Spring 2009 Newsletter.

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Hi everyone. As usual I have had a very busy few months and my business has been slowly developing which is great especially in this economic climate. I have been busy improving my website yet again and would welcome your comments and feedback on it as well as suggestions on what else you would find useful on there.

One exciting development has been that I am going to join The Baker Street Complimentary Health Centre in Aberystwyth. There are a wide variety of therapists that work from there but unfortunately at the moment they don't have a website but as soon as they do I shall add a link to it from my website. I will be available for consultations from there starting next month (May). Quite an appropriate month don't you think. (smile)

I have just arrived back from the CAM conference in London where the topic was ‘Tackling the obesity issue'. I thoroughly enjoyed all the lectures and always find them motivating and enlightening as I gain better understanding each time of what exactly is going wrong when our bodies start developing illnesses and the reasons behind this.

I particularly enjoyed Dr. Marilyn Glenville's talk on ‘Fat around the middle' which is the title of her new book which discusses the reasons behind weight gain and ways of dealing with this issue.

The stress response is thought to be a major factor here. This response was indeed vital to the survival of our hunter gatherer ancestors if they came across a wild animal they might need to flee from if their lives were in danger. The body then needs all its energy to get itself out of trouble and so produces the hormones adrenalin and cortisol to produce a sudden burst of energy.

Adrenalin is released to get you alert and focussed ready to get out of trouble, whilst cortisol increases the levels of fat and sugar in the bloodstream to produce energy to flee from the danger.

It shuts down all other processes that the body deems as unnecessary at that moment so that all its energy can be focussed on the task in hand. This includes the digestive system. This is one reason why it is so important to sit down and relax when you have a meal and not ‘eat on the run' as it were. If you are at all stressed out your digestive system will not be able to extract the nutrients it needs from that food as it is not working!

The problem we have now is that we do not have any wild animals to flee from just certain situations that provoke the same stress response from us like being stuck in a traffic jam when we're late for a meeting, family arguments and money or work worries. Our modern lifestyles mean that we are sometimes constantly under stress but don't have the release that we would have when fleeing from an animal to escape danger.

Unless you do something physical (as your body is expecting you to) all that extra energy, in the form of fat and glucose, has nowhere to go. It must be simply re-deposited as fat.

Our food choices tend to change when we are under stress as cortisol levels often remain high in the blood for a while after a stressful event. Your appetetite is then stimulated as the body thinks that it needs to re- fuel after all the energy it has just used on fleeing. So, for someone who is under constant stress this means that they can feel continuously hungry and what's worse is that your body will be telling you to stock up on foods it thinks might be useful after all that activity such as carbohydrates like sugar and fats as these are quick energy foods.

If you don't fight or flee when your body expects you to, the fat and glucose in the bloodstream gets deposited as fat – around the middle of your body. If you then eat something sugary or fatty as a consequence of the post-stress appetite surge, any weight you gain as a result, will be around your middle too.

The reason fat targets the middle is because it is close to the liver where it can most quickly be converted back into energy if needed. There it provides the body with protection ready for the next stress attack.

Your body is only trying to help. To continue providing the energy it thinks you need, it tries to keep a convenient fat store ready for constant use and creates cravings and increases appetite to ensure good supplies of necessary fuel.

There is a chance that your pattern of eating is subconsciously telling your body that it is under stress. If you restrict your diet or cut calories your body inevitably thinks there is a famine out there and that causes stress. It will slow down your metabolism to hold on to your precious fat stores.

Furthermore, if your blood sugar levels fluctuate (as they do for most women), your body will be releasing adrenaline which is the same hormone it releases when you are under stress. Once more it encourages your body to store fat.

The solution is to change the message your body receives by finding a way of eating that tells your body all is well –and reassure it that it does not need the extra fat stores.

One of the most surprising ways to slim the fat around your middle, is to cut back on the stress in your life, because that will help reduce cortisol levels, and – when combined with diet, exercise and supplements – will train your body to stop storing fat around your middle.

Either bite the bullet and make a few really big changes so you no longer have to juggle so many plates (cut your working hours, go to bed earlier and get up earlier in the morning so you're not so rushed) or learn a few coping strategies to help you change the way you handle stress, and lessen its physical impact.

If you take control of your time, you'll be much better at avoiding falling into yet another stress trap, running late, missing appointments, eating on the run and never quite making time for yourself.

How to reduce stress

· Prioritise your time

· Learn some relaxation techniques

· Take time out to relax when eating

· Do some sort of regular exercise

· Get enough restful sleep

· Laughing reduces stress

· Put yourself first sometimes

· Put problems into perspective

· Breathing techniques are very helpful

· Enjoy some me time

Recommended reading : Fat Around The Middle by Dr. Marilyn Glenville

Dates for your diary

April 4 th – 11 am- 4pm Open day at The Malindi Centre near Carmarthen .

Free taster sessions available on the day for different therapies.

I will be there promoting myself as well so come along and have a relaxing day.

April 22 nd – 7- 9pm. Raw chocolate workshop at Ysgol Y Dderi

April 25 th – 10 - 12pm. Raw chocolate workshop at The Malindi Centre

We will be exploring its health benefits and I will show you how to make your own healthy chocolate and get to taste some too!

Limited spaces available – Tickets £7.50

To reserve your place Phone me on 01570 423 714

For more info on my workshops go to my website www.seekingbalance.co.uk


If you know of any events happening near you that have a health / holistic connection that you would like me to promote in further newsletters, just e- mail me with the relevant details and I would be happy to do this.

info@seekingbalance.co.uk


Health and happiness

May