I have been reading the book “Women Food and God—An unexpected path to almost everything” lately and found that it really touched me. I read it b/c Oprah said that after reading it—she no longer has issues with food! Coming from her after all of her struggles with food—I was curious. How could one book help her so much with such a profound issue?! Though I didn’t think I “needed” to read it I wanted to read it to see how it had helped her so much. Then on the inside leaf I read “The way you eat is inseparable from your core beliefs about being alive. Your relationship with food is an exact mirror of your feelings about love, fear, anger, meaning, transformation and, yes, even God.” Well that had me hooked—it’s a fascinating concept!
As I read at first I thought that this book about women dealing with food disorders and a retreat where women go to come to grips with their food issues wasn’t really for me, but I continued to read thinking that surely there must be something to this…
I know that there are times when in the midst of feeling emotional I sometimes eat something that I know isn’t great for my body. I suspect I’m not the only one. And while I don’t feel I have a food disorder it was helpful to examine why I sometimes turn to food to “numb” whatever is going on emotionally. I think the author’s idea that when we reach for food to “numb” we are saying “I have no choice but to numb myself. Some things can’t be felt, understood or worked through….There is no possibility of change so I might as well eat.” is really important. This book advocates that “when you believe in yourself more than you believe in food, you will stop using food as if it were your only chance at not falling apart.” What a beautiful message!
I was unprepared for how this book caused me to pause and reflect upon my own relationship with food. Vegetarianism has been a wonderful way for me to rediscover a love of cooking and the joy of food! I found that eating a “nutritarian” way really helped my body when it wasn’t feeling very healthy; however, perhaps the way I viewed it was not as healthy as it could have been. Looking back perhaps controlling what I ate was really a way for me to have control over something at a time when my ex left and I felt like I was less than, worthy of leaving, and out of control emotionally.
Now I’m more interested in eating in a way that brings me joy! I don’t really need a label of nutritarian / vegetarian—though yes I eat vegetarian, and I still find it joyful to eat nutritarian quite a bit. Now when I eat something that is not nutrient dense…it’s not a “slip up” or a “mistake” but a conscious decision to do something that brings me joy.
In this wonderful book, Geneen says “If Love could speak to you about food it would say <<Eat when you are hungry, sweetheart, because if you don’t , you won’t enjoy the taste of food. And why should you do anything you don’t enjoy? >>If love could speak to you, it would say, <<Eat what your body wants, darling, otherwise you won’t feel so well, and why should you walk around feeling tired or depressed from what you put in your mouth?>> If love could speak to you my little cream puff, it would say <<Stop eating when you’ve had enough, otherwise you will be uncomfortable, and why spend one minute in discomfort?>>”
This makes sense to me. Loving yourself and your body by your food choices, and living a life not about deprivation but following your bliss. When I really listen to my body great food choices happen naturally…and when I choose junk I enjoy it…then my body reminds me that I’ve had enough and I return to my healthier way of eating.
This book was a wonderful reminder of how eating should be joyful and mindful! It is sooo important to love yourself and your body regardless of what you weigh! Then as you listen more to what your body wants I think the combination of healthy eating and exercising just flow naturally and don’t seem like such a chore! I didn’t expect it to have such an impact on me—and I can see why Oprah was so touched by it. I highly recommend it 
Filed under: My thoughts on...
Great article, T! I completely relate to the guilty feelings after eating “less than healthfully”. I have come to think that my negative thoughts/feelings probably have a worse impact on my body than the food itself. The mindset of making yourself feel good and build a healthy association with food does allow oneself to eat more consciously and eat foods that leave your body feeling happy, energized and well. I guess after my many years of being vegetarian it has become automatic – but I have tried many times to push further and become completely vegan. I often put myself under a lot of pressure and feel guilt when I don’t meet that goal, or get “off-track”. I don’t have a food disorder necessarily, but I notice I feel “in-control” when I am consistently eating for nutrition, and “out-of-control” and ashamed when I am eating purely for enjoyment.
I am an emotional eater, for sure so maybe I’ll have to pick this book up sometime!
Thanks for sharing Niki
I can identify with what you’re saying for sure! I found this book definitely got me thinking about this subject. It also encouraged me to perceive it in a different way. I felt that it advocates mindful eating. Thanks again for commenting Niki.
I usually have good intentions and eat healthy food… it’s the portions! The food is so tasty that being healthy is just an excuse to over-eat. I wonder what the book would say about that? Hmmm…… I might have to read it.
Thanks!
Alright, alright, I’ll get the dang book!
I spent about an hour reading reviews on Amazon, and still wasn’t convinced, but this convinced me. I have such awful food issues, which have resulted in a very overweight me, that I have to give it a try.
Thanks, Crunchy! And, thanks for posting. I always enjoy reading what you have to say.