Recently in a session with a client we were doing EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques – see the diagram below for the tapping points) and tapping on her thoughts around her weight, and her relationship with her body and food. As with many of the clients I see with issues around this topic, this lifelong battle of yo-yo dieting, and a dislike, and in some cases hatred of her parts of her body, was really affecting the quality of her life. Food was always at the back of her mind, and when she was being strict about following a healthy regime, the fear of slipping back into being overweight and losing control was always present.
As you can imagine, living like this is neither happy or balanced. With the majority of clients that I see who have a similar relationship with food and weight the treatment I usually find most effective to get to the roots of these limiting thoughts and patterns is EFT. During a session we tap on all the feelings that have been stuffed down, usually with food or drink, or other distracting habits such as shopping. Lifting the lid off these painful feelings of unworthiness and getting to the roots of these feelings isn’t the easiest process, but people usually find they can begin to see things in a clearer way, and learn to find respect and even love for themselves and their bodies.
As mentioned last week I’m on a month-long detox and at the start of week 2 I am feeling lighter and clearer but I have noticed my emotions are a little more tender than usual and I do feel more sensitive. Recently, pre-detox, when I have felt this way I would’ve reached for a perk-me-up coffee, or in the evening a glass of wine or some chocolate, to numb the feelings away. Not having these emotional crutches to reach for I am having to feel what I feel and tap on whatever arises. It’s an interesting process but strangely, I am enjoying the clarity of my feelings, and even though I am having a few detox wobbles, I love that I am dealing with whatever was waiting to be noticed; that quiet voice within, that can easily be drowned out by life’s distractions and indulgences.
While I do go for seasonal detoxes to clean out my system I haven’t ever dieted and don’t own a pair of scales. I know from experience that if I deny myself something I tend to think about it more and that takes up precious energy that I could be using more productively. I also believe that enjoying my occasional indulgences is one of the joys of life. Rather than eat a pizza and feel full of remorse afterwards I prefer to enjoy every mouthful and know that it is a weekly treat.
I see so many people, usually women, who have an out of balance relationship with food and their bodies, and who are forever denying themselves what they want, and then end up going off diet, beating themselves up about it, feeling full of guilt and then having to repeat. It’s a body/weight groundhog day and one in which the middle path – moderation – and learning to appreciate the skin you’re in, can provide a living solution moving forward. First though, exploring the underlying emotions of why we reach for food or drink is the area that needs tackling first. Body and weight issues are rarely about the food itself and most often have their roots in childhood. It may be that a grandparent was a loving influence in your life and gave you sweets to make you feel better, or perhaps you felt pressured to be a certain weight to fit in but found it hard to live up to these standards and ate to comfort yourself.
Whatever the reason, EFT can provide quick and effective results so that you work through the underlying issues and learn to have a healthier relationship with yourself and food, and get off the yo-yo dieting hamster wheel once and for all.
Someone who enjoys a healthy relationship with food is Corrie actress Cath Tyldesley who enjoys nurturing her body with healthy food and exercise but who will also treat herself. Her recent blog for Hello! Magazine talks about the EFT sessions she has had with me and some of the exercises that work for her.
To accompany this blog I have recorded an EFT video which gives you an idea how to tap using EFT and focuses specifically on food and our emotional relationship with it. If you haven’t tried EFT before I recommend tapping along to it, making sure to use your words when tapping on foods so that it resonates with you.
If you would like more information on how EFT can help you or would like to book in for an in-person session or a session via Skype, please email tania@tanialouise.com and I’ll be in touch.
Wishing you a healthy, happy week,
Tania x