After a couple of indulgent weeks (first week in Italy, and then a few days in Norfolk - plenty of pasta, puddings and pinot grigio) Mr Chalk and I have decided to have a bit of a detox. Normally I do not favour this type of regime as I feel that any benefit gained from going without all the usual culprits is eradicated as soon as you go back to them again and it is much better to eat and drink fairly healthily all the time. But actually in this case we have decided to go without alcohol until Christmas.
Yes, that's right, until Christmas - that's two months of pre-Christmas parties and socialising, mulled wine and spiced cider on bonfire night, the lovely glass of red to accompany a warming winter stew ..... Are we mad? Although neither of us are heavy drinkers, when we sat down and thought about it we did realise that we actually drank most nights - even if it was just a glass of wine - and it would be interesting to find out if we could even do it.
In order to make the path easier I have employed a few tricks from the trade - self-hypnosis and NLP techniques in order to trick my mind into thinking that I am not missing out, and actually the benefits will be so well worth it. For me, the evening glass of wine is very much bound up with the tactile thing of opening the bottle, and holding onto the stem of the wine glass, so another thing that I have done is make sure that I have bought some really nice non-alcoholic alternatives to the wine, like elderflower and cranberry presses or perhaps different fruit juices topped up with fizzy water and put them in one of my lovely crystal wine glasses. One thing I would suggest, however, if you are thinking about going down the teetotal route, is do not try the non-alcoholic wines - they are mostly quite disgusting!
Only a few days in, and so far, so clear-headed. I have to say that my skin, eyes and hair are thanking me already - alcohol is known to dehydrate, and this is never a good think for us women of a certain age. I have also had the best couple of nights sleep that I have had in years, and this seems to have the effect of putting me in a much better mood for the daytime. Recent studies suggest that the quality and quantity of sleep that we have has a significant effect on our overall health, and there are strong links to lack of good sleep and obesity. Having regular good quality sleep can also significantly help us to be better able to handle the stress in our lives so this has got to be good.
Maybe you feel that your body is telling you to look after itself a bit better, but you wouldn't know where to start as you feel it all sounds a bit difficult. Hypnotherapy and NLP can really help when we want to initiate new healthy habits - call me on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Wendy
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Fat chance of success
The government announced last week that tackling obesity is just a simple question of getting people to eat fewer calories, and exercise more. Well, I wonder how long it took them to come up with that insightful and inspirational call-to-action. I do think that most of us know already that this is really all it comes down to, it is just a question of HOW we actually do this.
It is my strong belief that people are eating more now, because most of the food they consume is processed junk - this is generally high in carbs, sugar and fat and leads to energy highs and then massive dips, when (sometimes just an hour or so after a meal) they then crave more of the same sort of stuff. And so there is a vicious cycle created, where many children and adults are now addicted to junk foods, and are putting their lives at risk by becoming obese.
I have given a lot of thought to what needs to be done to tackle the obesity crisis, and this is my - somewhat condensed - manifesto:
Every child should be taught how to cook - this should be compulsory on the curriculum - good, simple, healthy meals that nourish and sustain.
There should be much more physical activity at school - not just sports, but also fun things - maybe dance, yoga, anything that gets children moving, including those that do not like competitive sports.
Fast foods/ junk foods should be taxed, and the companies that produce them should not be allowed to advertise. This is a big ask, but it needs to be done. It is a complete nonsense that MacDonalds is the sponsor for next year's Olympic Games.
Children and adults with obesity problems should be referred for hypnotherapy and counselling on the NHS - very often there is something going on in somebody's life which has triggered significant weight gain. It can be a simple case of addressing these problems which can help somebody to get back on the straight and narrow.
There needs to be a culture shift in the way people eat - we need to take more time over our meals, they should be social occasions where everyone sits down at the table together - this should happen at home and at school. Food should not be eaten on the run.
For the government to offer platitudes like 'we should eat fewer calories' is not at all helpful. A truly sustainable long-term plan to tackle this epidemic needs to be thought out, otherwise the consequences are very disturbing.
If you have any comments on this or anything else, please contact me on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429 or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
It is my strong belief that people are eating more now, because most of the food they consume is processed junk - this is generally high in carbs, sugar and fat and leads to energy highs and then massive dips, when (sometimes just an hour or so after a meal) they then crave more of the same sort of stuff. And so there is a vicious cycle created, where many children and adults are now addicted to junk foods, and are putting their lives at risk by becoming obese.
I have given a lot of thought to what needs to be done to tackle the obesity crisis, and this is my - somewhat condensed - manifesto:
Every child should be taught how to cook - this should be compulsory on the curriculum - good, simple, healthy meals that nourish and sustain.
There should be much more physical activity at school - not just sports, but also fun things - maybe dance, yoga, anything that gets children moving, including those that do not like competitive sports.
Fast foods/ junk foods should be taxed, and the companies that produce them should not be allowed to advertise. This is a big ask, but it needs to be done. It is a complete nonsense that MacDonalds is the sponsor for next year's Olympic Games.
Children and adults with obesity problems should be referred for hypnotherapy and counselling on the NHS - very often there is something going on in somebody's life which has triggered significant weight gain. It can be a simple case of addressing these problems which can help somebody to get back on the straight and narrow.
There needs to be a culture shift in the way people eat - we need to take more time over our meals, they should be social occasions where everyone sits down at the table together - this should happen at home and at school. Food should not be eaten on the run.
For the government to offer platitudes like 'we should eat fewer calories' is not at all helpful. A truly sustainable long-term plan to tackle this epidemic needs to be thought out, otherwise the consequences are very disturbing.
