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A Balanced Perspective Weekly 
on Health and Wellness
August 10, 2006

1. Is Food Your Problem?
2. Website Highlight Of The Week - Personal Chef
3. Cooking Classes - FALL CLASSES STARTING!!! 
4. Improve Your Relationship with Food and Your Body

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1. Is Food Your Problem?

The other night I was up late worrying about something.
It was actually keeping me from sleeping.  The thought 
was turning over and over in my head.  I had to make a
decision and I was conflicted about it.  Next thing I
knew, my attention was turned to three peanut butter
cookies that were sitting in my refrigerator.  I was no
longer thinking about my problem, I was thinking about
the cookies.  So much easier!

I wasn't hungry, and these particular cookies did not
taste that great, but I was also thinking to myself...if I
just go ahead and eat the cookies, I won't have to think
about them anymore.  They'll be gone.  Problem solved.

Hmmm...That's exactly what I was hoping for with my
other problem.

Snap Out Of It!

Then I snapped out of it.  I realized that I had shifted
my problem onto the cookies in my refrigerator.  Like I
said, I was thinking... "If I just eat the cookies, they'll
be gone and I won't have to think (worry) about them
anymore.  Then I can get some sleep."  My problem
was no longer the problem I was having that I couldn't
do anything about at the moment, it became a problem
I could do something about - cookies in my refrigerator
that were calling me to eat them.

Why would cookies keep me up?  They wouldn't
because cookies were certainly not the problem.  Ten
minutes prior, I was obsessing over a problem that I
had and couldn't come to a conclusion on.  There was
nothing I could do about the problem at that moment. I
was supposed to be sleeping.  But if I shifted my
problem to the cookies...well, that was something I
could solve.  I could eat them.  And then just go to bed.

You Don't Think You Do That?

I think if we are obsessing over food and it is not a
physiological issue (i.e. hunger or a craving triggered by
a physiological need for nutrients) then in most cases it
is probably a transfer of something we are anxious or
stressed about. 

Sometimes when we have a problem with food, we don't
clearly see how we do this.  It has become so second
nature to always be solving the problem of food, weight,
and body image, that we don't realize that food is only a
replacement for other problems we are not dealing well
with. 

Sometimes we take the pressure off of our "food
problem" by saying: "Screw the diet...I'm going to have
the ice cream."  Part of the reason you were probably
feeling so much pressure is because you are probably
feeling pressure in other areas of life that seem less
solvable.  (That, or your diet is too extreme).

Finding A Solution

So what did I do?  Well, when I realized what was
happening, I just shifted back to trying to solve my
original problem, and I completely forgot about the
cookies.  Next time you find yourself obsessing over
food, particularly when you are not in need of food...
write down a list of your problems, anxieties, stressors,
or to do list and prioritize it.  Note which problems
cause you the most anxiety, or which tasks you are
avoiding.  Be honest with yourself.  Begin to tackle
these issues head on.  Find out what you need to do
to solve them.  Make a decision, complete it, and move
on.  Don't linger too long.

Struggling with some issues you really want to tackle? 
Coaching can be a big help!  Give me a call.  Often
times our relationships, life goals, food, career, etc. are
linked together.   Coaching is a great way to be create
constructive solutions and get objective feedback.

Have a terrific weekend everyone!  It is going to be a
nice breezy one!

xoxo

Melissa

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"I am constantly finding myself being amazed with
Melissa.  She is non-judgmental, supportive, caring,
encouraging, compassionate, open minded, and full of
knowledge.  So many times she has been my support
rock.  I have had the most pleasurable experience of
working with her as both her client, and as her web
designer.  She has supported me in some emotionally
difficult times such as stress when I was in school,
relationships, diet, finances, and business.  She has
always listened intently and has provided me with
sound advice.  I am unable to think of suitable words
to express the thanks and deep appreciation I have for
her and how she impacted my life."