Tag: Body Image

RETREAT – The Spiritual Journey of Eating: finding freedom from food and its hold on you

What would Life be like if you could tune out all of the noise around nutrition and dieting?

What if, when you read or heard something, (“Seed and nut oils are TERRIBLE for you” for example), you knew, confidently, whether this information needs to be verified, or whether it doesn’t apply to you?

Where a celebrity or model who wears size 8/10 was NOT considered plus sized?

What if I told you that you can have all of that, and more?

No gimmicks; no sales pitch; no fine print; no programs; no real commitment, other than to yourself and your health.

I am offering you the opportunity to learn how to shut out the noise; to grow in confidence in your own skin; to increase in value and joy in your Life; to take back your power when it comes to your health and the condition of your body.

I want you to have this because I know, personally, how amazing it feels!

If you are being called to make small changes in your Life that have profound consequences, then I hope to see you at my upcoming 3-part class.

In this class you will gain so much more than any diet book can give you, more than a nutritional coach can offer, and certainly more than a GLP-1, which is a quick fix with severe consequences.

I’m only asking of you to Trust – trust that Inner Wisdom that is residing in your body right now. The one that pings as you’re reading this.

Trust it, and take action!

What you’ll gain by attending this full-day Retreat:

  • increased energy
  • better sleep
  • greater nutrient absorption
  • better overall health
  • a deep sense of awareness
  • better understanding of your Self
  • transformation of your mindset
  • sharper cognition
  • peace of Mind
  • a framework for your Healing to take place
  • for some, an increase in weight loss
  • Healing tools + coping mechanisms
  • community
  • resources
  • and so much more!

I’m all about giving the body a chance to do what God designed it to do – Heal itself.

I believe that, as a collective, we have come so far away from embodiment; we trust doctors with degrees from books rather than listening to our body, its Divine wisdom, and our own guided Intuition.

We turn to pharmaceuticals that were chemically and lab designed to attach to the same receptors in our brain that LIVING food attaches to 😵‍💫.

That said, I designed this full-day retreat to teach you just about everything I know about getting back to that place of Inner Wisdom.

This is NOT another fad diet – in fact, it’s exactly the opposite!

This no-diet approach to Healing your relationship with food, body, and weight will give you the results you’ve long desired.

The invaluable content you’ll receive at this retreat will truly revolutionize how see yourself, the condition of your health, and your relationship with food, body, and weight.

The Retreat at a glance:

  • 8 – 8:20am – Arrival
  • Five amazing opportunities for growth, discovery, and integration with Healers from all over the country
  • Two snacks and two meals thoughtfully curated to support your Journey
  • Creative Art Therapy experiential that you get to take home (with an actual Art Therapist)!
  • Sound Baths
  • Gifts and shoppable goodies
  • 5pm – dismissal

Meet Your Healers:

Rita Haddad

I’m Rita, your guide on this Healing Journey. I believe that the body was beautifully designed to Heal itself, and it’s my calling to get you back to that place.

Through the power of Earth Medicine, I take a whole person, multifaceted approach to Healing, creating a safe space for people to address their physical, emotional, and Spiritual needs with gentle guidance and accountability.

I believe in Food as Medicine, the power of eating Organically, Plant Medicine, Essential Oils, listening to the Body, Inner Wisdom, trusting the Self, Gut instincts, sixth senses, dreams, Vibration, Energy, and more.

Join us in this Healing Retreat space for a deep dive into what is Life-giving and what is Energy-draining, and how to get back to that place of Ancient Wisdom lying within you.

 

 

 

Marlee-I Mystic

Marlee-I Mystic is a spiritual holistic practitioner and sound healer whose work explores the healing power of vibration, voice, and mindful presence.

Blending sound healing, meditation, and embodied practices, she creates experiences that help participants reconnect with themselves through deep listening and intentional rest.

Guided by her philosophy, Born in Sound, Rooted in Spirit, Marlee-I invites others into spaces where healing is not only understood, but felt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesse Hammond

My work with the breath is centered around helping people slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and support their nervous system in a practical, approachable way.