If you have any comments on this or anything else, please contact me on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429 or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Overworked
I have spoken before about work-life balance and how difficult it is, particularly in a society where work seems to be bound up with identity, to endeavour to make time for family, friends, hobbies etc. In my work I tend to meet a lot of people who feel the need to work incredibly long hours, and with the economy being very fragile at the moment, this is even more in evidence, as people feel insecure about their jobs.
Work should, at best, be rewarding, satisfying, provide us with an outlet for creativity and an opportunity to interact with others. Unfortunately in a lot of cases, work can become so stressful, and people feel the need to work all hours in order to make sure that they are doing the job properly, and to keep the boss satisfied.
There is a fine line between being conscientious and doing the job properly, and actually becoming addicted to work, and this can so very easily happen. With many people now owning a smartphone, we are forever tied to work as we can be contacted at any time.
There are many reasons for work addiction. It can be that a person works too hard in order to avoid addressing other areas of his or her life that need to be addressed. For some, it is hard to say 'no' to tasks, and then the person very easily becomes overloaded. Sometimes it stems from a person's desire to feel 'needed', if maybe this is not happening within their private life. At the base, there can often be a feeling of low self-esteem, and maybe even a 'voice' inside of somebody from our past - perhaps parent or teacher - telling us that we are lazy and no good, and we need to work harder. There is often a need for perfection and control, perhaps somebody who works too hard feels that they have little control over their personal life, but in the workplace 'they' are in charge.
Often people who are in this situation realise that their addiction to work is unhealthy, and yet they are unable to become more balanced. They find that their health, home life and relationships can suffer, and in this case it is really important to seek help.
Hypnotherapy and NLP can help in this respect by encouraging them to look at their life from a different perspective, in order to gain a better sense of balance. It can also raise the person's self esteem and make them feel more confident generally, so they do not then feel the need to prove themselves in the work environment. It can also make them start to relax, and feel much less 'strung out' by work demands.
If you feel that you would like to chat about how hypnotherapy could help you with work/life balance, do contact me on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me at wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
All the best,
Wendy
Work should, at best, be rewarding, satisfying, provide us with an outlet for creativity and an opportunity to interact with others. Unfortunately in a lot of cases, work can become so stressful, and people feel the need to work all hours in order to make sure that they are doing the job properly, and to keep the boss satisfied.
There is a fine line between being conscientious and doing the job properly, and actually becoming addicted to work, and this can so very easily happen. With many people now owning a smartphone, we are forever tied to work as we can be contacted at any time.
There are many reasons for work addiction. It can be that a person works too hard in order to avoid addressing other areas of his or her life that need to be addressed. For some, it is hard to say 'no' to tasks, and then the person very easily becomes overloaded. Sometimes it stems from a person's desire to feel 'needed', if maybe this is not happening within their private life. At the base, there can often be a feeling of low self-esteem, and maybe even a 'voice' inside of somebody from our past - perhaps parent or teacher - telling us that we are lazy and no good, and we need to work harder. There is often a need for perfection and control, perhaps somebody who works too hard feels that they have little control over their personal life, but in the workplace 'they' are in charge.
Often people who are in this situation realise that their addiction to work is unhealthy, and yet they are unable to become more balanced. They find that their health, home life and relationships can suffer, and in this case it is really important to seek help.
Hypnotherapy and NLP can help in this respect by encouraging them to look at their life from a different perspective, in order to gain a better sense of balance. It can also raise the person's self esteem and make them feel more confident generally, so they do not then feel the need to prove themselves in the work environment. It can also make them start to relax, and feel much less 'strung out' by work demands.
If you feel that you would like to chat about how hypnotherapy could help you with work/life balance, do contact me on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me at wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
All the best,
Wendy
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
World Mental Health Day
The World Health Organization recognises the importance of mental health, and to this end is dedicating Monday 10th October 2011 as World Mental Health Day.
Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness - the WHO defines it as 'a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community'. I would add to this and make it even more emphatic in that somebody in good mental and emotional health feels balanced, calm and relaxed, fully able to ride life's ups and downs and very often, they enjoy good physical health too.
There is a tendency, when speaking of health generally, to separate the mental from the physical. However, in my belief this is not helpful, as physical health impacts on mental health, as well as the other way around. Somebody who has experienced chronic arthritis and is in constant pain, for example, will invariably be more likely to become depressed, just as somebody who is suffering from depression and anxiety often finds that their immune system is lowered, and they catch endless colds and flu.
I have always been aware of the strong mind/body link, but my work as a hypnotherapist continues to make this belief even more deeply held. I am starting to do more work in the field of infertility, and I have noticed that some women hold certain negative beliefs (sometimes even without realising) about their bodies, and their ability to become pregnant. These beliefs may be totally irrational and not based in fact, but they can actually have an affect on the woman's fertility. Very often infertility is unexplained, and in these cases, there is (I believe) a strong suggestion of negative thought processes and beliefs. By working with the woman and her partner, it is possible to instill a new sense of positivity and release old negative belief systems, which can open the woman up to the possibility of having a baby, and actually result in her body reaching a state of fertility. Therefore, this is an example of the mind having a direct effect on the body. The medical profession tend to view fertility as a very mechanical process, but I am convinced that there is a significant link here with the woman's mental and emotional state of health. How often have we heard the story of the childless couple, who (once they have adopted a baby) then go on to have children of their own?
Once the mainstream can start to accept the fact that people are not just a presentation of symptoms, and treat people more holistically, then I believe that there will be a move towards a healthier society in general.
If you are concerned about your health in any way, and feel that hypnotherapy could help you, please do not hesitate to call on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
All the best,
Wendy
Once the mainstream can start to accept the fact that people are not just a presentation of symptoms, and treat people more holistically, then I believe that there will be a move towards a healthier society in general.
If you are concerned about your health in any way, and feel that hypnotherapy could help you, please do not hesitate to call on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
All the best,
Wendy
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