The Devon Clinic

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  • 10 Ways Hypnotherapy Could Help You Lose Weight

    10 Ways Hypnotherapy Could Help You Lose Weight

    Talking therapies at The Devon ClinicPeople ask how hypnotherapy helps people to lose weight and maintain their loss without having to stick to a strict diet. The answer is that hypnotherapy changes the way you see and think about food and exercise. The old saying a little of what you fancy does you good rings true. It is when the little becomes a lot that we need to regain control.

    Quite often, hypnotherapy is seen as the last resort for those wishing to regain control. We don’t mind this, of course, as hypnotherapy only truly works when the person is fully committed to their goal. Take quitting smoking, for example. You cannot seek treatment to stop smoking if you aren’t 100% committed because it will not work long-term, it might work for a short period, but without commitment on the clients part, it’s always going to be difficult.

    The key to losing weight is creating a deficit of calories in vs calories out. It sounds simple, but as human beings, we are not simple, take our metabolism, for example. To successfully lose weight and maintain the loss, you need to engage the mind which is far easier said than done. Hypnotherapy is an excellent tool for engaging the mind at the subconscious level.

    With that in mind, here are ten ways in which hypnotherapy can help you lose weight and maintain your goal.

     

    1. Hypnotherapy helps your subconscious mind regain control over your eating habits. If you currently feel food controls you, hypnotherapy can help you flip the switch putting you firmly back in control.
    2. It will help increase your self-esteem so that you are far less reliant on the temporary pick-me-ups that food can provide. When a person feels more positive towards themselves, they are far less likely to reach for things such as food and alcohol for comfort.
    3. If you eat through impulse hypnosis can create mind triggers so that you stop, look and listen before deciding to eat, particularly if you are not hungry.
    4. Hypnotherapy will also increase and maintain self-motivation enabling you to stay on track. Motivation is the top reason many fail to stick to weight loss plans. By utilising hypnotherapy, you will remain enthusiastic about your progress.
    5. Weight loss hypnotherapy works with underlying issues, including letting go of past trauma that may have led you down the path of relying upon food for comfort.
    6. Improving your self-esteem and control over food will also increase your motivation to participate in exercise to reach your goal. Many people struggle to exercise, but once you begin to feel better about yourself, taking this step will become much easier and even enjoyable.
    7. It is longterm. Unlike diet plans, hypnotherapy is long term and doesn’t have an expiration date. Each day you can plant new suggestions into your subconscious mind through self-hypnosis.
    8. Through the delivery of strong suggestions that you are back in control and food is no longer, the boss will help you control binge and mindless eating.
    9. Driven by focus and goals hypnosis for weight loss can help you visualise and experience your goals mentally so that your excitement to achieve them is heightened.
    10. Overall, hypnotherapy will improve your wellbeing, self-esteem and enthusiastic determination to achieve your goals.

    You may have tried other options and previously discounted hypnotherapy but have come to realise that taking back control is more about the way you think than a simple meal and exercise plan.

    If hypnotherapy is something, you want to explore further, then click here, and someone will be in touch. A consultation is just £10.00

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  • You Don’t Have To Be Underweight To Have Anorexia

    atypical anorexia

    We Don’t All Fit The Same Box

    A study found that 31% of patients with Anorexia Nervosa had all the cognitive features and physical complaints without being underweight.

     

    University Melbourne dietitian Melissa Whitelaw is calling for a change in the diagnostic criteria after finding patients with atypical anorexia suffer serious health concerns despite not meeting the criteria for the condition with regards to their weight.

     

    The study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health looked at 171 patients between the ages of 12-19 admitted to hospitals with eating disorders between 2005 and 2013. It found that:

     

    • 51% were ‘atypical’ with significant eating disorder psychopathology but not underweight.
    • Rather than being underweight, a greater weight loss was associated with life-threatening low pulse rates, a complication of starvation in anorexia that requires medical intervention (hospitalisation).
    • Those atypical patients also suffered from low blood pressure and unbalanced blood electrolytes.
    • No complication was independently associated with being underweight, the so-called hallmark of anorexia.
    • No participant was being monitored by health professionals for weight loss, their relationship to food, or their methods for weight loss during the study.

     

    Whitelaw says many atypical patients have been encouraged by family and/or health professionals to lose weight which frequently resulted in positive re-enforcement.