Using gentle breathing techniques combined with body awareness, movement, and therapeutic massage, I guide clients toward greater ease, regulation, and resilience—without force or overwhelm.

 

 

What people are saying:

Space is limited to 6 participants,
so don’t wait to reserve your seat!

Early-bird ticket sales are now open and will remain through June 30, 2026 – $222

Standard ticket sales will open on July 1, 2026 – $244

Last-minute ticket sales will be open from September 1-12, 2026 – $266

If you’d like to be placed on the Wait List for the next Retreat, please email hello@SanaAnimaWellness.com or fill out the contact form below.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

The Spiritual Journey of Eating: finding freedom from food and its hold on you

What would it feel like to learn that there are gifts in your weight?
That it’s not your fault. The body is Wise and it knows all things.
What if it occurred to you that it’s not actually about the food, even when it’s about the food?
Eating is about more than putting food into your mouth.
It is about more than a formula or a numbers game.
Eating is a truly spiritual experience, one that stems back as far as childhood and brings you right into the moment of partaking in a meal.
In this class you will discover your own spiritual journey of eating and reclaim your power from food.
This will lead to freedom from food, feeling lighter in your body and in your space, an increase in confidence, and in some cases, weight release.
This class is truly a game changer for anyone willing to take the deep dive in this supportive community space, and is the basis for the upcoming retreat of the same name.

What you’ll gain by attending this 3-part class:

  • increased energy
  • better sleep
  • greater nutrient absorption
  • better overall health
  • transformation of your mindset
  • sharper cognition
  • a framework for your Healing to take place
  • for some, an increase in weight loss
  • community
  • resources
  • and so much more!

I’m all about giving the body a chance to do what God designed it to do – Heal itself.

This no-diet approach to Healing your relationship with food, body, and weight will give you the results you’ve long desired.

The invaluable content you’ll receive in this class will truly revolutionize how see yourself, the condition of your health, and your relationship with food, body, and weight.

** This class is Part 3 of 3 ** Get your tickets for the day-long retreat here **

Can’t make it? No problem! Let me know you’re interested and you will be added to the waitlist for the next round of classes TBA hello@SanaAnimaWellness.com

Unlock Your Health Potential: personalized nutrition, done right

Personalized nutrition is one of the most widely searched terms on the internet today. But nobody can know exactly what works for you, besides you!
In this second class, you will learn what personalized nutrition truly means and how to make it work in your Life. Based on your personal body chemistry and organ function, this class will help you identify what is continuing to keep you inflamed, unwell, and over weight.
This will lead to an increase in metabolism, greater nutrient absorption, deep cellular Healing, and in some cases, weight release.
Whether you are on a specialized diet or no diet at all, this content is valuable to all who are willing to consume it!
What you’ll gain by attending this 3-part class:
  • increased energy
  • better sleep
  • greater nutrient absorption
  • better overall health
  • transformation of your mindset
  • sharper cognition
  • a framework for your Healing to take place
  • for some, an increase in weight loss
  • community
  • resources
  • and so much more!

 

I’m all about giving the body a chance to do what God designed it to do – Heal itself.

This is NOT another fad diet – in fact, it’s exactly the opposite!

This no-diet approach to Healing your relationship with food, body, and weight will give you the results you’ve long desired.

The invaluable content you’ll receive in this class will truly revolutionize how see yourself, the condition of your health, and your relationship with food, body, and weight.

** This class is Part 2 of 3 ** Get your tickets for Part 3 here **

Can’t make it? No problem! This class will be expanded upon in my upcoming day-long retreat on Saturday, September 19, 2026!

Want to learn more or sign up? Email me at hello@SanaAnimaWellness.com and let me know to add you to the wait list.

Eating for Energy & Weight Loss: a no-diet approach that will finally give you the results you seek

What would Life be like if you could tune out all of the noise around nutrition and dieting?

What if, when you read or heard something, (“Seed and nut oils are TERRIBLE for you” for example), you knew, confidently, whether this information needs to be verified, or whether it doesn’t apply to you?

