| Do you allow pleasure from food? Are your senses | | | | notice where you might be holding tension. Notice if |
| throughly engaged as you eat? Do you fuel your | | | | you have shallow breathing, a tight belly, a tense |
| aliveness with each meal or eat to deaden and numb | | | | back, tight jaws, or elevated shoulders. Breathe into |
| out? Do you eat foods that taste good in your | | | | these areas, tune into what you might be feeling |
| mouth and feel good in your physical body - both | | | | there, and gradually allow yourself to relax, knowing |
| now and later?Imagine eating in a manner that is | | | | you are safe and supported. Place both of your feet |
| passionate and filled with the pleasure of being alive. | | | | on the ground as you prepare to eat.5. Allow a |
| What exactly would pleasurable eating look like? It | | | | moment of gratitude for the energy (life) you are |
| would vary by individual, and perhaps even by meal. | | | | about to receive. We deserve all of the good things |
| But I imagine we can uncover some common themes | | | | life has to offer, without having to perform for any |
| and prototypes of pleasurable eating. I can think of | | | | of them. We are deserving individuals by our very |
| lots of times pleasure eating would be done standing | | | | existence. Remember your place in the cycle of life. |
| up: Enjoying an ice cream cone while exploring a new | | | | Remember that by eating you are giving yourself life. |
| city while on vacation, mingling at a party while eating | | | | You have this right to have life, to have what you |
| finger foods, and the pleasure of eating stadium food | | | | want, to be supported in your life, to receive |
| at sporting events. But let's narrow down our | | | | pleasure, and to be connected to life. Connect with |
| discussion to your everyday indoor eating | | | | the life of the food you are eating and allow yourself |
| experiences. What would "normal" pleasurable eating | | | | to have a feeling of being grounded, of being |
| look like? I'll write down my vision and then invite | | | | connected to the earth, of being strong, vibrant, and |
| yourself to write down yours.Indoor pleasurable dining | | | | stable.6. Utilize your senses. Before eating, use your |
| would involve sitting down at a table. A table that is | | | | sense of vision and smell to "connect" with the food. |
| attractive, clean of clutter, and arranged for | | | | Take another moment to feel the life in the food.7. |
| multi-sensory dining experience. Look through any | | | | Allow yourself to accept the food. Take this life |
| formal dining magazine and you'll see many examples | | | | force into your own body so that it might grow |
| of elaborate table setting ideas. The tables are set | | | | strong and live and help you to fulfill your destiny. |
| with folded napkins, fancy china, decorative stem | | | | Swallow and notice if you can feel your stomach |
| ware, and colorful table runners. Imagine treating | | | | receiving the food? Notice if you want to rush and |
| yourself as an honored guest, deserving of special | | | | eat the next bite before you have even finished with |
| china, candles, and even some flowers. You sit down | | | | this one. Inhibit this habitual response. Knowing that |
| for a few minutes to enjoy your food, taking a | | | | there is enough food, you may come to realize that |
| moment to say grace because you realize how | | | | you don't need to hold onto to energy or stored |
| blessed you are to have this abundance in your life. | | | | body fat. There is enough. You are worthy of having |
| Your eyes widen to accept the visual pleasure of the | | | | enough. You can let go and relax. Eat your food in |
| food. You inhale, bringing the aroma of the food | | | | freedom. For those of you eating in secret, allow |
| deep into your body. As you eat your food, you | | | | yourself to be seen eating.8. Eating is a way to |
| chew slowly, swallowing each mouthful before taking | | | | extract life sustaining energy from food. When you |
| the next. The food begins to pleasantly fill you up | | | | eat, you process and absorb the forces of nature |
| inside. You stop eating when the sensations become | | | | stored in your food. For example, plants store light |
| something other than pleasurable.This is just one idea | | | | through photosynthesis. Eating food releases the |
| of how a pleasurable eating experience might look. | | | | energies and nutrients stored in food for your body |
| Take a few minutes and write down your idea of a | | | | to absorb. In assimilating your food, you transfer life |
| satisfying eating | | | | into your body.An important part of exploring |
| _________CONSCIOUS RECEPTION OF FOOD | | | | conscious eating is seeking balance. When you start |
| The purpose of this exercise is to learn to be | | | | connecting with food, without making any special |
| mindful while eating. It is a method to enable us to | | | | effort to change your eating, a process naturally |
| get back in touch with our bodies. Allow yourself to | | | | starts to take place. You'll start to desire foods that |
| try this exercise five times in a period of several | | | | are abundant and alive, foods that give you what |
| weeks, and your relationship with food will begin to | | | | you really need on the deepest level. You begin to |
| change.1. Set aside about 10-20 minutes during which | | | | notice that food is more than just mouth pleasure . . . |
| you won't be interrupted. Make sure to start the | | | | there is also physical body pleasure. You may |
| experience at a point in your day when you are | | | | recognize foods that drain you and better understand |
| hungry, but not famished. Utilize this exercise at | | | | what nourishes, satisfies, and supports you. You learn |
| different meals.2. Choose a food (or foods) that | | | | to honor yourself and support your growth by |
| appeals to you on all levels. A food that is visually | | | | choosing food, food experiences, thoughts, and |
| appealing. It smells good as you inhale it. It feels good | | | | behaviors that nourish and heal your |
| in your mouth. And it feels good in your body. This | | | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Helping people let go |
| food may just be something from your forbidden | | | | of self-destructive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors |
| food list. Perhaps it's bread or ice cream or cake. | | | | has been the life work of Dr. Annette Colby. Her |
| Then again maybe you'll choose a wonderfully | | | | fascination with the power of the mind, emotions, |
| appetizing casserole or even spinach. What matters is | | | | spirituality, and physicality has led her to become a |
| that this is a food you like. Prepare this food and sit | | | | leader in the field of personal growth and |
| down with it in front of you.3. Close your eyes and | | | | consciousness. She is a valued counselor, and an |
| take three deep breaths. Let your body relax. | | | | inspiring teacher, as well as an independent writer, |
| Become aware of your thoughts and feelings. See | | | | mentor, and guide. She is a highly sought-after trainer |
| whether you can tune in to the place in your lower | | | | with a unique ability to inform and inspire individuals to |
| belly where your food will land. Notice how empty | | | | open their hearts, love more openly, and pursue their |
| that place feels.4. Become aware of you body and | | | | dreams.Dr. |