritable and depressed. They may stay unhappy and dissatisfied throughout their life.

Usually people attempt to stay physically fit. Unfortunately they ignore the importance of psychological fitness. They focus on material aspects of happiness. They strive for lucrative income, a big house, status, expensive jewelry, latest model of car and so on… they believe that these material things can make them happy. But happiness is seldom related with material things. It is the peace of mind that brings happiness. It is the healthy mind that makes you psychologically fit.

Until Next Time...

No Emotional Eating Tool Kit

On Monday we talked about what emotional eating actually is.  (If you haven't checked it out, scroll back to that post.)  Today, we're going to build our "NO EMOTIONAL EATING TOOL KIT"!

Ideally, you'll want to find a small shoebox, or food storage box that you'll be able to put some times in to help you deal in times when you feel an emotional eating need coming on.  Inside this box, you will want to fill it with items that will keep you from trying to satisfy your needs with food.

First, I've found that by far the most beneficial tool in my tool box is an index card.  "An index card?" is probably what you're thinking.  But yes, that's what I said.  Don't worry, it's not a blank one.  On this card I want you to put the following...

• a positive affirmation (or 2 or 3), something that really speaks to you... for me "I believe in myself and my abilities" is one that really speaks to me, but you'll need to find one that works for you.
• phone numbers of 3 close friends - you'll want to make sure that these people are non-judgmental.  Often when we're looking for that "fix" from emotional eating the last thing we need to feel is judged as well.  These 3 people will listen to you, comfort and console you, and simply put, just be there for me.  (I'm blessed to have several people in my life who have been willing to text back and forth with me at all hours of the day and night when I've been in a really bad place.

There obviously won't just be an index card in your box.  But here's where you need to see what works for you.

• Does journaling help you purge your emotions?  If so, then buy a cheap notebook at the dollar store and keep that in there. 
• Do you need to keep your hands busy?  Remember those floss bracelets we made as kids?  Buy some floss and make a bracelet or two. 
• Do you know how to crochet or knit?  Put in a ball of yarn and your needles or crocket hook.  As an added bonus, you could wind up making scarves for everyone for Christmas this year (my boys still have their scarves I made for them before I decided that crocheting really just wasn't for me).
• Maybe you like to draw.  Keep a sketchpad in there.  Like to read, put in a couple magazines or a Chicken Soup type book filled with short, positive and uplifting stories.
• Then there's my favorite... Play-Doh!  Sometimes we just need to keep our hands busy.  When that's the case, squeezing and shaping a wad of this dough can keep your hands moving (and therefore unable to be used to eat) and it's a GREAT way to deal with frustration.

And don't forget, there's something that you can't put inside your tool box, but is a GREAT way to burn out those emotions - exercise.  Whether your doing a T25 workout, or going for a walk, either way you'll be able to clear out your head while doing something good for yourself... And who doesn't feel better once they've got that endorphin burst?

Until Next Time...

Emotional Eating

During my time at Renfrew I spent a LOT of time learning about some of the reasons that people have difficult relationships with food and their weight.  One reason is emotional eating.  Emotional eating is when a person eats for reasons other then hunger.  Some people celebrate with food - think about after a child hits a game winning home run and you go out for ice cream.  Other times people deal with painful emotions but trying to stuff them down with food.  Perhaps you might eat because your bored.  Whatever the reason, if you aren't eating because you're hungry, your eating because of your emotions. 

According to the University of Texas Counseling and Universal Health Center there are telltale signs of "emotional eating."

1.  Emotional hunger comes on suddenly, unlike physical hunger which comes on more gradually.

2.  When you are eating to fill a void in your life, only a specific food will meet your needs (for me, it's always been ice cream or fro-yo).  When you are actually hungry, you are more open to options because your eating to fill a physical need.

3.  Emotional hunger needs to be instantly filled (I once remember disconnecting my husband from a business call because I needed to go for something at that moment and I couldn't wait).  Physical hunger can wait.

4.  Even when you are full, emotional eating tends to continue.  When you are eating only from physical hunger you will stop when you are full.

5.  It's typically emotional hunger that will leave a person with guilty feelings, not physical hunger.

Comfort foods can also be included in emotional eating, though often eaten to maintain a positive mood. 

It's important to remember that when you're eating for reasons other then physical hunger, chances are your body doesn't need those calories - calories which get stored as fat and will often cause a weight gain, and with it potential health risks.

So what can you do to deal with emotional eating? 
Wednesday we'll take on the task of creating a "Tool Box" just for this!

Until Next Time...

30 Day Challenge for Organization

Recently I completed Chalene Johnson's 30-Day Challenge to Master Organization and Achieve Your Goals.  The challenge was a real benefit, even to an organization & control freak like me!  See, I spent so much time writing and re-writing my To-Do lists that I was actually wasting time.  By spending about 10 minutes a day for 30 days on this program I was able to become much more efficient in my time management!  I've even become more productive!  I have to say, long term goal setting is an incredibly useful tool in everyday life.  I suggest that everyone take some time out of their daily life for 30 days and completes this incredible program!  You won't regret it!

Til next time...