Gummy Cravings

Gummy Bears and sushi don’t typically fall into the same category. But when it comes to cravings, they do. From the holistic perspective, sticky, gummy, and chewy foods can show us that we may be feeling a inner lack of self-security.  Being secure within is one of the most fulfilling feelings humans can have and when this inner place is in a state of lack, it makes sense that we would try to fill it up with food. 

GUMMY CRAVINGS 

Craving sort of gummy and sticky foods possibly means you feel insecure and apprehensive. It’s a sign that you need to recognize you are unique and have a distinctive purpose in life that only you can fulfill.  You and I and every person here came to this earth with a purpose and our stay will only be for a short time.  When you narrow it all down, you are unique, all you have to do is allow this to register.  There is no one like you here right now.  Notice all the ways you are unique and allow them out.  Stop trying to fit into an outer society and instead make the choice to fit into your unique and wonderful self. 

All these textures are not concrete answers, but rather a guide that can point you in a direction that you may not have seen before.  It is still up to you to do the work and find your inner truth. Take a deeper look, if it is gummy candy that you are craving, or sushi, look at what the food represents to you and try to find more abstract answers.  Go with your first thought, it is probably the best. 

Other Textures:

SWEET CRAVINGS

Sweet cravings, like the desire for chocolate or donuts could be an indication that you are feeling insecure or tired. Yes, the sugar can make you temporarily feel good, but the crash that follows shows it’s not a satisfying fix. In this instance you may truly need to be nurtured and get true rest. An example of feeling nurtured could be: cuddling up with a blanket, turning on some soft music and reading a book. Or a rejuvenating solution to achieve true rest could be meditating or taking a nap. The the goal is to begin practicing those new things when the craving surfaces instead of just impulsively acting on the craving. 

SALTY CRAVINGS

Salty cravings like chips or pretzels may be a sign that you feel tension and anxiety. When you're in an anxious--negative emotional, mental and spiritual state you are probably going to experience a disconnection from feeling good. It is not necessarily a physiological “lack of salt” but rather a craving for salty foods to subdue the tense and anxious feelings. While the salty snack may seem satisfying at the moment, you’ll never truly be satisfied because the basic need may be to truly relax & feel satisfaction. 

CRUNCHY CRAVINGS

Crunchy cravings like having a biscotti or overeating on nuts can hint to an inner frustration & irritation. Crunchy foods help you act out your temporary emotional and mental release of frustration. The act of chewing and cracking the food in your mouth can momentarily release the feeling of frustration, but the problem is that the second that the crunching stops—the frustration returns, which is why people go back to eat more and more. Instead, crunchy cravings can be information that you are looking for self-fulfillment, approval, and pleasure. Self-fulfillment could be anything that individually fills you up, I have heard people say painting a picture, doing their nails, or walking on the beach is fulfilling. The goal is to find what fulfills you and then practice that instead of running to food. 

CREAMY CRAVINGS

Creamy cravings like ice cream, puddings, custards, or even mashed potatoes have something in common besides milk. Creamy foods are comforting because it returns us to our primal action of sucking and that makes us feel comforted and soothed. Craving these foods could possibly point to an inner discomfort with uncomfortable feelings & worrisome thoughts, which is the inner disruption going on inside (discomfort and/or worry) but not the need. The need is to comfort and sooth those thoughts and feelings by finding what soothes you. Some examples might be to take a bath, give yourself a foot massage, or wear comfortable soft cozy clothing.

LIQUID CRAVINGS

Liquid cravings, like coffee and soda, are filled with caffeine and sugar, or even artificially sweetened, and could actually be a signal that you may feel discouraged, tired, or dissatisfied with your job. This points to the inner lack we may feel that these beverages are drowning, but what we need is to find inspiration, take time to truly rest, hydrate with plenty of water, and rejuvenate yourself by connecting to your purpose.

GREASY CRAVINGS

A person who is craving greasy foods could be in a space of lacking self-certainty and needs something to fulfill them.  The solution is to connect with your spiritual self and find something that brings personal fulfillment. Filling up on the inside is a very unique experience, but if you look back to your childhood you will find answers.  What did you do for fun as a child: draw, climb trees, sports?  No, I’m not saying climb a tree now, (you can if you’d like) but look back and see what you loved about climbing the tree, was it being up high and hearing the wind blow—voila—there is your answer!  Find a safe place high up, where you can “be” and hear the wind blow.  

