Love + Joy = Health + Weight Loss

[Michelle]

I had an interesting experience last week.

My cousin from the U.S. flew to Europe to visit me with his wife and a couple of friends. I felt such great joy and their presence, everyone was in such high spirits and so positive. It was a beautiful few days.

During those few days I ate A LOT of food, much more than usual. We were all in a bit of a vacation mood and part of that meant trying out fabulous restaurants a few times a day.

During the meals we ate together, I didn't think about calories or fat and I didn't think about what might be healthy or not. I just chose what struck me as appetizing in that moment. On one day for lunch I ate a huge field salad with bacon, fish prepared in a butter sauce caught from a local lake with salted potatoes and lemon and homemade Tiramisu. For dinner that same day I ate a huge bowl of homemade ravioli with a cream sauce made of full fat cream and cheese and another portion of a different kind of tiramisu. In addition we drank beer, wine and cocktails in a few different bars (something I don't do often). We ate like this for 3 days an the whole time there was just a huge sense of love, connection between us and joy at being together. It felt beautiful.

The interesting and amazing part for me is, that after all these days of gluttony I actually lost weight to the tune of 5 pounds. Counting calories or fat grams and logically speaking this should be impossible. The thing that stuck with me was just how good I felt while eating.

More and more I am starting to think there is much more to our food than meets the eye. We have the power to put love energy or guilt/fear energy into the food. The body reacts accordingly.

So, this week I noticed that when I share food with someone it tastes better and my body enjoys it more. When I share a glass of champagne with a good friend, the alcohol "agrees" with me more than otherwise.

I've decided to start blessing my food and giving thanks for it before I eat. And I will try consciously putting love energy into it and see what happens.

[beatnix]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Michelle
As you know it could have been posted in the IM section and is very much in line with the Abraham-Hicks teachings:

What do you think metabolism is?
Abraham on natural weight loss
17 seconds to weight loss

[Michelle]

You are right about the Abraham connection.

Abraham-Hicks resonates with me deeply, but this was my first foodie experience à la Abraham where I felt I could eat absolutely anything and it would do me good.

[James81]

Heh, well at any given moment your body's weight fluctuates up to 5 lbs.

I've gotten on the scales in the morning and weighed 204 lbs and by lunch I was weighing 210 lbs after not having eaten that much at all.

Another thing is that the first 10 to 15 lbs of weight loss are the easiest because it's not really that much fat that's burning, it more water than anything else. Which is why people go on diets, lose 10 lbs, plateau, and then get discouraged because burning fat is a pretty tough thing to do.

Plus consider the idea that drinking a lot of alcohol probably just dehydrated you.

Not that feeling loved doesn't go a long way to help you mentally (it can help you feel secure and not feel lonely so that you don't eat to fill a "hole"), just sayin'.

[jeff3]

Originally Posted by Michelle

More and more I am starting to think there is much more to our food than meets the eye. We have the power to put love energy or guilt/fear energy into the food. The body reacts accordingly.


I've decided to start blessing my food and giving thanking it before I eat. And I will try consciously putting love energy into it and see what happens.

I'm glad to hear someone else is catching on to what seems to be the real key to good health + you put it so well. I've tried to make this point before but few here will listen because it means you can eat what you want......even animals....if your mind is right. You mentioning guilt is very important because if eating meat causes you to feel guilty then you should not eat it, but the key is that it is your guilt, not some spiritual/ethical law that you have broken that causes the problem. I think some know this and use it to further their cause by posting up video that is intended to cause guilt in the viewers.

It's also strange that so many harp on the evils of big pharma and their brainwashing of the populace with fear/low energy to sell their ideas but then they do exactly the same thing with their ideas/judgements. It just seems funny to hear someone say "you create your own reality", and then "only a diet of XYZ is healthy or ethical", I suppose they want to create my reality too, lol.

[jeff3]

Originally Posted by James81

Heh, well at any given moment your body's weight fluctuates up to 5 lbs.

I've gotten on the scales in the morning and weighed 204 lbs and by lunch I was weighing 210 lbs after not having eaten that much at all.

.

