Today I was coaching a client who wants to lose weight so she can fall pregnant. She has polycystic ovarian syndrome. This is a condition caused by poor blood sugar control and insulin resistance which is caused largely by a poor diet. Just eliminating soft drinks helped this young woman to lose 2 kilos!
But, it’s not just about the weight! She needs her body and blood chemistry rebalanced so her fertility returns to normal. And she needs to learn how to truly be kind to herself so that she has the inner motivation to eat a healthy, whole food diet for the rest of her life. Let’s face it – it takes time and energy to eat well and exercise regularly!
Up till now her level of self-care has been inadequate. She’s placed convenience, comfort, earning money and instant gratification ahead of her self-care. She’s invested her time and attention elsewhere. She got married, bought a house, travelled overseas and bought herself jewellery instead of investing in self care. There is nothing wrong with any of these things. Not at all! They add joy, beauty and meaning to our lives. The trouble is, not investing in ourselves has unfortunate consequences: to our self confidence because we hate what we see when we look in the mirror; to our weight because we take little care to keep it in check; and to our health to which my client is testimony. It’s only now, that she is trying to have a baby and can’t, that she is realizing it.
My client is experiencing frustration, worry, disappointment, despair and guilt. These emotions are the predictable consequence of being unkind to ourselves. If we do not honour ourselves we will feel pain, firstly emotional pain then potentially physical pain. We are meant to feel this! These yukky feelings are important messages to us that we are not on track, not in alignment, not taking great care of ourselves. When you honour yourself you feel yum! When you dishonor yourself you feel yuk! The feelings guide us. They are a feedback mechanism. They are a very effective guidance tool. How exciting is that!
My client just didn’t know this. She’s suffered these negative feelings and unfortunate health consequences for years. She’s tolerated being overweight, unhealthy and miserable for so long she thinks it’s normal! It’s not normal! Ignorance is not bliss! When I talked to my client today about the consequences of poor blood sugar control on her health, and the long term effects on her baby’s health she looked at me stunned. Nobody had told her. The companies selling the junk food hadn’t told her. The doctors giving her the fertility drugs hadn’t told her. The clinic offering her IVF hadn’t told her. But now she knows. She’s finally invested in her self care. I’ve never seen someone walk out more determined.
Yay to yum!
