MINDFUL EATING
If you’ve ever had issues with food, weight or your body, you know how tough the holidays can be. We struggle with all the temptations, expectations, old habits and emotional eating triggered by stress and certain relatives (we all have them!).
We get exhausted, our resistance is low and comfort food doesn’t disappoint. We have our “go-to” indulgences that feel good.
After all, don’t we deserve SOME pleasure?
Sometimes we just throw in the towel, give up and plan to start over in the new year. Usually this approach leads to a few extra pounds to deal with when the new year rolls around.
Or we struggle and beat ourselves up every day in an effort to “be good” or “do good”- measured, of course, solely by what we’ve eaten or not eaten that day.
Does this sound familiar? I know because I’ve been there. And I know personally that it can be so much easier than that.
LET THIS YEAR BE DIFFERENT.
Mindful eating is a different way. It is not a diet. It is a comprehensive approach to nourishing ourselves in all ways, noticing our reactivity and creating space for new choices that serve us better.
It is learning to be with ourselves, our emotions and needs in a kinder and more intuitive way.
Mindful eating is NOT about deprivation. It is about learning to listen to what we really need in any given moment and honoring that.
We often eat for reasons other than hunger.
Emotions such as fear, anxiety, loneliness, shame, disappointment, grief, resentment, and many more can trigger us to grab our favorite sweet or salty snack to activate the pleasure centers in the brain.
There is a biochemical reason why we keep reaching for those processed foods. And there is a way to tap into that very same brain chemistry to take back your power.
Overeating has become a socially acceptable (and even encouraged by certain industries) way to self-medicate and we have health epidemics such as type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and high cholesterol to show for it.
I have a graduate degree in medicine from the Yale University School of Medicine. I spent many years practicing western medicine as a primary care provider charged with educating patients with these chronic diseases. At the time I was using the traditional, mainstream educational techniques: talking with people about diets put forth by associations such as the American Diabetes Association and encouraging them to eat less and to eat different foods.
This approach helped people reverse or halt disease progression approximately…Never.
This failed not because I was a bad educator or because people weren’t motivated to eat better.
It didn’t work because we weren’t addressing the underlying reasons WHY people were overeating and relying on food to meet other needs. It only address the “what,” not the why or the how.
There is a better way.
Mindful eating is getting reacquainted with our own internal cues; with what we’re really hungry for. Through this process of reconnection we tap into the wisdom and intelligence inherent to our own bodies.
It is only when we have the courage to look deeply at our own internal patterns, including the chatter in our minds and the stories that we tell ourselves, that we can rework the old patterns and create new habits.
Habits of mind become habits of body. The two are inextricably linked. When we harness the power of the mind, it makes dealing with the body so much easier.
When we learn to re-inhabit the body, it can make dealing with the mind so much easier.
Mindfulness is a way of finding balance and peace with both mind and body. From this place, we can naturally make choices that will nourish us.
I have been teaching mindfulness based solutions for many years and have seen people make much more progress than they did with traditional medicine alone.
For the first time, I am offering this program entirely online. I hope you will join me.
WHEN
Starts Sunday October 23th
HOW
Each Sunday for 8 weeks, you will receive a recorded video lesson (watch when it’s convenient for you) and some home practices (audio files) to work with and enjoy for that week.
We will have 6 live conference calls for us to check in, to ask me any questions you might have about the practices, and perhaps do some group coaching.
If you can’t make the calls live, they will be recorded so you can listen at your convenience.
You will also have the opportunity to interact with and support each other in a private Facebook group (optional).
The information will all be housed on an easy to access platform. Even if you’ve never taken an online class before, this should make intuitive sense to you quickly.
WHAT
Here is just some of the content we will cover. Each week will be packed with practices to help you tap into your own inner wisdom (mindfulness practices) and some outer wisdom (concrete suggestions to you find your ideal weight).
- Introduction to Mindfulness and Mindful eating
- Using the breath to find stillness and reduce stress
- The power of kindness and befriending ourselves
- STOP practice: slowing down to see more clearly
- Body Scan practice: climbing back into the body
- Bodies are meant to move. How gentle mindful movement can help
- Hunger awareness: reconnecting to physical cues of hunger and fullness
- Eating for quality and not quantity
- What will truly nourish us?
- Mindful communication, how to speak your truth with integrity and calm
- Mindful practices to promote self-compassion instead of self-criticism
- What are you really hungry for? Looking at emotional triggers and true needs
- The power of plants: how the food pyramid might have led us astray
- Setting intentions
- Gratitude and emphasis on what is going right
- Taste satisfaction: salt vs sweet
- Nonjudgmental awareness of whatever is happening
- Transforming eating into a pleasurable experience, not one to be feared or ashamed about
- Getting deeper than the thinking mind; you are not your thoughts
This is an ambitious list and what we will do together is meant to build a platform upon which you will be able to build true health for years to come. You will have guided meditations and exercises to keep using and exploring.
WHY
You are tired of dieting and beating yourself up about your size and weight and want to reclaim your health and vitality.
HOW THIS PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT
It is becoming increasingly obvious, based on the huge numbers of people with chronic diseases, that western medicine alone is not sufficient for many people to find true health.
Mindful eating is about EMPOWERING YOU to take back your power and health from the inside out; by reconnecting you to your own wisdom and embodied genius.