Where a celebrity or model who wears size 8/10 was NOT considered plus sized?

What if I told you that you can have all of that, and more?

No gimmicks; no sales pitch; no fine print; no programs; no real commitment, other than to yourself and your health.

I am offering you the opportunity to learn how to shut out the noise; to grow in confidence in your own skin; to increase in value and joy in your Life; to take back your power when it comes to your health and the condition of your body.

I want you to have this because I know, personally, how amazing it feels!

If you are being called to make small changes in your Life that have profound consequences, then I hope to see you at my upcoming 3-part class.

In this class you will gain so much more than any diet book can give you, more than a nutritional coach can offer, and certainly more than a GLP-1, which is a quick fix with severe consequences.

I’m only asking of you to Trust – trust that Inner Wisdom that is residing in your body right now. The one that pings as you’re reading this.

Trust it, and take action!

What you’ll gain by attending this 3-part class:

  • increased energy
  • better sleep
  • greater nutrient absorption
  • better overall health
  • transformation of your mindset
  • sharper cognition
  • a framework for your Healing to take place
  • for some, an increase in weight loss
  • community
  • resources
  • and so much more!

I’m all about giving the body a chance to do what God designed it to do – Heal itself.

I believe that, as a collective, we have come so far away from embodiment; we trust doctors with degrees from books rather than listening to our body, its Divine wisdom, and our own guided Intuition.

We turn to pharmaceuticals that were chemically and lab designed to attach to the same receptors in our brain that LIVING food attaches to 😵‍💫.

That said, I designed this 3-part class to teach you just about everything I know about getting back to that place of Inner Wisdom.

This is NOT another fad diet – in fact, it’s exactly the opposite!

This no-diet approach to Healing your relationship with food, body, and weight will give you the results you’ve long desired.

The invaluable content you’ll receive in this class will truly revolutionize how see yourself, the condition of your health, and your relationship with food, body, and weight.

** This class is Part 1 of 3 ** Get your tickets for Part 2 here **

Can’t make it? No problem! This class will be expanded upon in my upcoming day-long retreat on Saturday, September 19, 2026!

Want to learn more or sign up? Email me at hello@SanaAnimaWellness.com and let me know to add you to the wait list.

The Spiritual Journey of Eating: finding freedom from food and its hold on you

What would Life be like if you could tune out all of the noise around nutrition and dieting?

What if, when you read or heard something, (“Seed and nut oils are TERRIBLE for you” for example), you knew, confidently, whether this information needs to be verified, or whether it doesn’t apply to you?

Where a celebrity or model who wears size 8/10 was NOT considered plus sized?

What if I told you that you can have all of that, and more?

No gimmicks; no sales pitch; no fine print; no programs; no real commitment, other than to yourself and your health.

I am offering you the opportunity to learn how to shut out the noise; to grow in confidence in your own skin; to increase in value and joy in your Life; to take back your power when it comes to your health and the condition of your body.

I want you to have this because I know, personally, how amazing it feels!

If you are being called to make small changes in your Life that have profound consequences, then I hope to see you at my upcoming 3-part class.

In this class you will gain so much more than any diet book can give you, more than a nutritional coach can offer, and certainly more than a GLP-1, which is a quick fix with severe consequences.

I’m only asking of you to Trust – trust that Inner Wisdom that is residing in your body right now. The one that pings as you’re reading this.

Trust it, and take action!

What you’ll gain by attending this 3-part class:

  • increased energy
  • better sleep
  • greater nutrient absorption
  • better overall health
  • transformation of your mindset
  • sharper cognition
  • a framework for your Healing to take place
  • for some, an increase in weight loss
  • community
  • resources
  • and so much more!

I’m all about giving the body a chance to do what God designed it to do – Heal itself.

I believe that, as a collective, we have come so far away from embodiment; we trust doctors with degrees from books rather than listening to our body, its Divine wisdom, and our own guided Intuition.

We turn to pharmaceuticals that were chemically and lab designed to attach to the same receptors in our brain that LIVING food attaches to 😵‍💫.

That said, I designed this 3-part class to teach you just about everything I know about getting back to that place of Inner Wisdom.

