Cart

Your cart is empty

Continue shoppingย now

Emotional Eating & State Change

By: Ryan Willms

When stress creeps up into normal life or during a global pandemic, I usually find myself quickly falling into emotional eating. It began when I was a child; I watched my dad do it, I ate to avoid studying in high school, and now financial stress can drive me to it. Cookies, ice cream and popcorn have always been there for me. But eating these foods isnโ€™t really the worst part, itโ€™s how we tend to beat ourselves up about it afterwards. The cycle can be challenging to break and bringing awareness to it is the first step towards finding a healthier relationship with food and ourselves.


Food is amazing. It literally turns into the cells that make up our body, fuels us to achieve and experience everything that is beautiful in lifeโ€”not to mention how good it tastes, each bite offering the chance to experience joy in the present moment. As wonderful as food is, our emotional bodies can take us out of balance with this relationship, craving more than we really need or searching for nostalgic flavours that signalled safety when we were children. Iโ€™ve been able to uncover some of this programming from my childhood, and Iโ€™ve learned to bring compassion to my inner child through experimenting with fasting. Not only does fasting offer our bodies a chance for deep repair and physical recovery, but it also can shed light into our relationship with food more holistically.


I donโ€™t recommend trying fasting for the first time when life is feeling extra stressful however. But I would invite you to try to bring more awareness to your choices, especially with snacking and late night treats. Asking ourselves, โ€œDo I really need this? Does my body need these nutrients? Am I feeding my inner child? If so, when did I feel this way in the past?โ€ Pulling at these threads can be a powerful way to understand our subconscious patterns. Then, if we choose to eat these foods to fill an emotional need, we can make that choice consciously and ask our bodies to accept the food, knowing that we are feeding our inner children and not beating ourselves up about it.


Once we can begin to catch ourselves in these patterns, we can start making new choices. Utilizing a state change is the quickest, healthiest way that Iโ€™ve found I can manage this. Taking a cold shower, 60 seconds of push-ups, walking around the block, a 10-minute meditation, journaling or some Wim Hof breath-work; all of these provide the opportunity to re-evaluate how weโ€™re really feeling, and why weโ€™re reaching for food in this moment. Iโ€™ve often found by using one of these simple tools, I can easily see that I donโ€™t really need that bowl of popcorn right now and by moving my body, changing my physical and emotional state, I can make a better choice for myselfโ€”and thatโ€™s real growth.

Previous
Next

The Wellness Club

Reducing Inflammation Through Exercise

Reducing Inflammation Through Exercise

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By @coreflexpilates founder @chrisbardawil Joint pain after exercise, headaches or brain fog after a bad night's sleep, and digestive distress after eating are all symptoms of systemic inflammation. While there are many articles and discussions about various foods and diets to reduce inflammation, little attention is paid to reducing inflammation through exercise. Inflammation in itself isn't a bad thing....

Read more
Stomach Acid: the Key to Digestion and Glowing Skin

Stomach Acid: the Key to Digestion and Glowing Skin

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co The purpose of the human digestive system is to break down foods, absorb nutrients, and excrete waste; without this, humans would not be able to function. Stomach acid plays a key role in this process, allowing the body not only to survive but to thrive. After chewing, the food we eat travels to the stomach. The stomach churns and combines broken...

Read more
A Naturopathic Approach to Skin Health

A Naturopathic Approach to Skin Health

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

Q&A with Dr. Laura Belus 1) Tell us a bit about yourselfย  ย  I am a practising naturopathic doctor in Mississauga Canada. My focus is on hormonal health, specifically when it comes to acne, PMS and fertility. My own journey...

Read more
Creating a Self-Care Routine for Busy Professionals

Creating a Self-Care Routine for Busy Professionals

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @ericabassotherapy If youโ€™re a high-achieving woman, you likely relate to juggling multiple responsibilities, from demanding careers to personal commitments. When we are overwhelmed, itโ€™s easy to believe the limiting stories we tell ourselves about not having enough time. We must willingly embrace a different narrative: that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. Incorporating self-care into your daily routine is...

Read more
Restrictive Diets: The Hidden Costs on your Gut, Mind, and Immune System

Restrictive Diets: The Hidden Costs on your Gut, Mind, and Immune System

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co โ€˜Restrictive dietโ€™ is an umbrella term that encompasses changes to how, when and what one eats. To some, avoiding junk food is considered restrictive; to others, a restrictive diet may be as extreme as consuming food from only one food group or strictly avoiding others. Regardless, the ultimate question is, when do restrictive diets help and when do they harm?

Read more
Vitamin Sea: 5 Mind, Body, and Beauty Benefits of Ocean Water

Vitamin Sea: 5 Mind, Body, and Beauty Benefits of Ocean Water

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @emma.walsh Author Isak Dinesen famously said, "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." We all know that staying activeย and releasing emotionsย isย vital for our healthโ€”and as someone who grew up on the coast going to the beach year round, I also believe...

Read more
Intermittent Fasting: Is It Right for You?

Intermittent Fasting: Is It Right for You?

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By @coreflexpilates founder Chris Bardawil Over the past few years intermittent fasting has become the golden child of the wellness community all due to the miraculous effects it can have on your health.ย ย  Intermittent fasting is avoiding eating or drinking...

Read more
Skinimalism: A New Trend in Dermatology?

Skinimalism: A New Trend in Dermatology?

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

A Note from a Dermatologist: @dermahealthnutrition The world of aesthetic dermatology is experiencing a refreshing shift towards a trend known as "skinimalism" (Skin + Minimalism). This movement is a response to the overwhelming abundance of skincare products and complex routines that have dominated the beauty industry in recent years. At its core, skinimalism advocates a minimalist approach...

Read more
Burnt out? Here Are the Signs and Road to Recovery

Burnt out? Here Are the Signs and Road to Recovery

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @ericabassotherapyย  Many of us are busier than ever before. We juggle demanding careers, personal responsibilities, and social obligations to name a few, and if youโ€™re a high-achiever this list may never seem to end. Burnout is a growing concern today due...

Read more
How Alcohol Effects Your Gut

How Alcohol Effects Your Gut

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: Megan Tomlin @gooodmoodfoood By now, almost everyone knows that alcohol is not the healthiest thing for our minds and bodies. But what do we know about the effect that alcohol has on our gut microbiome health? Before I answer this, there are a few terms I want to define for...

Read more
The Unseen Mental Health Challenges High Achievers Face

The Unseen Mental Health Challenges High Achievers Face

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

ย By: @ericabassotherapy It's hopeful to see how much society has progressed in embracing mental health discussions. But as a mental health provider, I still notice gaps in our understanding of accurate mental health information. We can all get better at recognizing signs of mental health struggles and feeling empowered to seek support when needed. As a licensed...

Read more
The Importance of Skin pH for a Clear, Healthy Complexion

The Importance of Skin pH for a Clear, Healthy Complexion

Translation missing: ko.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co The concept of the skin barrier has become a part of many skincare aficionadoโ€™s vocabulary, but what does it really mean?ย  It is important to remember...

Read more