Health & Fitness
The body is an amazing source of intelligence
By Sherri Mraz
The body is an amazing source of intelligence. It is always there for you, pumping blood, never skipping a heartbeat, digesting whatever food you put in it and maintaining homeostasis. Is this reliable, intelligent bio-computer making a mistake by craving ice cream or a hamburger or chocolate? Are cravings due to lack of will-power or discipline? I’d like to suggest that cravings are not a problem. They are critical pieces of information that tell you what your body needs.
The important thing is to understand why you crave what you crave. Perhaps your diet is too restrictive or devoid of essential nutrients. Perhaps you are living a lifestyle that is too boring or stressful. Your body tries to correct the imbalance by sending you a message: a craving. A craving for something sweet could mean you need more protein, more exercise, more water or more love in your life. The key to stopping the sugar craving is to understand and deliver what your body really needs.
Your body knows best and is always trying to create balance. However, products like refined foods, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and drugs (which have little or no nutritional value) are confusing to the body. They throw the body off-balance and can create serious cravings as your body tries to get what it needs to restore internal harmony. The more your food is whole and healthy, the easier it is for your body to stay in balance and provide you with a happier, healthier life.
No book or theory can tell you what to eat. Only awareness of your body and its needs can tell you. Of all the relationships in our lives, the one with our body is the most essential. It takes communication, love and time to cultivate a relationship with your body.
The key role of a Health Coach is to help you learn to decipher and respond to your body’s cravings by creating a deep and lasting level of health and balance.
The next time you have a craving,
treat it as a loving message from your body instead of a weakness.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What is out of balance in my life?
- Is there something I need to express, is something being repressed?
- What happened in my life just before I had this craving?
In time you will embrace the cravings. These tools for awareness can be stretched into every area of your life. Awareness is key. To be able to make changes you need to see what is not working. Don’t cover it up, don’t self medicate with food, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, work, and or just plain busyness. Pay attention to your behaviors and start to build new ones. Let your behaviors come from conscious choices. I promise you it will all be okay, and before you know it, you notice that you are great!
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Sherri Mraz 561-791-6455, www.cookinyogi.com
Sherri works with individuals and groups to improve their health through nutrition programs, cooking classes and yoga. Board certified health coach and mentor. Winner of Flavors of Wellington’s Best Plate 2013.
Following are some of the groups and programs that Sherri offers:
The Six Week to Super Group
This is an ongoing weekly group meet-up, only you never have to leave your home or desk. This ongoing program teaches awareness and lifestyle skills. Call in every Fri at noon and one weekday evening.
Join anytime, always a review, new information and motivation.
Click for more info
The Three Day Bliss Detox Check out the detox video