The word “sexy” is used to advertise just about any and everything. Sexy hair. Sexy dress. Sexy car. Sexy nails. Sexy idea…
I even saw “sexy cupcakes” in a bakery not long ago.
Do not Google it.
Along with all this sexiness, the rich word “sensuous” has been sucked into it’s orbit.
This is unfortunate because “sensuous” is about SO much more.
As liberated eaters, we are reclaiming the way we were born to eat, which empowers us to thrive. So let’s reclaim the original meaning of the life-giving word “sensuous” as well.
WORD NERD MOMENT: It is thought to have been created by John Milton, in 1641. The word “sensual” had decidedly sexual overtones so he created a separate word that means “relates to the senses rather than the intellect.”
Ex: swimming is a beautiful, sensuous experience
Sensuous - adjective: : affecting the senses in a pleasing way
We innately know that living without our senses fully engaged would be a great loss!
So, why do we tolerate living this way with our food?
We now know from trusted research, that…
Sensuous eating will change your life.
Dramatically.
Which can change your health and energy.
Dramatically.
ONE OF MANY STUDIES: Dr. Wansink and his team at Cornell found that when subjects ate at a slower pace (which is what sensuous eating accomplishes) they consumed, on average, 70 calories less than usual. Practiced consistently, the result would be an approximately 20 pound weight release over one year.
All this by simply connecting. Tasting. Seeing. Smelling. Touching. Hearing.
Imagine what will happen as we begin to eat with all these senses keenly engaged and gratified?
Imagine what will happen when we stop eating on auto-pilot:
Eating entire meals with very little awareness or pleasure. Merely consuming. Eating more than we mean to, yet still looking around for more since that food did not register.
I speak from experience.
There are many reasons we might eat in this disconnect way.
Here are just a few.
We’re:
Eating compulsively because of dieting deprivation
Trying not to get caught eating (food police are scary!)
Rushed
Distracted
Bored
Starved from dieting
In emotional pain
Multi-tasking
Feeling guilty about eating something “bad”
Feeling ashamed for eating at all
Feeling obligated to eat what someone prepared
Procrastinating
Unaware
We could go on.
In all these cases, we’re just going through the motions of eating.
So we miss out on:
· The profound joy of being deeply nourished
· Trusting our innate “satisfied” signal that tells us we can move on
· The deeply contented feeling of being refreshed & replenished
· High energy for the next part of your day
· Keen clarity of mind
· Gratitude for the gift of “enough”
WOW!
All this Goodness comes from simply taking time for sensuous eating…
So, how can we turn our meals into memorable and satisfying experiences in our distracting lives?
It will take some practice, and, the pay-off is MORE than worth the effort.
Try this, for one meal a day:
Coach Note: Go through this exercise with the mindset of a Curious Scientist. Simply observing - not judging - yourself and your experience. This allows you to be open to discovery.
a) Notice when your body feels hungry (instead of your mind)
b) When you’re physically hungry, choose food you really want (not food you think you should choose)
c) Serve yourself an amount you estimate will leave you feeling good – not too hungry and not too full.
d) Choose your ambience/environment to the degree that you can. Can you eat outside? Play some background music? Light a candle? Set the table? These simple gestures honor you, the moment and the gift of food.
e) Use your imagination. Imagine eating this food for the very first time.
f) Look at it closely. Smell it. Touch it. Taste it. Notice the textures, temperature, aromas, and flavors as you slowly chew.
g) Lay your fork or food down between bites so you can enjoy each bite fully.
h) Tune into your body. Practice noticing it’s subtle signals of diminishing hunger and approaching satisfaction.
i) If this feels boring or tedious, re-engage your senses.
j) If you re-engage and find that you’re still bored, be open to the possibility that you might be finished eating, even if there is food left.
k) Get excited about turning your attention to what’s next for you.
One last important part of this exercise: Stop and notice how you feel after a sensuous meal. Mark down how you feel an hour later, and then several hours later.
By treating each eating experience this way – showing up, slowing down, and connecting – your meals will become a multisensory mini-vacation for you every day.
Now that is liberating!
I’ll take this over mindlessly scarfing down a sexy cupcake any day.