This is NOT another fad diet – in fact, it’s exactly the opposite!

This no-diet approach to Healing your relationship with food, body, and weight will give you the results you’ve long desired.

The invaluable content you’ll receive in this class will truly revolutionize how see yourself, the condition of your health, and your relationship with food, body, and weight.

** This class is Part 3 of 3 ** Get your tickets for Part 1 here **

Can’t make it? No problem! This class will repeat on Thursday, July 2 – same time, same place.

Unlock Your Health Potential: personalized nutrition, done right

What would Life be like if you could tune out all of the noise around nutrition and dieting?

What if, when you read or heard something, (“Seed and nut oils are TERRIBLE for you” for example), you knew, confidently, whether this information needs to be verified, or whether it doesn’t apply to you?

Where a celebrity or model who wears size 8/10 was NOT considered plus sized?

What if I told you that you can have all of that, and more?

No gimmicks; no sales pitch; no fine print; no programs; no real commitment, other than to yourself and your health.

I am offering you the opportunity to learn how to shut out the noise; to grow in confidence in your own skin; to increase in value and joy in your Life; to take back your power when it comes to your health and the condition of your body.

I want you to have this because I know, personally, how amazing it feels!

If you are being called to make small changes in your Life that have profound consequences, then I hope to see you at my upcoming 3-part class.

In this class you will gain so much more than any diet book can give you, more than a nutritional coach can offer, and certainly more than a GLP-1, which is a quick fix with severe consequences.

I’m only asking of you to Trust – trust that Inner Wisdom that is residing in your body right now. The one that pings as you’re reading this.

Trust it, and take action!

What you’ll gain by attending this 3-part class:

  • increased energy
  • better sleep
  • greater nutrient absorption
  • better overall health
  • transformation of your mindset
  • sharper cognition
  • a framework for your Healing to take place
  • for some, an increase in weight loss
  • community
  • resources
  • and so much more!

I’m all about giving the body a chance to do what God designed it to do – Heal itself.

I believe that, as a collective, we have come so far away from embodiment; we trust doctors with degrees from books rather than listening to our body, its Divine wisdom, and our own guided Intuition.

We turn to pharmaceuticals that were chemically and lab designed to attach to the same receptors in our brain that LIVING food attaches to 😵‍💫.

That said, I designed this 3-part class to teach you just about everything I know about getting back to that place of Inner Wisdom.

This is NOT another fad diet – in fact, it’s exactly the opposite!

This no-diet approach to Healing your relationship with food, body, and weight will give you the results you’ve long desired.

The invaluable content you’ll receive in this class will truly revolutionize how see yourself, the condition of your health, and your relationship with food, body, and weight.

** This class is Part 2 of 3 ** Get your tickets for Part 3 here **

Can’t make it? No problem! This class will repeat on Thursday, June 18 – same time, same place.

Eating for Energy & Weight Loss: a no-diet approach that will finally give you the results you seek

What would Life be like if you could tune out all of the noise around nutrition and dieting?

What if, when you read or heard something, (“Seed and nut oils are TERRIBLE for you” for example), you knew, confidently, whether this information needs to be verified, or whether it doesn’t apply to you?

Where a celebrity or model who wears size 8/10 was NOT considered plus sized?

What if I told you that you can have all of that, and more?

No gimmicks; no sales pitch; no fine print; no programs; no real commitment, other than to yourself and your health.

I am offering you the opportunity to learn how to shut out the noise; to grow in confidence in your own skin; to increase in value and joy in your Life; to take back your power when it comes to your health and the condition of your body.

I want you to have this because I know, personally, how amazing it feels!

If you are being called to make small changes in your Life that have profound consequences, then I hope to see you at my upcoming 3-part class.

In this class you will gain so much more than any diet book can give you, more than a nutritional coach can offer, and certainly more than a GLP-1, which is a quick fix with severe consequences.

I’m only asking of you to Trust – trust that Inner Wisdom that is residing in your body right now. The one that pings as you’re reading this.

Trust it, and take action!

