Emotional Eating Tip #2: Pleasure

dancing of joy
Originally uploaded by Eirinn

In honor of Valentine's day I offer you tip #2: do something just for the pure pleasure of it.
Valentine's day is a time to share the love. Part of sharing the love is giving some to yourself and nothing gives to yourself like pleasure!

When I talk about pleasure, I mean those things that give you life force, that bring you true joy, that lift you up and all those around you. Pleasure is not indulging in self-destructive behavior like drugs, alcohol or binge eating as a means to avoid life. Pleasure is about indulging in yourself - and truly loving it.

The act of pursuing pleasure has innumerable health benefits, among them helping to decrease the desire for emotional eating. When we experience pleasure our body releases nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a gas that travels freely and easily throughout the body. Nitric oxide:

• causes blood vessels to widen thereby aiding in the transportation of nutrients and oxygen to cells and the ridding of waste products
• decreases blood pressure
• stimulates the release of feel-good hormones like beta-endorphin (creates feelings of euphoria) and prolactin (intensifies bonding)
• decreases stress hormones
• creates the sensation of joy and pleasure

And guess what? The more pleasure you experience, the more nitric oxide you produce and so the cycle goes. So how do you bring more pleasure into your life?

• dance
• call a friend
• take a warm bath with candles, bubbles and music
• take a walk
• make love
• go to the movies
• brag to a friend about how wonderful you are
• anything that truly makes you happy

So the next time you turn to the fridge to ease your loneliness, reach for the radio dial instead. Turn up the music, let loose and make yourself healthy!