Choosing Healing Foods is an Act of Self-Love

5 WAYS TO CREATE CONSISTENCY & DISCIPLINE WITH FOOD

1. The morning Protocols

For me, lemon water on waking, followed by celery juice, followed by the heavy metal detox smoothie has by far been the most powerful step in helping me to create rhythm, routine, structure and discipline on my healing journey. Firstly, by doing the same protocols every day or most days, it means my brain can relax. Secondly, just knowing that one quarter of my day is dedicated to deep cleansing and nourishing by incorporating these protocols gives me the incentive to keep doing them. Thirdly, by understanding what exactly each protocol does, my body and brain connect the dots and propels me forward into action. To download a copy of the morning routine guide, please follow the link https://www.rebecca-oreilly.com/

2. Focus on the Healing Foods

By focusing 80-90% of my diet on fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices and wild foods, it reduces the space for other foods that do not serve my health so deeply. But it also allows just a little space for small amounts of nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, occasional grain or animal food (if you eat it) and a little sweet treat here and there!

3. Listen To Your Body

In every moment, your body is talking to you. Check in with her. How do you feel after you eat a certain food? How do you feel at different times of the day? Do you feel best in the morning between breakfast and lunch? How is your digestion at night? What symptoms are being expressed? You have to begin to get close to your body and listen to what she is saying. And then you have to learn to surrender to what she needs rather than giving into the demands of the mind and senses by having what you want. Both and awareness and discipline are required here.

4. Practice Overriding The Cravings

This follows on from the previous step of surrendering to what your body is asking for or needing rather than falling into the trap of giving in to what you want. The more you give in to the cravings of the mind and senses, the more you will be taken for a ride. When you learn to say NO to the mind, you create inner strength and a potency or fire that will carry you through and beyond. To override cravings, believe it or not, one of the quickest and most effective tools is to wash your teeth!

5. Get Organised

When it comes to food and healing, organisation is half the battle. The more organised you are, the more chance you have of sticking to the plan. When you are not on top of things, it is so easy to get caught out, as hunger will override the most ardent of willpower. Make a plan in advance. Stock up with food. Take snacks. Meal plan for the week ahead. Prepare for all eventualities and you will soar!
 

When you get started on the healing journey, it is common to struggle to let go of the foods you have become accustomed to eating over a lifetime. These are the comfort foods that have kept you bolstered, and when forced to let them go in order to support the body, it can create feelings of sadness, anger, depression, deprivation and restriction.
 
But like all things in life, it is a matter of perspective and willingness to do. Either, you can view it as deprivation, restriction and hardship, or, you can begin to see at as abundance and self-love.
 
Learning to love yourself deeply and completely is no easy task. Vey often it is the journey of a lifetime. But healing from an illness or chronic symptoms offers a profound opportunity to do just this.
 
There is no greater love than learning how to deeply nourish your body with vibrant living foods like fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, and wild foods.
 
But in order to change habits, discipline is required. In the yogic tradition, the word for discipline is Tapas, which means ‘heat’. It refers to the one-pointed focus and drive required to manifest our purpose. When a person goes through the fire or ‘heat’ of discipline, they emerge more potent as a result.
 
When you are healing, it requires Tapas, as this is your path to freedom. The ability to say no to the demands of the mind and senses creates an inner strength that carries you through.
 
When I look in my fridge (the photo above) I see vibrancy and abundance. The aliveness of these foods brings me great joy. But has it always been easy to make the right choices? No.
 
However, the more I did it, the more my body craved it.  And the more I continue to surrender and listen, the more connected I feel to myself and the more I am able to love myself.

 
When you eat heavy and dense foods, how you do you feel? Do you feel heavy or light, happy or sad, open and receptive or grumpy and closed? Or maybe you don’t feel at all because you’re so numbed out (most people).
 
We live in a world where it is hard to make the right food choices because we are so bombarded with and addicted to the wrong foods. It requires great alertness, and sadly, very often an illness or poor health, for us to come to our senses and recognise what the body actually wants and needs to be happy and well.
 
But rest assured that every step you take towards changing your habits through continued discipline, the more empowered you will feel. In every moment you have a choice and that choice can determine how you feel.

Wishing you much love, health and happiness,
Rebecca