In addition to addressing issues with food, hunger, fullness etc. we’ll also be addressing issues like stress management and mindful communication. This will be especially important around the holidays!!
Because of the timing of this course, you will have support right through the sometimes challenging holiday season!
You will be supported by me and also by the others on the journey with you. You will not be alone in the struggle. There can be tremendous comfort in this, even in a virtual community.
WHO SHOULD SIGN UP
Anyone looking for some new and kinder ways of relating to themselves and their bodies. You are up for trying some new things and making time to implement the mindfulness practices (about 30 minutes per day). This can be especially helpful for those suffering from:
- obesity
- type 2 diabetes
- high cholesterol
- problems related to being overweight like painful joints, heartburn/GERD and sleep apnea
WHO SHOULD NOT SIGN UP
- Anyone who is not willing to make the time and space in their lives to look deeply and clearly at the old patterns that aren’t serving.
- Sometimes food is used to cover up the pain of trauma. Any unaddressed trauma should be dealt with by seeing a therapist before engaging in a mindfulness course.
WHY I AM QUALIFIED TO SERVE YOU
I have both western medical training:
*certified PA since 1997
*primary care provider in Internal Medicine practice for 10 years
*former professor of health sciences
And extensive training in delivering mindfulness:
I’ve been teaching and designing mindfulness based interventions for various groups since 2008, including medical centers, academic institutions and corporate clients.
Topics include mindful eating for patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome and integrative medicine group visits for chronic pain patients.
My teaching is grounded in my own daily mindfulness practice which I supplement with regular silent retreats. In addition, I am a life coach certified by the Martha Beck institute, have training in MB-EAT (mindfulness based eating awareness training) and bring my own unique magic to the curriculum.
WHY I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING YOU
As a former professional figure skater, I know what it’s like to be told you’re too heavy. In fact, at one point I was threatened with being fired if I gained any more weight! I know what it’s like to desperately wish the numbers on a scale were different, and how that desperation only makes the problem worse.
At that time, I tried several fad diets and they made me feel lousy and anxious. The holidays were especially problematic for me.
Today, I almost never step on a scale. I know what my body needs and when it needs it. I don’t care what that number is, only that I feel healthy and vibrant.
I am in tune with myself. I know when/what to eat and the numbers take care of themselves.
I see so many people getting prescribed more and more medications, spending more money on co-pays and doctors visits and I know there is another way.
I want to help you:
TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH!
What others are saying:
“My goal was to learn more about the benefits of meditation and to learn some relaxation techniques. Erin was very professional and created an environment conducive to learning. I felt the benefits of training the mind and learned how to maintain my knowledge. I continue to practice her techniques and can appreciate the health benefits.” ~D. Roy, physician
“I have the great opportunity to work with hundreds of teachers in the health and wellness field and have worked closely with Erin on a number of projects as well hired her as a teacher at our center. Erin is amazing. She is well-studied, a true practitioner of her teaching and an inspiration to all who have the opportunity to work with her.”
~Joan Dwyer, co-creator and owner of All That Matters, Wakefield, RI
I love working with Erin because it feels like something magical and momentum-full is always happening. and there’s someone magical along with me, helping, witnessing and celebrating.
~Jane Bernstein, Writer, Sheffield, MA
~D.L., Medical Provider, Nags Head, NC
Anonymous feedback given from students in Erin’s Boston class:
“I have come to greatly enjoy mindfulness. I am usually smiling when I go to sleep and am eager to get up and start fulfilling my intention in the morning. The more mindfulness I work into my days, the more energy I seem to have.
Even with lots of personal changes looming, I feel happy and content. I have realized that I feel much better if I give myself a break when I want it rather than pushing through until I am ragged and frantic. I feel like I have started down a path to make myself a more strong and capable person.”
“I now sleep better. I feel very grateful to have been introduced to these practices. I can’t imagine my life without mindfulness now.”
“Mindfulness has been such a positive experience for me and I feel much more relaxed as a whole. I’ve been able to manage my stress much better and communicate more effectively. I have a new appreciation for life from this experience and I don’t want to forget because the beauty that comes from it is so valuable to me.”
“I have had such a great experience with mindfulness. I feel like I am living a completely different life than I was before I started practicing.”
“I am extremely grateful that this class was offered. Life seems richer than it did before. Things have more depth. I think I have become a better communicator. This course has affected my life in ways that I could have never imagined.“
Your Transformation Awaits
Early bird pricing (until Oct. 13) All 8 weeks are: Only $225!
After Oct. 13, price will increase to: $250 (still less than similar courses with less content and shorter duration)
Sign up today! If it’s not a good fit, receive a full refund.
**see below for money back guarantee.
VIP PACKAGE
If you know you could use a little more support, you can sign-up for 3 hours of one-on-one coaching with me in addition to the group course above. This time can be used anytime during or for 6 months after the completion of the program. Personalized coaching can be really powerful in taking your life and your health to the next level!
The total value of this offering is $584.00. Sign up now for only $499.00. You’re worth it.
*NB-this course is not a substitute for medical care. You should never discontinue or change medications without checking with your health care provider.
**Money back guarantee: If after the first class you feel that this is not right for you, just let me know and I’ll refund 100% of your money. And you get to keep all the materials from week 1. No questions asked. After week 2, no refunds will be offered.
