The Body Whisperer: Becoming a Better Listener to Your Body

The connection between food and how our bodies feel, look, and move are some of the foundational elements to our well-being. Food, as a life-sustaining substance, has powerful influences on us as our energy source and key player in how we feel. For example, eating can elevate our mood through the release of dopamine in the brain. The way food interacts with the reward center of our brain is the same as a chemical addiction. Since we need food to survive, eating is not categorized as an addiction. Food is also widely available all around us. No wonder food is one of the most common things people reach for when having challenging emotions.

If you are interested in learning more about the role eating plays in your day to day, I want to invite you to pay attention to your eating patterns and patterns in activities related to eating (like exercise, skipping meals, drinking caffeine/alcohol, smoking etc.). You can start by reflecting on what you’ve eaten in the past few days:

When/where/who with?	What were you doing?	What did you eat?	What did you do after?	Mood

What patterns do you notice? Do you find yourself hungry when idle or bored? Do you find yourself eating at night often because you skip meals during the day? Do you find yourself being hard on yourself about gaining weight and the thought of that leads to skipping meals or dieting? Do you have specific concerns about these patterns? If you’d like to make a change based on the patterns you’re discovering, here are some ideas you could try in the next week.

Eat mindfully

Slow down. Take time to notice the flavors, texture, smell, and colors of your food. Your full awareness to the food you’re eating will make it tastier. You’re also more likely to be satiated and less likely to snack after eating.

Eat when hungry

This may seem simple. But we get busy and skip meals even when it is mealtime and we feel hungry. Honoring your hunger by eating when hungry and eating the amount that matches your level of hunger will not only be the boost of energy you need but also prevent disruptions in your hunger cues overtime.

Have a plan

One of the reasons for skipping meals or eating more than intended may be that there isn’t food or the food you want around. Similar to making a schedule for studying or self-care, carving out 20-30 minutes each week to plan out your meals and snacks can make a big difference.

Move your body in a joyful way

Especially when we spend so much time moving and using our bodies for things that we need to do (assignments, jobs, chores etc.), it can be easy to overlook the things our bodies can do to bring us joy. Moving in a joyful way can help cultivate a sense of appreciation toward our bodies and ourselves. What is a joyful way for you to move your body? Busting a move to music? Stretching? Wiggling your toes?

Our bodies change as time and circumstances shift. They are capable of delivering amazing achievements because they are so flexible, adaptive, and resilient. I hope that you’re caring for the wonder that you reside in with love and care.

If you are concerned about your eating patterns and are interested in reaching out for support, the National Eating Disorders Association and reaching out to a qualified health care provider (e.g. therapist, physician, dietician) in your area are good first steps to take.