Do you mean this literally, that I could be standing on a scale and it actually change 5 lbs right before my eyes?

Also if you go from 204 to 210 after having "not eaten much at all" are you counting what you drank or are you saying that you have literally gained exactly 6 lbs without adding exactly 6 pounds? It does not compute.....please enlighten me.

[Andrew Gubb]

Wow, that's really interesting. Thanks for sharing Michelle!

Andrew

[James81]

Originally Posted by jeff3

Do you mean this literally, that I could be standing on a scale and it actually change 5 lbs right before my eyes?

Also if you go from 204 to 210 after having "not eaten much at all" are you counting what you drank or are you saying that you have literally gained exactly 6 lbs without adding exactly 6 pounds? It does not compute.....please enlighten me.

There have been times that I have gotten on the scale and weighed myself. Went out came back about 20 minutes later and discovered I was 2 lbs. heavier or lighter after having not done anything.

Of course I don't mean it literally, but your weight DOES fluctuate. I've seen it with my own eyes.

And it's because of what the rest of my post (that you didn't quote) says. A good chunk of original weight loss has to do with fluids in your body and the effects that a diet has on them.

[Angela]

I've definitely noticed that weight clings to my body when I'm stressed about what I eat, and it's easy and effortless to eliminate weight when I'm feeling good about what I eat. That is so whether I'm eating clean or indulging in "vacation food" like Michelle was talking about.

More and more, though, my body responds better -- feels better -- when I eat clean, and that has had me craving the other stuff less and less. Often, though, especially when I'm having one of those "metabolic breakthroughs," I suddenly get STARVED for something very vacationy, like a cheeseburger or big bowl of ice cream, and those times are great because I KNOW I can indulge and be dropping some poundage. I love those days!

I'm with you, Michelle -- feeling good is the most important thing!

[jeff3]

Originally Posted by James81

There have been times that I have gotten on the scale and weighed myself. Went out came back about 20 minutes later and discovered I was 2 lbs. heavier or lighter after having not done anything.

Of course I don't mean it literally, but your weight DOES fluctuate. I've seen it with my own eyes.

And it's because of what the rest of my post (that you didn't quote) says. A good chunk of original weight loss has to do with fluids in your body and the effects that a diet has on them.

Heh, I bet it's because of some el cheapo scales that are susceptible to body position that would be causing 2 lbs of change with nothing going in or out. I've read enough of your posts to know that you know it's not physically possible to have your weight change without input or output. I do, however, know people who swear that eating 2 oz's of chocolate will cause them to gain 1 pound.

[Michelle]

I actually agree that weight fluctuates, but I think it has more to do with how we feel than what we eat or drink.

Feel Good = Health + Well-Being = Healthy + Balanced Body Weight

Feel Bad = Disease + General Imbalance = Unhealthy + Out of Wack Body Weight

I think most people assume that an unbalanced state of body (too fat, too thin, disease) comes before the unbalanced feelings. Lately my observations have shown the opposite: Our physical state reflects the emotional. However we feel is physically expressed by the body.

In terms of food, this explains why some people can eat a horse without gaining an ounce and others seem to gain weight by simply looking at food. The horse eating people are simply happier and more in alignment with their food choices. I bet there isn't an ounce of guilt or fear in sight.

[sunnymomma4]

I just love this experience you've had. It touches on the deeper meaning of true sustainence. Awareness, love, and positive thoughts/feelings are key to living healthy and happy.

Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Sunny
Body Mojo for Weight Loss Motivation

[James81]

Originally Posted by jeff3

Heh, I bet it's because of some el cheapo scales that are susceptible to body position that would be causing 2 lbs of change with nothing going in or out. I've read enough of your posts to know that you know it's not physically possible to have your weight change without input or output. I do, however, know people who swear that eating 2 oz's of chocolate will cause them to gain 1 pound.

My original point, though, had to do with how much weight fluctuates over the course of a couple of days.

So noticing a 5 lb difference in your weight over the course of a couple of days really isn't all that special.