What you’ll gain by attending this 3-part class:

  • increased energy
  • better sleep
  • greater nutrient absorption
  • better overall health
  • transformation of your mindset
  • sharper cognition
  • a framework for your Healing to take place
  • for some, an increase in weight loss
  • community
  • resources
  • and so much more!

I’m all about giving the body a chance to do what God designed it to do – Heal itself.

I believe that, as a collective, we have come so far away from embodiment; we trust doctors with degrees from books rather than listening to our body, its Divine wisdom, and our own guided Intuition.

We turn to pharmaceuticals that were chemically and lab designed to attach to the same receptors in our brain that LIVING food attaches to 😵‍💫.

That said, I designed this 3-part class to teach you just about everything I know about getting back to that place of Inner Wisdom.

This is NOT another fad diet – in fact, it’s exactly the opposite!

This no-diet approach to Healing your relationship with food, body, and weight will give you the results you’ve long desired.

The invaluable content you’ll receive in this class will truly revolutionize how see yourself, the condition of your health, and your relationship with food, body, and weight.

** This class is Part 1 of 3 ** Get your tickets for Part 2 here **

Can’t make it? No problem! This class will repeat on Thursday, June 4 – same time, same place.

Reclaim & Restore your Health with the Blood Type Diet

Our blood is the one thing that is common amongst each of us, and it is also the one thing that can determine so much about our health and ability to Heal.

Did you know that our blood type determines our personality (where did you imagine the “Type A” personality came from?); stress profile; and even which types of exercise would be most beneficial for our good health?

Dating back to the late 1950s, scientists have been studying the role of our shared blood type on Healing, sickness, disease, and our susceptibility for chronic illness.

Isn’t it time you got on board and caught up with the research?

In this class I will be teaching you what you’ll need to know to get started on your Healing Journey by eating according to your blood type.

It is truly a food-as-medicine approach to Living and Healing.

This is not for the faint of heart – it will ask of you to potentially choose to avoid certain foods that you may love.

You will also likely make sense of experiences around food, such as finally understanding why you never liked a certain food or why a particular ingredient has always made you feel sick.

In this class you will learn:

  • what your blood type is if you don’t already know*
  • everything you need to know to begin your Blood Type Diet journey
  • why it’s important to supplement, and supplement well, while eating for your blood type
  • how to access resources, shopping lists, and support to help you along the way

* quick-typing kits will be available for purchase if you are interested but don’t know your blood type.

Health at Any Size (week 3 of 3)

This year you can have your cake, and eat it too!

Join me for a 3-week structured Mentoring experience!

New classes begin April 2025!

 

Arm yourself with knowledge and power so you can make it through the rounds of pool parties, summer cookouts, and friendly gatherings without worrying about your waistline.

What to expect:

Our time together will be split between a brief teaching portion and practical application. This means that you can bring to me what you are struggling with, and together we can apply the knowledge from the session to arm you with tools for success.

Week 1: Empowered Health: your key to weight loss
Week 2: Re-learn how to eat and fall in love with food again
Week 3: Heal from within and shed excess weight effortlessly

Looking for additional support?

Great! Invite a friend to join you! This is a great way to create accountability, support, and camaraderie that will surely help you on your path to success with this approach.

Additional information:

The Who: Me (Rita), You, and anyone you would like to join us (optional)
The What: 3-weeks of structured Mentoring to arm you with knowledge and power to live freely without worrying about your waistline.
The Where: 1966 S. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
The When: Session 3 (May 7 @ 6:30pm)
The Cost: $125 per person

Health at Any Size (week 2 of 3)

This year you can have your cake, and eat it too!

Join me for a 3-week structured Mentoring experience!

New classes begin April 2025!

 

Arm yourself with knowledge and power so you can make it through the rounds of pool parties, summer cookouts, and friendly gatherings without worrying about your waistline.

What to expect:

Our time together will be split between a brief teaching portion and practical application. This means that you can bring to me what you are struggling with, and together we can apply the knowledge from the session to arm you with tools for success.

