Healthy Chicks

Remember when you were a little girl and everything revolved around playtime? From make-believe weddings to Polly Pockets, fort-building to dream-building, a day never went by without a good dose of play, imagination and fun.

I still remember how trying to get my sister and I to sit down for family dinners was a job in itself. We’d be running around free outside (catching fireflies, building forts, or sharing secrets) and that ever-so-recognizable dinner bell meant playtime was tragically over. We’d even take mini breaks throughout our meals to skip, laugh and goof around.

The thing was: we weren’t even really that hungry. You see, we’d “fill up” on other things in life (you know, the precious things like love, hugs, laughter, and movement) that we didn’t “need” food to fill us up. In other words, as children, we didn’t rely on things like lasagna, Vodka Tonics and ice cream to make us feel better. Sure, mom’s  meals tasted delicious (and she’d surely try her hardest to get us to finish our broccoli “trees”) but we didn’t need food to make us happy.

As adults, so often we use and abuse food to fill some other type of void in our lives. If we’re lonely or sad, we may over-indulge in Mac & Cheese or other comfort foods to make us feel warm and loved (when in reality maybe we just needed a hug). When we’re stressed, we may lose all control and binge on salty chips or packaged snack foods to relieve some tension (or so we thought.) Boredom can cause mindless eating, or poor choices overall. You get the picture…

You see, what and how we eat becomes much more complex during adulthood. That’s because there are many other factors involved: relationships, career, financial concerns, spirituality even. And when any one of those areas become out of balance, you bet one of the first places we go to for relief is (you guessed it) food.

The solution? Well for one, you definitely don’t need to starve yourself, ban sugar or go on another one of those crazy diets to fix the problem. Instead, I recommend my clients go directly to the root of the problem and find out what’s really driving them to lose control. Once you’ve identified the source, I suggest adding more playtime into your life in as many ways you possibly can. And don’t  be afraid to get creative either!

Bored or feeling unloved in your relationship? Spice things up! Make the effort to plan mini day trips together, say “I love you” more or cook together during date night. Hate your job, in turn making you a raged Cookie Monster at the office vending machine come 3 p.m. every day? Look for other positions at your company that allow you to express your playful personality, take mini stretch breaks, coordinate an office picnic, or even consider re-locating to a new company that would greater serve you (and your passions).

You’ll soon realize that once you find a healthy balance in all areas of your life, things will start to look up, and food stress will slowly melt away. Did I mention you’ll likely lose that stubborn extra weight (both emotional and physical) in the process?  So go ahead, ignite your inner child and create some space in your day for PLAY.

If you struggle with finding balance, or turn to food to fill you up, I’d love to talk with you! Click here to schedule your FREE 15-minutes to FABULOUS info session today, or check out my new health coaching programs (designed just for YOU) here.