I recently received an email from a coach who is a friend of mine. He runs a very special program, where you learn about metabolism and how the body works. It’s weight loss amped up and done in an intelligent and mindful manner. For more information on Belldon Colme, visit the website at: https://BelldonColme.net
I was struck by the title “Emotional Eating and How to Beat It.” You may or may not know that I was a strong emotional eater for a very long time. I got a lot of help in overcoming it. It wasn’t easy and sometimes, I do see myself slipping into the old, known ways of coping with stress and pressure. For me, a cookie used to be comfort; a pint of ice cream was like a hug. Life is not that way for me now.
The thing about Belldon’s post that struck me was that it was unique in its outlook. Not many people will give you straight talk about emotional eating. Why? They just don’t get it. Belldon does. I know he does. We’ve talked at length about it. Now, if you’ll bear with me, you’ll see what I mean.
In 2012, Belldon, who has been a coach longer than I have been, received a question from someone in his program. The person asked, “Do any of your successful clients ever cheat?”
You would think the answer would be a simple yes or no, but that’s not Belldon’s style. He is an information giver. He has studied nutrition, anatomy and physiology. He knows more about the metabolism than many doctors, surgeons and nutritionists. I’m not saying that lightly. I am being really honest. He has done the work. If you doubt it, just read his book, No One Ever Got Fat From Calories. I’m still working through it. In fact, I’m thoroughly digesting it. It’s an absorbing read.
Anyway, Belldon tells the person that they are thinking about food all wrong. Food is “an inanimate object. It’s not a thing you should be having a relationship with anyway.” How mind-blowing is that? He goes on to describe how people ‘personalize’ food. I know I did and sometimes, still do. We’re sort of taught to do that, aren’t we?
Regardless, eating or ‘cheating’ has consequences. You should be aware of those consequences. However, you make the choice on what goes in your body at a given moment. The choice is not made for you. “Cheating, shame and guilt make you think in absolutes.” Well, darn it. He’s right. Nutrition is a process. We need to eat to live and we need to do it every day. No one can be ‘perfect’ nor should they strive for it. Besides, what is perfect anyway? It’s a construct sold to us by Madison Avenue or a weight loss guru, or in many bariatric patients’ cases, a surgeon or even society.
We need to get out of our own way and remember that food does not have the power to help or hurt us. Food is just food. It’s fuel. It’s a necessary part of our lives, but it doesn’t have to be the most important part of our lives. Put food in its proper place and the rest will come.
Can you do that? I know I can.
Copyright 2015-2018 R Belldon Colme. All rights reserved. Do not reprint in any form, including electronic or digital reproduction, without the express written consent of R Belldon Colme. For more information visit BelldonColme.net
Deanna Goodson 