     

    Atypical anorexia nervosa patients might have lost about a quarter of their body weight, but the body can go into starvation mode if as little as 10% is lost quickly, causing the heart to slow to preserve energy.

     

    “The face of eating disorders is changing against a backdrop of an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity”

    Melissa Whitelaw.

     

    If an adolescent chooses to lose weight, it doesn’t matter what their start weight is, a health professional should monitor them to ensure the loss is both safe and appropriate. This way their nutritional intake and relationship with food and exercise can be monitored for signs of concern.

     

    Upon entering starvation mode the only way to increase the heart is to re-feed in order to regain weight, which requires careful monitoring thus hospitalisation.

     

    Whitelaw says that people can understand why an extremely thin person needs to gain weight, but they struggle to understand why someone within or above a healthy weight range requires re-feeding.

     

    Contrary to common assumption health consequences of atypical anorexia can be just as dangerous and it is about time the outdated diagnostic criteria were changed. You do not have to be underweight to be anorexic, the evidence is there to prove this.

     

    Atypical anorexics are just as ill as those with typical anorexia. They have the same thoughts about food and eating.

     

    It is about time we updated the criteria to fit our modern world and started to listen to the individual instead of judging them on whether they fit the box or not.

     

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  • Hayley Maclean

    Hi, I’m Hayley and I’m a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in past life regression and body image healing.

    I know how difficult it can be to choose a therapist, having personally suffered from low self-esteem and anxiety disorder for most of my life.

    I suffered from panic attacks throughout my childhood, and as an adult, I experienced the combined effects of social anxiety, domestic abuse and low self-esteem. I was ultimately diagnosed with CPTSD in my early 30s. My confidence was shattered and it was then that I knew I needed support.

    After finding my path to better mental health and self-confidence through therapy and inner child healing work, I’m now passionate about helping others to find the same happiness and freedom that I have..

    Using client-focused techniques, we can work together to discuss the areas of your life that you’d like to improve on.

    I have a special interest in working with women to help improve their self-esteem and body image  – I do not offer weight loss treatment as I strongly believe that the key to happiness is self-acceptance and unconditional self-love, which I aim to help you achieve. I also have an interest in past life regression and offer special one-off discovery sessions for this experience.

    To book in with Hayley call or drop us an email – 01803 500300 – reception@devonclinic.co.uk

  • Treatments & Therapies

    Treatments & Therapies

    Therapies & Treatments

    Allergy and digestive health testing Marlene Hochstrasser

    Allergy and Digestive Health Testing

    Our allergy and digestive health testing will give results on over 150 foods and 50 environmental substances plus a vitamin and mineral deficiency test.

    Practitioner: Marlene Hochstrasser

    Bowen Technique

    Bowen technique is a gentle and effective treatment used to support individuals with injury, physical and psychological and long-standing problems.

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that supports the re-evaluation of an individuals perception of events, themselves and others. CBT therefore helps rationalise, process and eliminate emotional and behavioural problems.

    Counselling: Individual

    Counselling is a talking therapy which allows people to discuss their problems and any difficult feelings they encounter in a safe, confidential environment. Counselling helps people come to terms with worries they are facing with an ultimate aim of overcoming them.

    Counselling: Relationships

    Relationship Counselling has a particular focus upon Relationships but it is designed around your unique requirements. This meant that we will work with any concerns you wish to bring but always maintain a Relational focus. 

    Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

    Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing or EMDR is a relatively new therapy, having been established only twenty years ago. EMDR is a highly effective talking therapy treatment suitable for both adults and children who have experienced trauma. It is also helpful for behavioural and emotional problems.

    EMDR Therapy Dr Ellis Klmus, Chris Fleet

    Homeopathy

    Homeopathy is a natural medicine system that the World Health Organisation recognises as the second most common system of medicine in the world.  It has been used throughout the world for over 200 years.  Some great reasons to choose homeopathy are:

    Hopi Ear Candling

    Hopi Ear Candling is reported to help with the treatment of sinusitis, rhinitis, earwax, earache, and irritation of the ears including tinnitus. Many clients simply find the process quite relaxing.

