Light photoI’m wrapping up the last week of the beta-launch of Healing From Within (which has been amazing BTW!).  One of the themes that has resurfaced constantly throughout the program is the issue of “filling the emptiness” with food. .

In many different forms, the women in the program have asked, “I know I eat for something besides hunger. I know I eat when I feel empty, sad, and lonely. I know I eat to fill something inside myself. But if I don’t use food, then HOW do I make myself feel ‘full’?”

This is such a big question. And essentially why I created Healing From Within.

Because if you struggle with binging and overeating…then you eat when life is too overwhelming, when the feelings are too intense, and when the emptiness inside becomes too much to handle. And deep down, you ache to fill a lack, a void, a hollowness inside.

Food becomes the self-medication we use anytime we feel a void in our lives.

And this certainly isn’t a way to live. Healing From Within goes deep into the exploration of this question as it relates to each woman’s life. I’ll give you a sneak peek of some of the things we cover…

How do you begin to let go of the food and authentically fill that hole that food used to fill?

Give yourself permission to be uncomfortable.  Dealing with difficult emotions is a huge part of disordered eating. And being willing to be uncomfortable is a huge part of the healing process. We don’t want to ever deal with discomfort; when we feel any sort of “bad” feelings, we turn to food.  Any time we feel lonely, sad, frustrated, or empty, we reach for something to soothe ourselves. But for lasting change to happen, we must be willing to be uncomfortable. It is only in allowing the discomfort to be there, that it creates space where honesty and awareness can enter in.  This begins to bring light and clarity to our patterns so we they can begin to change.

Ask: when you want to eat, what do you really want instead?  It’s important to know that you can’t just stop overeating and gorging yourself on food without replacing it with something else. New habits must replace your old habits; a substitution must replace the role that food once filled. So, when you’re reaching out and desperately looking for something to eat, ask yourself, what do you want instead? Affection? Connection? Comfort? 15 minutes to zone out? Whatever it is, notice what you really want in that moment. When we realize food doesn’t ever do what we really want it to do…we ask ourselves, what can we do instead? When the shift happens to using something else besides food, the need to eat begins to fall away.

Find Your Connection. This is really the big question. How do we fill that emptiness inside of ourselves so we don’t turn to food? There are many ways to find your connection.  For some, the connection comes when they are in “the zone”, when they find an activity or hobby they are so passionate about, they lose track of time. For others, it’s finding a spiritual path-perhaps doing yoga and meditation to access a calmer, deeper place in the body. And still for others, it’s simply deep breathing and relaxation techniques that bring them stillness and inner peace. It’s important to find what works for YOU. What allows you to feel connected, centered and balanced? What brings you out of your mind and into the present moment? What fills your heart with happiness? Find it, follow it, and live it. This connection is what sustains you and allows you to find the freedom around food you so desperately crave.

So, I’d love to hear your thoughts-how can you find your connection? And what can you turn to instead of food? Leave your comment below or share on my facebook page.

PS-If Healing From Within isn’t for you, pass along to any loved one who may benefit from this life-changing program.