Healing the Hunger within! Breaking free of emotional eating

I remember having sugar cravings in my early teens.
I remember watching my mother spooning whipped up, raw egg whites and sugar into her mouth and stories of her father, my grandfather, keeping a square of luxurious dark chocolate under his pillow.

When my adolescent skin eruptions settled down, I abandoned my self-imposed sugar/chocolate ban and soon enough I was having overwhelming cravings again for sugary foods and chocolate just like my mother. I didn’t gain weight so friends and boyfriends couldn’t see the downside and happily egged me on.  If it made me happy, "why not?", they probably thought.

But my physical system has always been sensitive. I’d quickly get run down and prone to frequent and unpleasant allergy symptoms such as allergic rhinitis and colds. 

 "Dinner wasn't complete without something sweet for afters!"

 In my 20's, my nutritional training taught me how to take care of my body but not how to take care of my mind and my emotions.  The cravings continued.  Natural nut and seed bars replaced refined sugar but the frequency and quantity of "healthy" sweet alternatives remained.  It wasn't hunger.  It was thirst. Thirst for love.  Thirst for joy.  Thirst for comfort.  Thirst for distraction.  Yes I was tired and wanted the energy but it was an emotional need too.

Cravings have their root in physical addiction and emotional needs

  needed to get to the bottom of it! I needed to find a way that was kind and gentle to the little girl inside who desperately needed 'nourishment' in that moment.

So this is what I did..

 I developed a self-care practice that honoured the part of me that was triggered in that moment - my inner child

 I learned how to soothe her with words and actions that were right for her each time she was triggered

 I made a commitment to her and developed long-term daily steps to work alongside 'in-the-moment' actions.  These related to my nutrition, mind, emotions and lifestyle. 

I follow the 80/20 weekly ratio of healthy: favourite foods which means I still enjoy delicious deserts and goodies in a sustainable way.

So if you would like to shift negative beliefs and old programming that perpetuate your emotional eating cycle, develop a can-do self-loving mindset AND get nutritional support to stop cravings and restore imbalance,  Do Get in touch. I'd love to help free you from the negative cycle.

Sending you my best as we head into festive season.

Big hug 

Sophie xox