    Hopi Ear Candling Karen Harrison
    Hot Stone Massage at The Devon Clinic

    Hot Stone Massage

    Hot Stone Massage is a form of massage that uses smooth, flat, heated rocks placed at key points on the body, causing the muscles to relax even deeper than a traditional massage.

    Hypnotherapy

    Hypnotherapy allows a person to enter deep relaxation and focus attention the hypnotherapist’s voice. Highly effective for phobias, fears, trauma,  anxiety, weight loss, smoking and so much more. Tacking the subconscious. 

    Hypnotherapy

    Indian Head Massage

    Indian Head Massage is a variety of massage movements are used to relieve accumulated tension, stimulate circulation and restore joint movement.

    Massage: Back

    In general terms, a therapist presses, rubs and manipulates the muscles and soft tissues of the body. Most massages are performed by the application of the hands. Some treatments do involve the use of forearms and elbows.

    Relaxing Back Massage
    Aromatherapy Massage

    Massage: Aromatherapy

    Massage is systematic, therapeutic stroking and kneading of the soft tissues of the body. In general terms, a therapist presses, rubs and manipulates the muscles and soft tissues of the body.

    Massage: Deep Tissue

    Massage is systematic, therapeutic stroking and kneading of the soft tissues of the body. In general terms, a therapist presses, rubs and manipulates the muscles and soft tissues of the body.

    Massage
    sports massage Steve Lay

    Massage: Sports

    The main benefit of sports massage is that it improves muscle flexibility, blood circulation and reduces swelling, aids the prevention of sports injuries and assists the body with recovery and repair after sports injuries have been sustained.

    Massage: Swedish

    In general terms, a therapist presses, rubs and manipulates the muscles and soft tissues of the body. Most massages are performed by the application of the hands. Some treatments do involve the use of forearms and elbows.

    Sweedish Massage
    Reflexology Karen Harrison

    Reflexology

    Reflexology involves the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hands or even the face and ears.

    Reiki

    The Reiki therapist channels the Ki through his or her hands to the recipient, activating the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

    Reiki Therapy

    Scenar Therapy

    Scenar Therapy is a highly effective and lasting form of natural pain relief. Popular for many years in Germany and Russia, it gives long term results from chronic ailments.

    Enquire Here

  • Yasmin Ellery

    Hello! I am Yasmin Ellery, and I qualified as a Hypnotherapist at The Devon Clinic in 2019! I have since worked with and helped many clients surrounding;

    • Anxiety
    • Low self-esteem, 
    • Weight loss 
    • Phobias 
    • Addictions

    By accessing the subconscious mind, brings about a positive change in your thinking!

    My background is in education and also in person-centred counselling. I worked for Cruze Berevemnt Organisation as a Counsellor for seven years in previous years, which gave me valuable experience. My areas of success have been helping people with anxiety and low self-esteem, and I have also successfully helped with weight management using hypnotherapy as a powerful approach.

    I am very happy to offer a FREE initial consultation, where we can discuss your specific needs and find out more information about the hypnotherapy process.

    For more information or to book with Yasmin directly please call 07989239572 or email crystalclearhypno@gmail.com

    Alternatively, to book with Yasmin via The Devon Clinic, please call us on 01803 500300 OR email reception@devonclinic.co.uk

  • Nutrition. Should we be more motivated?

    Nutrition. Should we be more motivated?

     

    Food intoleranceAll over the media, we are told to eat well, move more, count calories and supplement our everyday health and wellbeing profiles with these exact measure’s day in day out. But what exactly is the point to this? And furthermore, why are we as a nation obsessing over it so much, that ironically, it is becoming UNHEALTHY?

    Granted, the world and its wife has been a surreal and somewhat scary environment to live in, because of the COVID pandemic. So, it has been vital that we look after our health both mentally and physically to the best of our abilities.

     

    The spark in COVID cases and the fluctuating audacity of society, has come at a pivotal point that we should all be being more mindful, with our diet, fitness regime and mental health. They all are intrinsically linked, and this blog is in no way a criticism of nutrition, but a balanced plate of suggestions and overviews of the topic. So, to speak.

    Healthy eating is a catalyst response for healthier mindsets.

    The advantages

    • Weight loss
    • Cancer health
    • Diabetes management
    • Cardiovascular health
    • Futureproofing the next generations
    • Strong bones and teeth
    • Improved mood and sleep patterns
    • Improved memory

     

    August, together with January, are the prime months that people in society are purchasing more supplements for weight maintenance and weight loss solutions. Looking healthier on the outside by promoting vitality and health on the inside, as quick as they can. Sometimes.

