food/control

[Guest guest]

Hi Rikki,

 

I think that you are absolutely correct that eating problems have to

do with control. That is why prisoners and small children (people

with very little control over their circumstances) go on hunger

strikes and throw food. I heard recently about an isolated place in

the South Pacific that was just recently introduced to television.

Within months, young women there began to develop eating disorders,

something unheard in that culture before television. So I don't think

we can dismiss the pressures that the media exert to control our

images of ourselves.

 

Of course it has to do with our personal heredity and metabolism too.

I've been being put on diets since I was 10, (I'm 48 now). Finally I

rebelled and for a few years I would not let ANYBODY tell me what to

eat. Well now I am struggling with a weight problem that is not just

vanity but compromises my health and general ability to do things I'd

like to do (like a few of those yoga poses).

 

I know that for me food issues relate to all levels of my being which

is why I like kundalini yoga. I feel like yoga goes deep into my

consciousness. I still overeat and eat things that I know are not

good for me. Those habits are hard to break. My hope is that through

yoga my truest self, a non-reactionary neutral self, will emerge. I

also think that for many women (and probably men too) being

overweight can feel like a protection against unwanted sexual

attention. The downside is that it can protect us from wanted sexual

attention also but I think that can be a significant factor. I guess

the challenge there is to become powerful and confidant enough to

protect ourselves in other ways.

 

Peggy Sue

[Guest guest]

My experience with weight led me to several self realizations. The first

being my severe lack of self-confidence or in the belief of myself. I felt

that if I kept my mouth busy by chewing then I wouldn't have to say anything,

and if I didn't say anything people wouldn't realize just how stupid I was.

Secondly, I came to the conclusion that I had to quit HOLDING on to many

things in my life. I had to decide what truths were serving me and what

beliefs were weighing me down. Thirdly, I had to know that I chose to be here

to create, to learn, to grow, to love and that includes myself. I felt that

if I did put on weight people wouldn't take any notice of me and that fed my

insecurities. I felt non-deserving of attention, and very uncomfortable when

I received attention. I felt for years that if people got to know the real

me, they would find all my faults and end up hating me in the end. It was

only when I realized that the only person hating me was me that I knew

something had to change. What is good and right for one may not be good and

right for you. I believe we all need to spend time with our Higher Self's get

to know who we truly are, what makes our corks float. I have a rather close

friend who has had a "weight problem" from birth. She has gone to doctor

after doctor for many conditions and ailments for many many years. She has

the mind set that doctors can cure anything with the one magic pill. Although

not being a slash against the medical profession, after twenty plus years she

now believes she should take a different approach, so I suggest Kundalini

Yoga. Okay so she wasn't ready for that, so I started her working on

visualization and deep breathing, really filling the lungs. And for giggles

through in Breath of Fire. She wanted to be 175lbs. So I got her accustomed

to saying when asked that she was in fact 175lbs, whether she believed it or

not at first didn't matter, within 4 weeks she was 180lbs. from 210. She has

more energy and is now giving Kundalini Yoga a shot. We meet at her office in

the morning and that is the first thing we do. She says she feels better all

the way around than she has in years. I believe its all about taking the time

to love and respect yourself. Sorry so long, the subject touches deep, and I

personally have sympathy for personal suffering of any kind.

May Love and Light surround you, protect you, and guide you.

[Guest guest]

Dear Peggy Sue,

I agree that eating disorders have a lot to do with control. Your

suggestion that overeating can be a means of protection from sexual

attention also makes sence. I'm hoping that Yoga somehow wil help me to get

control over my own eating habits , and thus allow me to enjoy myself and my

sexuality more.

Also It is no surprise to me that girls in a isloated place in the South

Pacific started to develop eating disorders shortly after televition was

introduced. However I would like to know where you recieved this information

so that I can try to read more about it.

[Guest guest]

> I want to say Thank You for the reminder of positive thinking. I am going to

use your suggestion and

> chant to myself the next time I do KY. I just saw the doctor today for a

recent weight gain. So I've

> been reading with intent all the posts on the subj.

 

> I've always felt that an emotional problem was behind heavy people, that is,

if it wasn't due to a

> thyroid malfunction. When your body gets set on a certain weight, you get

stuck there. You get into a

> battle with your own ego trying to make a change that the ego won't budge

from. That's when most people

> give up and quit their diet. Ego wins.

 

> The main reason I practice KY is to get everything back into balance, quick,

before it's too late! I

> want to be ready when the changes and shifts take place in the universe. I

don't want to be left

> behind. There are bittersweet feelings too, because I know that some folks

won't be ready and will

> absolutely freak out.

 

> Trying to learn what's worth holding onto, and how to deal with what's not.

 

> Thanks again. -Nancy Lou

 

>

 

> I came to the conclusion that I had to quit HOLDING onto many things in life.

 

> She wanted to be 175 lbs. So I got her accustomed to saying that she was, in

fact, 175 lbs., whether she

> believed it or not at first didn't matter. Within 4 weeks she was 180lbs.

from 210. She has more energy

> and is now. Says she feels better all the way around than she has in years.

 

> May Love and Light surround you, protect you, and guide you.