When I say Vitamin P, most people look at me like "huh?!" But did you know that our bodies are actually hardwired for pleasure as an essential part of the nutritive process?
It’s true. All organisms on the planet are programmed at the most primitive level of their nervous systems to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
One of the biggest sources of frustration and confusion for my clients is over overeating. But surprisingly, it's a simple dilemma to solve once there’s an understanding that the innate connection between the brain and digestive system demands a certain amount of satisfaction.
Bet you never thought of that before!
This system in and of itself works incredibly efficiently by sending out a signal that tells us when we’re full, satisfied, and pleasured and essentially have hit the sweet spot. Yet often times we’re seeking more and more pleasure, which results in overeating, and we go past the point of food that our digestive systems can handle.
It’s natural to think overeating is due to a lack of willpower, but the truth is we’re simply trying to satisfy our desire for pleasure and a need to keep things tidied up for ourselves. One easy solution to resolving this issue is to relax while you're eating.
It might surprise you to learn that relaxation has a powerful metabolic value, particularly when it comes to getting the pleasure you want and need from food. Stress de-sensitizes us to pleasure and disrupts the undeniable connection between pleasure, appetite and our need to relax when we eat, and with the enormous amounts of stress most people are under these days, it’s no surprise they lack in this essential nutrient, otherwise known as Vitamin R for relaxation.
Think of it this way. Any time you’re rushed, fearful, anxious, or drown yourself in self-judgment, you immediately shift into the stress response and your body releases the stress hormone cortisol which blocks your pleasure receptors. Therefore, you inevitably need to eat more food in order to register the usual amount of pleasure you would get when you eat in a more relaxed fashion.
This makes senses according the theory of evolution. In a true fight-or-flight stress response, the body needs to be highly aware of pain and injury and not tuned in to pleasure, which explains why we don't stop to eat chocolate when we're being chased by a bear. All normal bodily functions shut down when you're in a life-threatening situation so that your automatic responses become all about saving your life.
Which is great when you need to save your life, not when you're dealing with past trauma that's no longer a threat, or if you're running late for work.
[bctt tweet=”To get more pleasure from food, simply take 3 deep breaths before you eat,”] which will put you in a relaxed stated. Then (and most of all), enjoy what you're eating – no matter what it is! If you do, your body will naturally derive the pleasure that it seeks without the temptation to overeat. Without fail, every time.
Weight loss will become less of a chore and more natural if you do.
Check out my free 7-video eCourse on how to stop emotional eating for more tips on natural weight loss! Just click below.
Angela
Angela Minelli i
s an author, speaker and founder of Angela Minelli International, a heart-based global business serving purpose-driven everyday women and entrepreneurs whose self-image and weight issues are inhibiting their confidence and blocking them from pursuing their life’s passion.
Angela's joy is in taking a stand for women who are living less than ideal lives, stopped by fear and doubt, which prevents them from stepping into their innate power and delivering their God-given genius to the world. Her coaching programs and products are designed for women with busy lifestyles yet allow for powerful transformation to take place within a small segment of time.
As a natural health practitioner and digestive health specialist, Angela specializes in helping people overcome weight and energy issues through holistic, non-invasive protocols that address the root cause of their conditions, including adrenal fatigue, candida, thyroid disorders, and more.
Explore the ideals that are the cornerstone of her work at angelaminelli.com.
I love this post! Brilliantly written. Pleasure is the key to so many things in life.