The women I work with around losing weight, changing the way they eat and learning to love and honor their bodies in reliable daily ways (The Daily Essentials) tend to fall in one of two categories when it comes to eating.
Regardless of what their style of eating was prior to our work together, when women make peace with food and learning to eat in ways that support them, it seems to happen in one of these ways.
The first style of eating and making peace with the process tends to favor simplicity. They are drawn to eating within a smallish range of foods, and keeping meals simple, easy to prepare and love not having to give any of it much thought. Food becomes fuel, basic sustenance, and they enjoy it, but don’t want to spend lots of time thinking about it.
They may even have been “foodies” in the past, watching the Food network (what I lovingly call “Food-Porn”), creating gourmet meals, loving food-centered events whether it be entertaining or food-shopping, or eating out. But now they want to put food in a place where it’s not the main event and put more energy into other ways of nourishing themselves.
Now they like more automated ways of eating..having rituals for meals that are tried-and-true and finding security and comfort with sticking to those without too much variation. They have found that bringing in too many new or “sexy” foods can trigger overeating or binges and so they keep it simple and somewhat predictable. They may even stick with the same breakfast or lunch for some period of time..finding it comforting to limit choices and not have to think about what to eat at each and every meal. Simplicity becomes a comforting foundation.
The second group does things a bit differently. They embrace food, fall back in love with food and cooking and shopping and creating, from the new perspective of feeding themselves as beautifully as they can within new guidelines. It may be gluten-free or some other new iteration of what best works for their chemistry and keeping old cravings and binge-triggering patterns at bay but the relationship with food.. even if it wasn’t before.. becomes very sensual.
I have clients that send me gorgeous photographs of their plates at certain meals.. colorful, artful, beautifully highlighting rainbow hued selections of fresh food. This group is determined to love food in a new way.. one that supports their individual make up and ensures there is no sense of deprivation.
In my description of these groups you may have an opinion of one being “better” than the other but I would disagree. For one thing, the women I know often switch between groups at various times depending on how much energy or availability they have to devote to creating meals and attention to how they feed themselves. For another, the “best” way is what works.. is what is going to be healing for each person and minimize former patterns of pain around eating, binge-eating, purges or just feeling obsessive around what they ate/didn’t eat and all of the feelings that got stirred up.
Personally, I move between these two styles depending on the season, how busy I am, what feels good to me in the day.. and other deciding factors. Some years I am more “foodie” and creative than others.. other years I am devoting more creative energies to other projects and am happier keeping my food and style of eating very simple. I keep judgment out of it.
Which style has worked for you? Have you found a style or way of eating that’s worked for you?
Let’s talk- Email me for a complimentary consultation to consider how you might begin to find solutions to your personal challenges around living beautifully in your body. I will email you back, send you a questionnaire and set up a time for us to talk by phone or Skype.
Think about what you would want to ask me if we were to sit down for tea together..
With love and every blessing..
Helen says
That’s very interesting Lisa – I have definitely fallen into both groups at some point in my own work about developing a healthier relationship with food. These days I’m vegan and loving it, but I now have a tendancy not to eat enough when stressed! So many people need to make their peace with food rather than going on another fad diet – I love what you do 🙂
Lisa says
Hi Helen.. thank you so much and yes.. making peace is a goal that will encourage each of us to find practices that support us and that allow for flexibility. I love knowing that you have found a way of feeding yourself that is just right for you.. Love to you.. Lisa
Amber says
I eat for nutrition lately or just because I straight up “I’m HUNGRY now and just need food”. I don’t think that is the best way… I miss the ritual and think I need to slow down and enjoy each moment. This is really giving me something to reflect on.
xo,
Amber
Lisa says
Hi Amber…Rituals are so comforting, and creating the ones that are right for you is something that I believe will feel so much better. Knowing that you miss it allows you to move towards it.. as you said slowing down is a first step and one that allows you to know what the next one might be. Love, Lisa
Nona Jordan | the Business Yogini says
I agree with Helen – I’ve fallen into both groups and I think I straddle the two. I love simplicity, but I want it to be delicious and beautiful. “Food” for thought on how to best honor my own style. Thank you Lisa!!! XO
Lisa says
Hi Nona.. That’s such a good way to put it.. and having it be delicious and beautiful at least some of the time will appeal to your sensual side and be more satisfying in so many ways. One way to keep it simple is to have a handful of simple/delicious/beautiful “fallback” meals that you know how to put together easily..Love to you Nona..xox
eyenie says
Ooooh, I love this! So interesting, and makes perfect sense! When I was “with child”, I wanted to make sure to eat loads of healthy foods, so eating was a simple fuel-based ritual…I really only cared about the properties of each meal. That said, however, I’m a big-time eater and lover of food, but sometimes simple can be soooo satisfying! I’m learning how to cook more and more since the area I live in doesn’t have very much variety, so creating lovely dishes is sort of becoming part of my life. YAY! Thank you for this! 🙂 Lovely as always!