Now, if the threadstarter were to lost anything beyond 15 lbs, by not making any kind of change in her eating habits whatsoever, then, yeah, there'd be some weight to what was said.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by jeff3

Heh, I bet it's because of some el cheapo scales that are susceptible to body position that would be causing 2 lbs of change with nothing going in or out. I've read enough of your posts to know that you know it's not physically possible to have your weight change without input or output. I do, however, know people who swear that eating 2 oz's of chocolate will cause them to gain 1 pound.

Even very expensive hospital scales are subject to variations due to position on the scales and which was a person is leaning. I've worked with dietitians who instruct their clients how and where to stand in order to get consistently accurate results when using scales.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by James81

My original point, though, had to do with how much weight fluctuates over the course of a couple of days.

So noticing a 5 lb difference in your weight over the course of a couple of days really isn't all that special.

Now, if the threadstarter were to lost anything beyond 15 lbs, by not making any kind of change in her eating habits whatsoever, then, yeah, there'd be some weight to what was said.

I agree, there are so many variables such as hydration, bowel movements or lack thereof that a 5 pound variance is easily explained.

[Michelle]

You guys are probably right. It is impossible that joy, laughter, and love have influence over one's health, state of well-being or weight loss.

I love you guys who believe they have it all figured out and can explain everything away with a poop or a glass of beer. I sure as hell don't put myself in that category. Judging by the amount of people who fail at losing weight coupled with the rate of disease in our part of the globe, I am guessing most people don't get it either. Why not be open for a new approach or perspective? Instead of essentially writing me off as a crazy woo-woo type, why not do some actual discussing and arguing?

Why not offer arguments against my actual hypothesis? Weight gain or loss is indeed affected by one's emotional state.

Who cares if I lost 5 pounds in 3 days or 15 in a month? I daresay more would have been impossible in those few days. In any case, the hypothesis stands.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Weight gain or loss is indeed affected by one's emotional state.

Who cares if I lost 5 pounds in 3 days or 15 in a month? I daresay more would have been impossible in those few days. In any case, the hypothesis stands.

I agree with you that weight gain or loss is affected by one's emotional state. I came in in the middle of the comments and apologize for not addressing my comment to your original post.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Why not offer arguments against my actual hypothesis? Weight gain or loss is indeed affected by one's emotional state.

I actually agree with this.

When I am in Mexico I eat so much stuff more than here in Belgium. Not all more healthy either. Lots of icecream, popcorn at the movies, cookies, cheese on my quesadillas, lots and lots of meat... plenty of fried stuff as well...

Yet... I get thinner and thinner when I get there. Simply because most meals are with friends and/or family and the food makes me happy (well, not the food, just the circumstances).

So, yes, I agree with this hypothesis.

[harmonysr]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I actually agree that weight fluctuates, but I think it has more to do with how we feel than what we eat or drink.

Feel Good = Health + Well-Being = Healthy + Balanced Body Weight

Feel Bad = Disease + General Imbalance = Unhealthy + Out of Wack Body Weight

I think most people assume that an unbalanced state of body (too fat, too thin, disease) comes before the unbalanced feelings. Lately my observations have shown the opposite: Our physical state reflects the emotional. However we feel is physically expressed by the body.

In terms of food, this explains why some people can eat a horse without gaining an ounce and others seem to gain weight by simply looking at food. The horse eating people are simply happier and more in alignment with their food choices. I bet there isn't an ounce of guilt or fear in sight.

Extremely well said. Thanks for this post and for sharing your experiences in the original post. It is so true: people's emotional states are reflected by their physical states - true emotional well-being comes before sustained weight loss, not the other way around.

[ginkgo]

The healthiest foods in the world eaten when you are upset are like poison to you and very fattening. Your body is capable of burning excess calories taken in if it is working right.

[harmonysr]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

The healthiest foods in the world eaten when you are upset are like poison to you and very fattening. Your body is capable of burning excess calories taken in if it is working right.