Week 1: Empowered Health: your key to weight loss
Week 2: Re-learn how to eat and fall in love with food again
Week 3: Heal from within and shed excess weight effortlessly

Looking for additional support?

Great! Invite a friend to join you! This is a great way to create accountability, support, and camaraderie that will surely help you on your path to success with this approach.

Additional information:

The Who: Me (Rita), You, and anyone you would like to join us (optional)
The What: 3-weeks of structured Mentoring to arm you with knowledge and power to live freely without worrying about your waistline.
The Where: 1966 S. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
The When:  Session 2 (April 30 @ 6:30pm) Session 3 (May 7 @ 6:30pm)
The Cost: $125 per person

Health at Any Size (week 1 of 3)

This year you can have your cake, and eat it too!

Join me for a 3-week structured Mentoring experience!

New classes begin April 2025!

 

Arm yourself with knowledge and power so you can make it through the rounds of pool parties, summer cookouts, and friendly gatherings without worrying about your waistline.

What to expect:

Our time together will be split between a brief teaching portion and practical application. This means that you can bring to me what you are struggling with, and together we can apply the knowledge from the session to arm you with tools for success.

Week 1: Empowered Health: your key to weight loss
Week 2: Re-learn how to eat and fall in love with food again
Week 3: Heal from within and shed excess weight effortlessly

Looking for additional support?

Great! Invite a friend to join you! This is a great way to create accountability, support, and camaraderie that will surely help you on your path to success with this approach.

Additional information:

The Who: Me (Rita), You, and anyone you would like to join us (optional)
The What: 3-weeks of structured Mentoring to arm you with knowledge and power to live freely without worrying about your waistline.
The Where: 1966 S. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
The When: Session 1 (April 23 @ 6:30pm) Session 2 (April 30 @ 6:30pm) Session 3 (May 7 @ 6:30pm)
The Cost: $125 per person

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The surprising truth about metabolism

Unlock the secret to enhancing your metabolism so you can increase in energy and feel good in your body.

The New Year is quickly approaching and the media is beginning to push weight loss resolutions down our throats. Keep yourself and your goals in check with these surprising truths about metabolism.

The body was beautifully designed – it works like a well-oiled machine; it heals and repairs itself if given the chance; it communicates with itself millions of times each day; and it has multiple energetic systems that work synergistically with one another to keep you alive.

All things are energy. You know this or you wouldn’t be here.

Think of all the energetic systems that are spinning and working each and every day to help keep you alive.

The energetic rhythm of the heart beat and its electro magnetic field can be scientifically detected some three to eight feet from the body; the energetic rhythm of the brain and its electro magnetic field that communicates with the heart and gut microbiome to keep you healthy; the gut microbiome itself and its function in digestion and nutrient assimilation, which is basically the center for all physical health maintenance and Healing.

The surprising truth about metabolism

The digestion and metabolism of food and nutrients is the outcome of the energetic system at work in your stomach and gut. Have you ever wondered what guides these systems? 🤔 The Sun and Moon, of course! In the case of metabolism, we will be focusing on the role of the Sun.

It is no coincidence that the third chakra is called the Solar Plexus. It is smack dab in the middle of your belly, right near your stomach and some of your digestive organs, and its color is yellow.

As the Sun rises and sets throughout the day in a rhythmic cycle, so too does your metabolism. When you wake in the morning, your metabolism is ready to be fired up with a small, well balanced meal to break your long overnight fast. You don’t need to have a full meal, but you should eat something (having a freshly juiced drink or smoothie counts!).

By midday, when the Sun is at its height and shining with all of its power and glory, so too is your metabolism. Lunch time is the perfect time of day to indulge in a big, hearty meal. It should be your main meal of the day and will power you through the afternoon until dinner time.

Your metabolism is working at peak efficiency during this time so it’s ready to receive and burn through whatever you ingest. Be sure to make smart choices about eating foods that are Energy-giving and not Life-draining.

As the Sun slowly makes its descent and winds down for the evening, your metabolism will also be following suit. Dinner time is when your metabolism will be functioning more slowly. Avoid having too much protein during these hours because they are hard to digest and could disrupt your sleep for the night.