    Supplementation

    Vitamins and minerals, amino acids and fat burners are exceedingly easy to just have in one tablet. Less energy to take one pill, right?  But is this REALLY healthy living? And moreover, can it be a safe and permanent way of life?

    Magic pills do not exist. FACT. What does exist, is a careful balance of supplementation and nutritional intake to meet our bodies requirements and therefore, achieving by making that balance happen. Both in our diets and health, we are achieving a goal for our mental and physical wellbeing.

    Making it permanent

    So, how can we anchor these prospects down sufficiently and break the cycle of eating to feed bad emotions and stop ingesting the wrong nutrients for our minds and bodies?

    The Devon Clinic has different therapies for healthy eating, healthy thinking, internally balancing solutions right at our fingertips.

    Allergy testing, Acupuncture and Hypnotherapy, are very useful grounding tools for embedding these wants, wishes and putting a sustainable plan into action. Practitioners are able to work with the inside demands aka, what our bodies are telling us with different ailments we produce to the world, and what changes to our health and wellbeing plans of action we harbour as individuals. We really are what we eat, after all…

     For further information and to contact us

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  • Could I have a food intolerance?

    Could I have a food intolerance?

    Could I have a food intolerance?

     

    Food intoleranceA food intolerance (otherwise known as non-allergic food hypersensitivity), is a condition of the digestive system.

    It involves some form of an adverse reaction, which is caused by the body’s inability to properly digest a particular food, food additive or other compound found in food or drink.

    Food intolerances are far more common than true food allergies. They also tend to occur more commonly in women, and one reason for this may be hormone differences as many food chemicals act to mimic hormones.

    Only approximately 10% are born with an allergy. In the majority of cases, both food allergies and intolerances develop over time. So, food once tolerated might suddenly begin to make you feel unwell.

    Symptoms may begin at any age and, while they can be wide-ranging, some of the most common ones are:

     

    Stomach bloating | Water retention | Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) | Inflammatory bowel disease | Diarrhoea | Skin rashes | Weight gain | Headaches | Mood changes | Cravings (ironically, often for the foods responsible for the intolerance or allergy) | Mouth ulcers | Recurrent bladder infections | Fatigue

     

    What causes food intolerance?

    Simply put, food intolerances can be caused by various chemicals (both natural and artificial) that are present in a wide variety of foods. The reaction experienced is usually the result of a deficiency in, or absence of, particular chemicals or enzymes in the body that are needed to digest a specific food substance.

    The role of digestive enzymes

    While we eat food for the nourishment of our bodies, our digestive systems can not absorb food in its whole form; instead, it absorbs nutrients.

    So, before it can be useful, food has to be broken down into its constituent parts. These are amino acids (from proteins), fatty acids (from fats) and simple sugars (from carbohydrates), as well as vitamins, minerals, and a variety of other plant and animal compounds.

    Without this efficient process of digestion, which converts nutrients into a form that is absorbable by the body, we would not be able to survive.

    Digestive enzymes are central to this process. They occur naturally in whole foods such as fruit, vegetables, and plants. They are also manufactured by the body to assist digestion. While this mainly takes place in the pancreas and small intestine, digestive enzymes are also made in the stomach and even the saliva glands of the mouth.

    If you do not eat a diet that contains enough enzyme-rich foods (e.g. a diet high in refined and processed foods), or your body does not produce enough of its own (e.g. because you are ill, elderly or under stress), it will struggle to break down food properly. This can lead to certain digestive complications and complaints, including:

     

    Fermentation of food in the stomach and small intestine | Putrefaction in the colon | Increased activity and overgrowth of harmful bacteria and parasites |Poor absorption of nutrients

     

    In particular, the inability to efficiently digest food can contribute to the development of food intolerances. Due to this, and if you have poor digestion, your intestinal lining can become irritated and what is known as “leaky gut syndrome” can develop.

    In susceptible people, any partially digested food particles can seep into the bloodstream, strain the immune system and lead to food intolerances, and even allergies in extreme cases.

     

    Food allergy vs intolerance

     

    Food intoleranceFood intolerances and allergies are very different.