That is so true. Last summer, I was so happy. I walked everywhere, sometimes up to 8 miles a day. I worked out in a sauna all the time, but it was because I really wanted to and it made me happy. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and I truly enjoyed what I ate, whether it was a green smoothie or bagels and goat cheese or muffins. I was at a very healthy weight. (107-110, 5'2)

However, later towards the year, I became dragged into the dieting craze. Somehow I managed to become convinced that I was fat. Anyways, I started a crazy regimen of grapefruit juice in the morning, a few bananas at lunch, and a bowl of boiled vegetables and rice for dinner. All this while working out in a sauna for 15-20 hours a week. I was so stressed. The combination of school - a tremendous workload, and my extreme devotion to exercise tore me apart. I didn't enjoy anything that I did anymore. I pushed myself through pain and got injured again and again. Sure, I was 5 pounds lighter, but my self-esteem and happiness?

Anyways, as you might predict, things fell apart halfway through the last school year and I couldn't take all the pressure on myself anymore. My relationship with food was completely ruined and my life went downhill dramatically. And now, slowly but surely, I am starting to build it back up again. It's difficult. But I'm trying really, really hard to kindle a good relationship with food again and a positive outlook on life and all that I do.

[Angela]

I think the scale fluctuation thing can be related to how you're feeling, too. For instance, if you look at the numbers on your scale as a fun game -- that is, just a signpost on your avenue towards another signpost -- you might make the game "fair" by always weighing yourself at the same time and under the same circumstances: upon first getting up, naked, after using the bathroom, before drinking or eating anything. Maybe you'll use a more complicated scale that will also show you how hydrated you are and your percentage of body fat. That way your signposts are pretty accurate and trackable, which can make the game more fun. You can celebrate even your small wins (a pound eliminated, a percentage point lower in fat or higher in hydration, or a difference in the speed at which you must run to reach the same heart rate, indicating an increasing metabolism) and you can notice the small setbacks and track where they came from, without making it mean you're a failure. It can be a tool for measuring your accomplishment of your heart's desire (vitality, fitness, etc.) without becoming an instrument of torture.

And when it's used as an instrument of torture, I think that whole cortisol effect kicks in and weighs you down.

Some people say you should throw away your scale, but I think that's so only if you insist on using it as a tool for feeling bad. If you think of it more as a fun toy or tool for measuring your joyful progress, I think you can be grateful for it.

[rocksupreme]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Instead of essentially writing me off as a crazy woo-woo type, why not do some actual discussing and arguing?

Why not offer arguments against my actual hypothesis? Weight gain or loss is indeed affected by one's emotional state.

Who cares if I lost 5 pounds in 3 days or 15 in a month? I daresay more would have been impossible in those few days. In any case, the hypothesis stands.

I don't know Michelle. It seems to me that a few people were actually discussing your ideas. The fact that you don't like what they said makes it no less valid as an argument.

Two counter-hypotheses have been posited. 5 pounds is not a big deal because A) it falls within the margin of error of most commercially available scales and B) is within the natural fluctuations of the human body. Can you argue against either one of those?

Since we have decided to called it a hypothesis, let's actually treat it like an experiment. Of course, we can't adequately control for good emotions. However, if your hypothesis is correct, we should be able to expect predictable and consistent results.

So my challenge to your hypothesis is this: how has your weight changed since last week? Can you repeat that loss? If you are truly serious about testing this, it would be necessary to maintain a journal of your food, beverage, mood, body weight and fat composition for at least a month or so.

While I also believe that feelings are correlated to health, I have a feeling that a detailed 30-day journal would reveal other patterns as well.

[Michelle]

It seems most people posting here are at least willing to admit some possibility of correlation between joy/feeling good and overallhealth/balanced weight. I am particularly heartened to hear from you ssandra and harmonysr who have your own experiences!

Originally Posted by rocksupreme

Two counter-hypotheses have been posited. 5 pounds is not a big deal because A) it falls within the margin of error of most commercially available scales and B) is within the natural fluctuations of the human body. Can you argue against either one of those?

I can only say that I ate twice my usual amount over a period of three days including lots more fat and alcohol. In terms of calories and fat grams there should actually have been some weight gain. Concerning the argument of dehydration what I can offer is this: I am a professional singer and am very careful when it comes to my water intake. When I drink alcohol I always increase my intake of water accordingly. However, I am willing to concede that there is some possibility of water weight loss here - not 5 pounds though and certainly not considering that what I ate. If anything the caloric intake of the alcohol itself should have added to weight gain.

