When Oprah says something is good the whole world listens. So when Women Food and God, written by Geneen Roth was recent featured and praised by everyone’s favorite TV personality it is no wonder that the book pretty much kick started a new revolution of thinking differently and acting differently when it comes to losing weight and compulsive eating. Whilst interviewing the author on the show Oprah even went as far as claiming that the ideas presented in the book had changed her life, pretty big claims!
However Women Food and God is no fly by night fad idea for weight loss. Geneen’s book, written from much trial and error, looks into our attitude and relationship towards food and urges us to reassess the reasons we eat, how we eat, when we eat and everything else related to us over consuming food. There are no diet plans or exact step by step plans contained inside yet a horde of adoring fans are equaling the claims made by Oprah. This books seems to have the ability to flip our attitude to food upside down.
An important part of Women Food and God is the seven guidelines shared by Roth that illustrate ways for us to eat more consciously, in this article we are going to discuss these guidelines and give our thoughts on each one.
Available now on Amazon: Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything
1. Eat when you are hungry.
This is one of those tips that we all know we should be doing but conventional diet plans can often make us very rigid and apt to ignore our hunger pangs… The problem here is that when it becomes too much to bear we break and eat like it’s our last ever meal. Eating when hungry keeps our belly happy and energy levels consistant helping to stave off energy crashes throughout the day.
2. Eat sitting down in a calm environment. This does not include the car.
If you take the time out of your life to concentrate and relax during eating then it can be separated. Downing a large bottle of coke and a bag of M&M’s while you work at your desk may top up your energy and keep hunger at bay for a short while but you won’t have the feeling that you have eaten and stress will not have been alleviated. Eating is a pleasure and taking the correct time out for it is essential.
Eat without distractions. Distractions include radio, television, newspapers, books, intense or anxiety-producing conversations or music.
I’m not totally sure I personally agree with everything in this tip. I love eating to music but I am willing to head Genette’s advice. She is creating an atmosphere, a time, a place for your relationship with food to take place. Taking it away and detaching it from the rest of your life will essentially help you to avoid eating at the wrong times and in the wrong way.
Eat what your body wants.
Often you may think your body wants a nice plate of fries and a 3 egg omlette followed by a can of cola and a 3 Musketeers bar but you need to tune in more closely. If you are low on energy then you may need some slow release sugars, proteins and carbs. Your body wants certain nutrients to keep it running smooth, not excess fats, refined sugars and artificial ingredients. You need to learn to listen to your body properly and supply what it needs.
Eat until you are satisfied.
If you are still hungry when you are done eating then you have a problem. This is what leads us to binge later in the day or have a sever energy lapse. Eat well, often and satisfy your hunger to make your eating right.
Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others.
I guess this means that you should not scoff sweats and candy out of sight just because no one can see you. Visualize what you would think if you saw someone else just about to eat the food you are thinking about. Imagine everyone knows everything about your diet and that your eating habits are 100% transparent… I know I eat a few sneaky things here and there and this tip really could help motivate me to change my attitude towards these little “treats” or midnight splurges!
Eat with enjoyment, gusto and pleasure.
Eating is not a curse, eating is something we are blessed with. There is so much fine and purely brilliant food in this world to deprive ourselves in the name of a thin belly. Health comes from balance, routine, fitness and careful consideration in our overall choices. Eating can always be pleasurable and you should be enthusiastic about that.
Just by following these tips alone I believe Women Food and God could start to change your whole attitude and help you become happy with the way you eat and your overall diet. It’s all small steps but the physcology of eating is often overlooked and Genette seems to have done a very well informed study and found some excellent solutions to our eating relationships with food.
You can purchase the book here: Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything