Listening to your Body in 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011 at 5:15PM 
No worries. I am not going to do a blog on New Year’s resolutions. Personally I like to think through what I would like to accomplish each year. Putting together a long list of “to do’s” gives me more anxiety than encouragement to move forward and accomplish my goals.
So how do I make changes that are important and support my health? I listen to my body. I frequently ask clients: “if your body could speak, what would it say to you?” This may sound silly to some but it works.
The Voices in your Head…
The parent voice says “avoid this food” while the child voice may say “but I don’t care and I want it?” Have you ever listened to what does adult or healthy voice is saying?
In general, people ask why I exercise most days of the week. I jokingly say “because I need to look like my job.” Joking aside, I really go to the gym each morning because I like HOW it makes me feel. I want to focus on what my clients say to me and how to help them. If I don’t exercise my brain is foggy and I’m falling asleep.
If I don’t exercise my back hurts, my knee aches and I feel a sluggish metabolism and quickly start to gain weight. My body feels like it is decompensating. Yes – I have pretty horrible genes – but….I’m changing how I respond to those genes. I’m choosing to expert power over the negative predisposition to health.
Those Carb LOVING GENES
How about food? My Italian genes want bread, cookies, and carbs. Sometimes I can eat a serving or two here and there but beyond that I feel bloated, sluggish, unfocused and uncomfortable in my clothes. And…I feel much hungrier and think about food all day. My temptation control button starts to deteriorate.
So exercising and eating healthfully are really dictated by my body. I want to feel energy, focused, satisfied with my food and pain free. I remember the goal. I want the endpoint to be health and happiness at the end of the day and each year.
If you want to change something about your health in the New Year ask your body how it wants to feel. It might be a little bit of struggle with the voices in your head but if you’re reading this blog it’s likely your healthy voice wants to win the race.
No matter what the challenges are during the race at the end you want a healthier satisfied body for your next year.
Reader Comments (3)
thank you susan for this sensible and quietly inspiring post. after a month of "holiday" eating, i am back to the low carb plan, and notice a subtle increase in energy and well-being, not to mention a small but visible decrease in insulin bloat. now to get the exercise piece back into the picture... many thanks and happy new year!
Susan, as usual, you're sharing the gift of your knowledge but not pushing it or laying unreasonable expectations out there for us to judge ourselves with. Your attitude about life is as valuable as your eating plan. Thank you so much!
You are very welcome Maria! Thank you for your kind words.