    As mentioned above, an intolerance is a digestive system response. In contrast, a food allergy is an abnormal response to food, which is triggered by the immune system.

    A true food allergy requires the presence of specific antibodies against the offending food. Food intolerance does not. What’s more, the antibodies tend to lead to an immediate reaction whenever the offending food is consumed.

    This distinction is important because, while a food intolerance may lead to some unpleasant symptoms, it is not life-threatening and symptoms tend to come on gradually – usually within half an hour, but sometimes as long as 48 hours. An allergy, on the other hand, is typically a lot more severe and may even be fatal in extreme cases (e.g. through anaphylaxis).

    Some common examples of food intolerance include:

    Lactose intolerance

    The most common intolerance. Found in milk and other dairy products. It is caused by the body’s inability to properly digest high amounts of lactose, the predominant sugar in milk, because of a shortage or absence of the enzyme lactase.

    Gluten sensitivity

    Gluten is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related species, including barley and rye. The term “gluten sensitivity” is used to describe those individuals who can’t tolerate gluten and experience symptoms similar to those with coeliac disease, but yet lack the same antibodies and intestinal damage as seen in cases of coeliac disease.

    Interestingly, although Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by an immune response to gluten, it can also result in gluten sensitivity, as well as temporary lactose intolerance.

     

    How is food intolerance identified?

    Food intolerances are often more challenging to diagnose than food allergies because they tend to be more chronic, less acute and therefore, less obvious in their presentation. For example, there are no antibodies present.

    As such, they are most often identified through a simple trial and error approach. A dietitian or nutritionist will go through a process of elimination with the individual, removing suspected problematic foods and systematically reintroducing them back into the diet, looking for the corresponding improvement and worsening of symptoms.

    Other methods of diagnosis include hydrogen breath testing for lactose intolerance and fructose malabsorption and ELISA testing for IgG-mediated immune responses to specific foods.

     

    Living with a food intolerance

    Once the offending food or foods have been identified, the best advice is to avoid them where possible. This is likely to lead to a reduction, and hopefully, over time, the total elimination of symptoms.

    Fortunately, nowadays, there is several specialised “free-from” foods and health supplements available online, and in supermarkets, which help to make life a lot easier for those with food intolerance.

    However, with any diet where there is restricted food choice, it is crucial to ensure that you are still getting all of the nutrients you need daily. Severe food intolerance can, for example, lead to excessive weight loss and, occasionally, can even result in the individual becoming malnourished. Optimum nutrition can be achieved through careful meal planning and appropriate supplementation

     

    Food intolerance

    For further information, guidance and testing for digestive health and allergies please contact us today on 01803 500300.

  • Hypnotherapy For Eating Disorders

    Hypnotherapy For Eating Disorders

    Hypnotherapy For Eating Disorders

     

    Finding websites for hypnotherapy for eating disorders is easy with a quick Google of key terms such as hypnotherapy for weight loss, hypnotherapy for food addiction and gastric band hypnotherapy. You can also search terms such as hypnotherapy for bulimia, binge eating and anorexia.

    What might not be so clear is how the treatment works. Hypnotherapy is a treatment in which a trained practitioner uses hypnotic suggestion to aid an individual in overcoming an addiction or fear. It does not use conventional medicine; there are no tablets or side-effects.

     

    How does hypnotherapy work for eating disorders?

     

    A question asked many times over, and for a good reason. Hypnotherapy’s overall public perception is quite dismissive, and this is in part to two main reasons: history and television. Both portray a show of wonder, entertainment, bemusement and trickery. These displays are called stage hypnosis and do not relate to clinical hypnotherapy.

    When undergoing hypnotherapy for therapeutic reasons, you remain entirely in control of yourself and the situation. There is no acting involved and no audience to please.

    Hypnotherapy for eating disorders works by promoting an overall positive mindset. The suggestions and goals vary from person to person but can include motivation and reduction in fears and anxieties. The goal is to change negative thinking patterns and behaviours into positive “can do” thoughts and actions.

    While the NHS does not endorse hypnotherapy, you can find narratives on their website with suggestions of when it can be useful. For example, you can find it mentioned under quitting smoking and losing weight.

     

    What is an eating disorder?

