Guest post by Ursula Jorch
Size 18. That is what I was wearing a year ago. Yikes.
Before I go any further, let me introduce myself: I’m a Haagen-Dazs girl. Coffee, vanilla swiss almond, strawberry on occasion.
This is how I spent a lot of the last 20 years: something would happen in my life, I would start to feel something uncomfortable around it, and I would run, not walk, to the freezer. After a pint of Haagen-Dazs, smooth, creamy, soothing, it had worked its magic: I didn’t feel uncomfortable anymore.
In fact, I didn’t feel much of anything.
The truth is, I was being safe, keeping it small, avoiding life.
That avoidance included convincing myself that ice cream was love in a carton (conveniently packaged for easy consumption). And the only place I could get what I was looking for.
Then about a year ago, I started undergoing a deep and profound change in how I view the world and myself. A transformation.
I started to listen to and love my true and authentic self. I started to connect with what I want, with what brings me joy. Through that, surprisingly, I’m beginning to connect more with how I can be of service in the world.
All that has changed how I deal with my body.
I have become a card-carrying shrubbery eater. My cravings have shifted from Haagen-Dazs to vegetables and salads.
Every once in a while I step back and wonder, who IS this woman?
This woman is someone who has come to listen to her body, really listen. And surprisingly, her body no longer desperately demands, ‘Haagen-Dazs’. It seductively whispers, ‘salad’ or ‘sauteed swiss chard’, something fresh and healthy and organic. And I am listening to this woman, more and more. She’s got some good stuff to say, a lot of good stuff.
This woman is telling me to experience joy, and really live.
So the weight has just kind of fallen away, while I’ve been listening. A year later, I’m wearing size 8. I feel energetic, physically and emotionally and spiritually alive. And I feel like I’m just getting started!
Think that this kind of change isn’t possible for you? Think that your weight is never gonna ‘fall away’ (who is she kidding?), especially if you‘ve been working your ass off exercising and dieting to MAKE it go away?
I’m here to say, if it is possible for me, it is possible for you, and for ALL of our dieting soul sistahs! Here are some steps you can take to make that kind of change happen for you:
- Listen. Your body is sending you messages all the time. Start to really listen. Your body is here for you, in all its glory, just waiting. Before you pop something in your mouth, stay quiet for a moment. In this moment, what would you really like to eat? You might be surprised by what your body is telling you!
- Turn off the cultural noise. We’re bombarded with all kinds of ideas about what to eat. Step awaaay from the cultural noise, and let yourself feel what you really want if you could have anything to eat that you wanted. Stop letting the TV bombard you and read something you choose instead. Throw away the how-to-be-happy-in-10-minutes-or-less magazines and go for a walk in nature or do whatever makes you joyful.
- Allow. Let yourself have that one perfect thing. That juicy succulent plum, that ripe tomato with torn pieces of basil. Oh the aroma! The flavor! Can you smell it? Almost taste it? Go ahead – it’s yours!
- Surround yourself with acceptance. Invite people into your life who accept you as you are. Most important, show yourself as much acceptance as you can. As part of my morning ritual, I say, ‘I love you just as you are’ and mentally give myself the biggest warmest hug I can. Go ahead, try it – nobody’s looking! It’s amazing how your energy will shift just by doing that.
- Let your energy flow. Ever notice how after you stuff down some comfort in the form of food, your energy just kind of fades? Focus on keeping your energy moving. It feels good!
If you stumble, move on! This kind of change is an ongoing process, and you’ll get better at it the more practice you have. So keep practicing! And let yourself come alive.
(Ursula Jorch is President and founder of Jorch Consulting, a global medical
communications company. She is a sought-after medical writer with clients
world-wide. She also coaches individuals working in healthcare to help them
create their own successful medical writing businesses. Ursula is also a
photo-based artist and her work is exhibited internationally. She lives in
Toronto.)
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful and bravo! Thanks for sharing your story, Ursula! Congratulations on this amazing journey of self-discovery.
And thank you, Tonya, for introducing us to Ursula!
XXOO!
Tonya – right you are: amazing writing. Ursula – you go Woman! Awesome story!
Ursula, thank you for inspiring all of us to listen to our authentic self. You’ve obviously tamed your monkey mind. Bravo for that!
I know it’s all about taking the time, to breathe, listen to ourselves, and really hear what our body wants.
Tonya Leigh always talks about whether her body tells her it’s a good thing or whether it makes her feel bad (I can see her in my mind, patting her perfectly small stomach and saying it). I never really thought about it that way until I noticed her speaking about on several occasions. Until recently, I was always to busy to stop and take a second to breathe and find out what I really wanted….what my body really wanted.
Thanks to Tonya, I’m really trying to savor life, listen to my body and stop allowing my emotions and monkey mind to control what goes in my mouth. The more I pay attention, the less I let that stuff enter my body…..and the better I feel!
Thanks for sharing your experience Ursula! You look fAABULOUS! Now your outside matches your beautiful inside. After all, it starts on the inside, right?
Cheers,
Tonya D.
Ursula,
I can’t believe you’re the same person I met less than a year ago!
NOT even because of your weight (and I agree you look faaabulous), but because you just shine. It’s like the person I met was just a shell – and this person you are now was always there, quietly and safely dormant inside. And she’s so happy to be free!
I can’t help smiling when I see you. Your energy is contagious and inspiring.
Sue
Fabulous post, inspirational and heart-felt – thank you for sharing it!
From one card-carrying shrubbery eater to another – great post!
(Yes, it is possible to CRAVE salads! Yum!)
Thanks for sharing your story here.
I love all the key points drawn by you here to make weight loss naturally possible.
“Let your energy flow” – i think the zest and enjoyment stays for an ephemeral moment until the food consumption is over. For those little moments, a good feeling arises, but, as you say, then, ‘fades’. No wonder people overeat for comfort. So, let’s keep our listening groove on, and look after our mind and body.
Thanks so much for the comments and encouragement, everyone! I’m thrilled to hear that this post spoke to you!
I really like this post and have reread it several times. Shortly prior to reading it I started listening to my body more, and will continue to do so. I think the key phrase in all of this for me to remember is “a year ago”. It doesn’t happen overnight. It probably happens so quitely and subtly as you live your authentic life (you aren’t focused on the weight) that you almost don’t notice it melt off. Thank you for sharing your insights.