It is also perhaps worth mentioning that most people's moods will fluctuate at least slightly over the period of one or several days. So, even if one accepts that weight fluctuates this does nothing to disprove the connection between weight and emotions.

So my challenge to your hypothesis is this: how has your weight changed since last week? Can you repeat that loss? If you are truly serious about testing this, it would be necessary to maintain a journal of your food, beverage, mood, body weight and fat composition for at least a month or so.

Good question! Any weight loss that occured after my cousin's visit has now vanished. I am now what I consider to be "normal" for me again or even 1 or 2 pounds more. Perhaps it is interesting to note that I am also less happy at the moment than at the time of their visit. I agree a journal is a good idea and that mood would be an excellent criteria to take into consideration.

[Angela]

I just got back from a working vacation, on which I totally indulged in things that are not on my "clean list" -- burgers, ice cream, alcohol, etc.... (I had a short love affair with yogurt-covered pretzels. That's over now.) No exercise to speak of at all. I had a wonderful time!

When I stepped on the scale this morning, I was the same weight as I was last Wednesday, my hydration level was higher, and my fat % was lower.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Michelle

You guys are probably right. It is impossible that joy, laughter, and love have influence over one's health, state of well-being or weight loss.

I didn't say that.

Of course those things have an affect on your health. You can't effect any permanent change without changing your mental state and beliefs. If you aren't full of joy, laughter, etc. then it's going to have a negative affect on your health.

All I'm saying is that those feelings aren't what is going to chew away the pounds. You can't eat like a pig and expect that just because your happy, your body will magically just disregard those calories.

Those good feelings are what MOTIVATES you to do the things that actually cause you to be healthy and lose the weight (i.e. exercise and eat right). When you feel good about yourself, you're far more apt to make good decisions about what you eat and how you live.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

You can't eat like a pig and expect that just because your happy, your body will magically just disregard those calories..

Did you see my last post, James81? Apparently, I can eat like a pig and expect that just because I feel good, my body will function well.

Same thing happened last November, when I spent 10 days on Maui having a glorious time, eating and drinking everything and anything, not working out, and came back the same weight I left with.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Angela

Did you see my last post, James81? Apparently, I can eat like a pig and expect that just because I feel good, my body will function well.

Same thing happened last November, when I spent 10 days on Maui having a glorious time, eating and drinking everything and anything, not working out, and came back the same weight I left with.

Put it to a 90 day trial and get back to us.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

Put it to a 90 day trial and get back to us.

"Vacation eating" isn't really suited to a 90 day, or even a 30 day trial, because it's very nature is short-term. Even aside from weight loss, eating clean as a general way of life tends to have me feeling good and happy; the point is that it's stress-free.

I believe that if I were eating clean with stress, my body would be more likely to hold onto weight than if I were eating not-so-clean without stress. I have lived it, and that tendency has shown itself over and over again. I don't have anything to prove to myself or others in that regard; it is simply a tendency I've noticed that works in my life. No further trials needed!

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by James81

Put it to a 90 day trial and get back to us.

I have done a year and a half trial.. long enough?

When I lived in Mexico I ate way to much.

I had breakfast with eggs, sausages, tortillas and to drink usually chocolate attole (which is like warm chocolate milk, except it is made out of pure calories instead of milk )
Snack: Usually something to drink with plenty of suger (coke, fruit juice with suger etc) and some fruit
Lunch: Lots and lots of meat and salsa and tortillas
Snack: Something like cookies, cake, sweet bread, etc.
Diner: Same as lunch just a little bit lighter (sometimes)
Snack: Something sweet, like sweet bread, cake etc.
Late night diner (5 days out of 7) Tacos!! with lots of salsa and sweet waters.
And sometimes some 7/11 warm chocolate milk, a frappachino from Starbucks etc.

Trust me, callory wise I ate so much more. I did excersise but more or less the same as I do here.

Yet when I came back I was as thin as I have ever been. 15 kilos less than I weigh now, 20 kilos less what I was when I arrived....