     

    While we all need food to survive and maintain our health, it is often a lack of understanding or development of unusual habits that affect our relationships with food.

    Some develop emotional relationships often referred to as disordered eating, comfort eating, binge eating, anorexia and bulimia, to name just a few. Often these are linked to emotional and or mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

    Eating disorders are a range of mental health conditions that see a build-up of habits surrounding food. Physical effects co-inside with psychological issues. These issues can include dramatic weight loss/gain, a strain on organs such as the heart and liver, low blood pressure, nutritional deficiencies, hair loss/gain, gastro illnesses and infertility. Quite often, these seemingly small initial choices create a devastating impact on our bodies long-term.

     

    How are they caused?

     

    It is almost impossible to pigeonhole individuals or groups and say that one specific trigger will start a negative relationship with food. But there is always a trigger, and it is typically an emotional one.

    The hypnotherapy directory some of the causes:

    • A family history of eating disorders or depression.
    • Someone criticising your eating habits or weight.
    • Internal pressure to stay slim for work or a hobby.
    • Having certain characteristics, such as an obsessive personality or a tendency to be anxious.
    • Experiencing upsetting events, such as a death or abuse.
    • Relationship difficulties with friends or family members.
    • Being under a lot of stress, for example at school or university.

     

    Can hypnotherapy cure eating disorders?

     

    Hypnotherapy shouldn’t claim to be able to cure eating disorders because results of treatment differ with individuals, and such statements will bring dishonour to the therapist and damage the industry. This isn’t to say that hypnotherapy cannot be used as a multi-pronged approach to treatment. Often hypnotherapists are cross-trained in other therapies and see extremely good results.

    It is important to note that for some further treatment is required several months or years after initially completing a treatment plan.

    A clinical diagnosis is not a requirement before seeking hypnotherapy, but it can be helpful for some.

    The difficulty with supporting those with eating disorders is that treatment often goes backwards and forwards more than once before a suitable recovery is found. Early intervention gives a person the best opportunity, so the sooner they seek support, the better it is for them.

    As previously mentioned, a multi-pronged approach is appropriate when treating eating disorders. Below are some treatments and therapies that work well alongside hypnotherapy.

    • Cognitive behavioural therapy known as CBT.

    A type of psychological therapy aimed at changing the way you think and behave.

    • Family Therapy.

    An individual or group talking therapy focusing on relationships in and around the family. Eating disorders tend to put a considerable strain on family dynamics.

    • Interpersonal Therapy.

    A talking therapy that focuses on relationship-based concerns.

    • Medication.

    Some individuals may be prescribed mood stabilising medications to aid the recovery process. You mustn’t replace talking therapies with your prescribed medication.

     

    Hypnotherapy for eating disorders

     

    A hypnotherapist needs to understand the real root cause of the issue behind persons eating disorder. To do so, they use a technique call regression. The therapist will take you through relaxation techniques to access your subconscious mind, revealing the trigger event. The event may have been a person, a comment, a situation, a sensation, an item, event or a feeling. Any one thing small or large may have contributed to the development of the disorder.

    The goal is not to drag up past traumatic memories leaving them raw; it is to use the power of suggestion to change the thought process. This change in the process allows new positive habits for form around the eating disorder facilitating change in the daily routine and relationships with food.

    By using positive suggestion during hypnosis, practitioners can enable you to change the way you feel about yourself. Increase self-esteem and learning to feel positive about yourself it a large part of recovery. Coupled with a new levelled understanding of food, hypnotherapy for eating disorders provides the psychological support required to move forward and avoid being stuck or falling backwards.

    If you or someone you know would like further information please contact us today.

    Hypnotherapy For Eating Disorders

    Hypnotherapy For Eating Disorders

     

     

     

     

       

  • From Diet-Obsessed to Body Positive

    body positive

    My unexpected but, oh so worth it, journey from being diet-obsessed to body positive!

     

    I can’t recall exactly when my journey to becoming diet-obsessed began, but I know my journey to becoming body positive took me by surprise. There was a time around puberty where I began wondering what boys thought of me. Of course, I wondered and worried the most, what the other girls thought and said about me when I wasn’t in the room. Did they whisper and say nasty things about the way I looked?

    Before that, I always assumed that adolescent girldom was the way I saw it in the movies. The normal/average size girl playing sidekick to the blond-haired model that had it all.

