In a recent post, I urged you not to diet. In this week’s post, I wanted to share with you a story from one of my clients about ‘body shaming’- a major factor in what leads many of us to go on diets in the first place. In our work together, she is focusing on learning to love and appreciate the body she has, regardless of what size/weight she happens to be at any given moment. Overcoming Body Shame I was fourteen years old the first time I ever looked at my body in the mirror and frowned. Being a tomboy all of my life I didn’t care about “My Look”, I just wanted to go out, get […]
Take Dieting Off of Your New Year’s Resolution List
Congratulations! You’ve survived the holidays, rung in the New Year-albeit in an entirely bizarre and isolated way- and perhaps now you find yourself standing naked in front of a full-length mirror disgusted at the reflection staring back at you. The majority of us tend to overdo the festivities over the holidays and loosen our reign on eating healthful foods in reasonable portions, and often let exercise go out the window as well. While this year, you did not have to endure less-than-enjoyable family get-togethers and endless obligatory holiday parties, you were probably bummed about actually missing those things and perhaps tried drowning your sorrows by overeating and relying a little too heavily on booze to get you through. As you […]
Mindful Eating Roadblock #5: Sneaking Food
This is a very important area to address, as there is a huge correlation between the phenomenon of sneak-eating and problematic relationships with food and body image. In the 20+ years that I’ve been working as a therapist specializing in disordered eating, I have not yet met one client who has made peace with food and their body without stopping the “sneak-eating” habit. I liken this habit to cheating on one’s partner with a morally-challenged person: food becomes your ‘secret lover’ and you regularly steal away to feel embraced in its seductive yet dangerous arms. You know its bad for you and leading you down a dark path, but you find its pull impossible to resist. Your hidden eating habits […]
Mindful Eating Roadblocks #2: Eating Without Enjoyment
Roadblock #2: Eating Without Enjoyment This is a topic that is dear to my heart. You see, my mother, Marion Kane, is a food writer. In fact, she was the Food Editor of two major Canadian newspapers for a total of 20 years. So while most kids spent their evenings playing outside, I was busy dining in the finest restaurants of Toronto ordering lots of dishes to help my mum in her “tasting” ceremony which would either make said restaurant into the latest “hot spot” or else put it out of business within two weeks. My mother, unlike me, doesn’t appear to struggle with what to eat, how much to eat, or knowing when she’s full. But still, I have […]