MOIST CRAVINGS
Moist cravings, like pasta and cake, could be a clue that you  are experiencing subconscious self-doubt, feel drained in your life, and need to let loose and have fun.  Instead of running to the olive garden or cheesecake factory, try to connect to something that makes you feel confident in your life; whether that is painting, hiking, or holding a baby.  Next, do an inventory of how much fun you are currently having and double your engagement in fun activities.  Clear your schedule and go to the beach/ lake/ mountain with yourself or friends and explore,  don’t bring a watch, don’t be on a schedule, just get into the day and allow your inner self to tell you where and when you are ready to go.  

 If you need help finding these deeper answers, contact Sophie at LSS Harmony for a free thirty minute phone session!  info@lssharmony.com

What's the first step to overcoming food cravings?

Te first thing to recognize is that food is not the problem.  When a food craving comes to your awareness it is simply an indication that something is off within your body, emotions, mind or spirit.  The next step is to go deeper and ask yourself the four questions:

1.  What happened today?
2.  What emotion did it make me feel?
3.  What does that emotion feel like within?
4.  And what do I really want?

For example:  lets say you want potato chips.  First, ask yourself "the four questions".  1) my teacher looked at me today with a negative expression on her face. 2) Her expression made me feel stupid. 3) Stupidity feels like worthlessness and disempowerment. 4)  I really want to feel smart and worthy.  In this example, what do potato chips have to do with feeling smart and worthy?  Nothing.  The goal then is to give yourself what you are truly looking for.   Next find things that you cannot BLT (bit, lick or taste) that make you feel smart and worthy and then practice giving those things to yourself.

SMART goals for Weight Loss

Did you know that by the third week in January, 80% of the people who set goals, have already given up.  Why is this?  Because they did not create realistic and encouraging weight loss goals.  They may have set a goal that was too big, with a time frame that was too little, without a realistic approach of how to execute it, which de-motivated them and so they gave up. 

Do you want to be in that 20% of people that actually look back at year end and say "I did it?"  If so, follow these SMART tips in creating your weight loss goals for 2011: 

1. Be SPECIFIC

• Set a realistic weight loss goal with the idea of 1 (ONE)  pound per week. 
• Then realistically look at a calendar and see where one pound a week takes you. "The slower it comes off, the slower it comes back."
• Start with a ten pound or ten week plan.

2. Use Motivating MEASUREMENTS

• Find out how you want to measure your progress and then track it.
• Use: a scale, take body measurements, or how you feel in your clothing, etc.  The most important thing is that your measuring process encourages and motivates you.

3. Be ACCOUNTABLE to yourself

• Ask yourself:  what is the reason I want to lose weight?
• Lose weight for yourself, let it come from with-in you, not for any other reason.  If it is for an outer reason, you may end up giving up and becoming resentful.
• Set up a tracker to track your progress, beginning with a baseline weight.
• Create a Weigh in-Measurement Day: same day every week and make the commitment to be accountable to yourself.
• If these steps seem too complicated, seek professional assistance.…and please feel free to contact LSSHarmony.com for a free phone session!

 4.  Be REALISTIC

• So many people fail with achieving their goals because they are not realistic.
• Set Realistic goals: one pound a week for 10 weeks may be all the weight you need to loose or just the beginning of your journey, but the more realistic the goal, the more possible it is to know what works for you, what challenges you and where you need to grow. 
• If you have given up on your goal, it is probably do to the plan and not your dedication.

5.  Create a TIMELY Plan

• How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time. 
• Use this idea to break your goal down so you know what you are setting out to do and what is “realistically” possible.
• Remember: 1 pound a week is a great success.
• Imagine one pound a week from today would mean that by March 21^st you could be 10 pounds lighter!   

This is the third week of January, are you still on track with your New Year’s Resolutions? It is not too late to start now or to even re-launch your program with a more solid structure.  If you have an SMART plan, you can achieve anything you put your mind to!