The saying goes, Eat Breakfast like a Prince, Lunch like a King, and Dinner like a Pauper, and there is a perfectly good reason for that!

All in all, these meal times are opportunities to tune in and listen to your body, to learn its specific and personal cues, and to begin decoding its messages. This is where Healing begins!

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Fall back in love with eating by increasing in Body Wisdom

Learn how to rely on your body’s unique signals to help you navigate your health.

Collectively, we have fallen out of love with eating. The confusing messages and unrealistic beauty standards have set us way back and food has become a means to an end. It’s high time we go back to basics when it comes to health and weight. Read on for some essential pointers to get you back in touch with your inner wisdom so you can ditch the diet plans and fall back in love with eating.

Unfortunately, our society is fixated on outer appearance – height, weight, stature, pants size – and we have become people who no longer know how to let the body be our guide.

The body was beautifully designed – it works like a well-oiled machine; it heals and repairs itself if given the chance; it communicates with itself millions of times each day to keep you alive.

That being said, don’t you think it’s possible for the body to know what it wants and needs from you? That’s a resounding YES!

The body sends you messages all throughout the day. You feel pain to alert you that something is wrong, sleepy to let you know that it’s time to shut down and give your Mind and body time to rest and repair, and hunger when you are in need of sustenance and nourishment.

But sometimes the messages become confused. They get lost in translation while being filtered through the brain. Hunger is the perfect example of this, and you are not alone if ever you have confused your hunger signals.

What is your body trying to tell you?

It is not uncommon to feel hunger at random times throughout your day, or to have cravings – sometimes very specific cravings – at distinct times. Sometimes these hunger spells and cravings will ebb and flow depending on the moon phase or what you’ve eaten that day. Other times, they show up like regular unannounced guests.

Regardless, the message your body is sending you in times of hunger is almost always not the same message you consciously receive.

A common example is to desire something sweet after eating. A little something to finish off the meal and shut down your appetite. The message comes through in the form of a craving for sugary sweetness, which you might satisfy with dessert, candy, or maybe a piece of gum.

Would you consider the fact that your body is actually asking for more nutrient dense foods when you receive a craving for sweets? It’s true! The body always asks for what it needs, but, because we are human, we confuse the signals and dive head first into a pint of ice cream.

Ready for another? When you have a craving for fried foods, your body is actually asking for healthy fats – Omega 3s, essential fatty acids, they go by many names. When you can’t wait to bite into a juicy steak, you are likely low on protein or possibly heme iron.

The same is true for feelings of hunger that quickly follow a hearty snack or meal. If you are feeling hungry but know that your stomach hasn’t yet emptied, your body might be trying to tell you to drink up. Thirst is often confused for hunger.

In the same scenario, your brain might have missed the memo that you’ve consumed a snack or meal due to eating too quickly. It is calling for more food so it can check off its internal list of sensory stimuli that accompanies every meal.

Learning to decode your body’s specific messages, and practicing eating with awareness as often as possible, will transform your relationship to food beyond measure.

Essentials to keep in mind

If you are looking to heal your relationship to food, body, or weight, this is where the gold really is. You will want to read, and store, these tips for your next snack or mealtime.

  1. Write things down. Make a note of your sensations throughout the day, both before and after eating. Over time you will begin to notice patterns that are associated, and you can use them to understand your body’s unique signals.
  2. Show your food some love. Begin paying attention to your meal as if it were a guest at your table. Notice the tastes, textures, colors, and sensations in every bite. You will find yourself more satiated and with fewer post-meal cravings as you practice this one step.
  3. Slow down and take a deep breath. Literally! Deep breathing before and during a meal will help to increase oxygen to your digestive system, and also put you in a more relaxed state. If you are eating from a more present and relaxed place, your body will thank you with smoother digestion and more energy.

These are some big, but very effective, pointers. Choose one and begin practicing it regularly. Once you begin to feel like you are getting the hang of it, pick up another. Over time you will be able to check in with your body and know exactly what it wants from you.

Here’s to happy eating, my friend! Go on, and be well.