The Chew Tamer's Journey

Americans are the fattest people on earth. Why is that? Why are we as a culture so overweight? Why are so many of us prone to eating to excess? Why are so many of us obsessed with food and body size? Why have so many of us alternated between eating compulsively for periods of time and then dieting for a while? Why has this become a common, life-long style of food management for so many? Why have millions of women and men become entangled in a pattern which is so self-destructive and that can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, a general sense of being out of control as well as a host of many other problems? We are all different, of course, and some people have not experienced such a struggle. Most of us, however, eat more than we want or need to at times, and for some over-eating has become a life-style. What can we do about this? What can you do to bring more balance and peace into your personal relationship with food (or drugs or alcohol or any other addictive substance or behavior)?

I have studied this issue and specialized in working with people with food control concerns for over twenty years. I have waged my own private war with compulsive eating and dieting – enduring phases of obesity, bulimia and anorexia. I have finally found a path to a healthier life with a more positive, balanced and appreciative attitude towards myself, my own body and food. Please understand, however, that I am a work in progress and will continue to be so for the remainder of my time on this planet. My body is not and will never be “perfect” according to our contemporary societal standard and I will never negotiate my path “perfectly”. However, after more than fifty years of alternately starving and stuffing myself, the idea of perfection has become irrelevant. It has been replaced instead by a feeling of peace and an appreciation of myself, the person I have become and of the many wonderful things my body can do.

From time to time I will share my perspective about compulsive eating behavior and my philosophy of treatment i n this newsletter. Please note that our physical bodies and our emotional and spiritual selves are intertwined and that we have been heavily influenced in our society to look and act in certain ways to be accepted and approved of. So, to feel in control of our impulses to eat compulsively, we need to address all of these areas and to map out strategies to bring each of these aspects of ourselves into balance. This requires us to know ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually and to understand the impact social forces have had on us throughout our lives. This is no small task but it is possible and worthwhile.

We are all marvelous works in progress. Please never diet again and realize that life is not about being thin. It is about being healthy, loving yourself just the way you are and eating in ways that feel nurturing – not compulsive and self-abusive. My wish is that you feel healthy, peaceful and happy with yourself regardless of how many pounds you weigh. I have spent countless hours in my role as a therapist listening to my clients’ painful histories and experiences and helping them in their personal struggles to control their eating. People have come to share their stories of guilt, self-hatred, shame and frustration. In their pasts, some have lost weight, some have not. Some have developed an ability to accept themselves no matter what their weight may be, and others have abandoned hope, finding the battle against compulsive eating too demanding and discouraging.

This is easy to understand. We are bombarded daily with confusing messages about what to do, what to eat (or not eat) and how to look and act. The problem can easily become overwhelming! Many of us have tried an assortment of fad diets, weight loss gimmicks, pills that claim to melt pounds away and exercise machines that promise thinner thighs and disappearing bellies in an impossibly short time and with little effort. These attempts to control our bodies and to mold them into shapes idealized today generally end in failure, cause great anxiety and the urges to overeat become more persistent than ever.

We may never completely eliminate urges to eat compulsively. They may manifest from time to time just because we are human beings with appetites. We can, however, learn ways to recognize these urges when they surface and to choose other ways to deal with them. If we attempt to eat a healthy diet but we ignore other important needs (e.g. our need for exercise, rest, laughter, relationships, attention to our feelings, solitude, etc.) we soon find ourselves turning to food as we have in the past – to fill our needs. Food, of course, does not fulfill our real needs. We will be forever turning to food to nurture and satisfy ourselves if we don’t identify what our real needs are and discover ways to fulfill them satisfactorily.

In this newsletter, I will share information to help you understand food control issues from many perspectives: physical, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual. I will also offer suggestions to help you manage those urges to overeat. I will share my own experiences where I think they may be helpful and draw upon the wisdom of the many clients I have worked with. I invite you to join me, to visit and explore this frustrating issue for yourself. I’m happy to have you by my side on this Chew Tamer’s Journey!

Do something absolutely wonderful for yourself today. Buy yourself flowers or visit a loving friend. Take a walk at the beach or in a forest. Go play. Walk barefoot on the grass. Push the envelope. Take a risk. Be silly. And remember, we are all one and you are never alone.

Warmly,

Dr. Denise, Expert on Emotional Eating

Dr. Denise works with organizations that encourage wellness in order to have happier, healthier and more productive people.

She has emerged from the adversities of being a homeless college drop-out, surviving multiple eating disorders and single-parenting three children to creating success as a Clinical Psychologist, Doctor of Holistic Health, author and national speaker.

Taming the Chew Meets Fat Flush

I want to share some very exciting news with you.

I have been studying Ann Louise Gittleman’s Fat Flush eating plan and I am convinced that her approach to diet and over all health is sound and effective for finding and maintaining a healthy weight.

I was recently asked by Ann Louise to be her Expert on Emotional Eating. I have accepted this responsibility and I will now be combining Ann Louise’s work with mine to bring you a balanced, healthy program that will help you heal your body, mind and spirit and achieve and maintain your ideal weight.

You can find me on her website www.FatFlush.com

Weight Loss Groups Now Forming

I am now accepting registrations for fall groups that will focus on weight loss combining the Fat Flush program and the suggestions contained in my book, The Taming of the Chew. Each group will meet for 10 weeks and there are morning and evening slots available.

Please contact me directly for more information or to register. 603-679-2432.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity as space is limited. Start now and you will be amazed at how quickly you will lose weight, feel healthier, happier, energized and more balanced!

Call today!

Feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you feel would benefit.

Want to receive your
own copy?

If you wish to unsubscribe from The Chew Tamer's Journey, click here.