    By aged 14, the word diet meant to me that you had to eat specific foods in a specific way until you reached your ‘goal weight’ and then everything would be ok. Of course, it never was, and I spent those formative years trying to balance my love of food with my hatred of exercise.

     

    body positiveThe University Years

    When I moved to university the scale range moved more. I constantly charted my weight, but I didn’t see it as a problem. Instead of losing the initial planned 5 pounds, I’d just have to lose 10 instead. Then came the months of fad diets; Keto, Paleo, Cambridge, Atkins-you name it, I tried it. I charted them all. At first, I used paper but then I got a Fitbit.

    At 24, I reached my heaviest. I was two years into therapy at this time and one thing became glaringly clear: whatever ‘it’ was, I certainly did not have it together. This was abundantly clear when it came to my body. I consumed myself with day to day life-university, working part-time and the inevitable social life that comes with being a student. I didn’t realise my initial weight obsession started with sheer neuroticism. Controlling what I ate and how many steps I took made me think I was in control of my anxiety.

    With my Fitbit by my side, I was constantly reminded of my daily goals. My daily achievement was to make that thing buzz and I could not rest until it had done so, even if that meant missing out. I recall times of jogging on the spot until midnight, excusing myself from events so I could take long walks, and having extra-long toilet breaks just to complete those goals.

    There were days when I didn’t achieve it and I mentally scolded myself and guilted myself to make up for it the following day.

     

    body positiveAwakening The Past

    Before therapy, it had never occurred to me that my anxiety and eating were linked to something bigger. That gaining weight during this time was linked to reliving repressed memories.

    When I looked through old diaries from my teenage years one thing became obvious: every few months I would start a health kick hoping that this was ‘it’. The content read the same: when I am X weight I will be happy; my anxiety will disappear, and I will not feel the need to binge eat my feelings.

    Now at my heaviest, I have realised this bout of weight gain is different. This time I don’t hate myself for it. I’ve discovered that I am much more than my weight and for the first time I don’t feel exhausted from the cycles of weight watching. I know that being healthy is not about vanity. I was, without knowing it being ‘body positive’!

    When I joined a gym but, this time on my terms. I did question whether I was being true to my new self as surely ‘body positive’ cannot go with working out, weight loss and eating healthy. Of course, it can. Body positivity for me is a mental state that involves, accepting my body the way it is today.

    “It is not about the destination but the journey itself.”

     

    Cheesy yes, but true. My journey involves swimming because I enjoy that, but I also enjoy the chocolate workshops I attend with my friend.

    There is more to a healthy life than chasing something that is unsustainable.

     

    For more information relating to talking therapies for subjects covered in this story please contact us using the form below.

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  • 10 Amazing Benefits of Acupuncture

    How can Acupuncture help you?

    It has been said that there are around 350 acupuncture points in the body. When the tiny needles are inserted into the appropriate points of the body it brings the energy flow back into balance. So how can acupuncture help you?

    Here are some suggestions:

    Head

    Monthly Migraines are reduced within 4 weeks with 20 sessions of Electroacupunture (a small electrical current that is applied to the needle).Acupuncture

    Mood

    Acupuncture regulates the happy-making neurotransmitters in the brain which aids in treating depression within three months.

    Throat

    After ten sessions over a month problems such as Acid Reflux and Heart Burn can be regulated speeding the duration of digestion.

    Nose

    Seasonal allergens will benefit from 12 acupuncture sessions leading to less use/reliability of antihistamines.

    Heart

    Regular acupuncture sessions can reduce the markers of stress and lower blood pressure.

    Sleep

    Aid sleep and insomnia by revving up the productions of neurotransmitters which are related to relaxation and restful sleep.

    Menopause

    Reduce the frequency and severity of hot flushes for up to three months as acupuncture can help regulate body temperature.

    Weight

    Combined with a good diet and exercise routine, four months of acupuncture treatment can lead to up to nine pounds of weight loss (measured on an obese adult).

    Back

    Five, twice-weekly sessions of needling have proven to relieve lower back discomfort for up to six months.

    Immune system

    Boost immune cells that seek and destroy infections. Studies have proven that it may be beneficial for Chemotherapy penitents to strengthen their immune system.

     

    If you want to know more about Acupuncture please fill out the form below:

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