Lisa says
Eyenie… I agree, simple can be surprisingly satisfying (as can using a bunch of words that begin with “s”!). I love the challenge of making simple delicious.. sometimes simple requires even more thought than complex because have to have great ingredients for it to keep us happy.. mouth, eyes, satiety.. etc.
Love that you are already in the groove of this (well of course you are!). Love to you.. lisa
Leah Shapiro says
When I was reading the first part of the description of the first group I was thinking….Oh No!!! They are missing out on so much!!
But as I kept reading I totally “got” it.
I go back and forth between the two. I love food and love to cook. I especially enjoy cooking for friends.
When it comes to my meals I ask myself – “What would be yummy?” rather than “What’s in the fridge”.
But when I’m busy tend to fall into a cycle of eating easy simple meals over and over again. Like steamed Corn and Broccoli from the farmers market in the summer, or Blueberries, raw oats and almonds with a touch of almond milk for breakfast everyday.
When I have more time I like to cook extravagant healthy meals….most anything from Whole Living works for me.
Lisa says
Leah.. laughing at your dismay at the first group.. but as you and I know, it makes sense and simplicity can be really pleasurable and delicious..I love summer meals fresh from the garden and the (next door) orchards..And I have my “fast food” one bowl favorites.. And then of course the times I am inspired, as you are, to do more when I have time or just need to stretch my creative muscles.. It all has it’s place. Love to you Luscious One.. Lisa
Chrisite says
This is such a great insight into how you work and the results your clients get. My family definitely eat seasonally. Winter is very repetitive, and focused on what’s easy. Spring, summer, and fall we soak up so much fresh goodness from the garden and focus so much on the full experience of food!
Lisa says
Christie.. that’s the best way.. seasonally makes such sense and is so affordable as well.. I do the same especially living in the country with our gardens and orchards in town…fresh is such a luxury.. Love to you.. Lisa
Teresa Deak says
Currently, I’m doing both! Green juicing morning and night and eating an artful and delicious lunch. Yay!
Hugs and butterflies,
~Teresa~
Lisa says
Hi Teresa.. Lunch is my biggest meal also..I do lots of green juice in the morning although this winter have lost my taste for it temporarily..I bet you feel great and light as a butterfly.. Love to you, Lisa
Amanda Krill says
I definitely go back and forth between these 2 styles. When I’m busy, I fall back into the comforting meals I always make. When I’m feeling super creative it comes through everywhere – especially in cooking.
But my cycles are much quicker. Days versus months.
Lisa says
Amanda…sometimes my switches are that quick also although it’s most likely on a weekend when I can cook in a more relaxed way or if I am bringing something to a dinner party, etc. When you’re busy it’s great that you can find something comforting that supports you..and that you can make the shifts so seamlessly.. very intuitive!! Love to you.. Lisa
Teryll says
What I love about this post is that there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” choice, it isn’t about being better, it’s about tuning into what you need right this moment, in this “season”, so to speak. I fall into the 2nd category, but long for more of the 1st category. I guess I am seeking *balance” between the two.
Lisa says
Hi Teryll..so glad to see you here! I think many of us have a preferred style of the two and often would benefit from balancing it out more.. sometimes just picking one day to do that a week can help. Starting small in a way that’s manageable and fun.. versus a heavy-handed forever kind of thing.. is much easier..Any specific parts of the “first category” that appeal to you that you would implement first? Love, Lisa
Teryll says
Thanks Lisa for the input – small and manageable is do-able. 🙂 I think simplicity is a good thing to focus on. I know that in the past I have been sucked into the food-porn and while it can in inspiring it certainly can be draining. I recently went to Africa for two weeks and all of our meals were simple and seasonal. I really appreciated not having to think about food and cooking as much as I love it.
Lisa says
Teryll…Africa sounds heavenly.. always wanted to go.. I think simple and seasonal are great guidelines for home as well! Then when you want to dip into the food-porn (!) it can be occasional, when you have time and space and energy.. and it will be fun and a creative splurge..I think you said it all in “inspiring” but “draining”.. We know how we feel when we pay attention and take ourselves and our needs seriously. Make sense? xox