“Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine your food”
(Hippocrates)
As holistic osteopaths, we take a keen interest in what our patients eat: frequently, a patient’s symptoms can be largely linked directly to their diet; equally, sound nutritional advice can improve that person’s health, stamina and wellbeing beyond recognition. Our aim is to avoid dieting, but to shape a healthy, enjoyable and sustainable diet.
In this post, one of our patients provides a first-hand illustration of this positive transition.
Christine: Confessions of a Serial Dieter
When your clothes are tight, you can’t climb the stairs or walk along the road without feeling out of breath and aching joints, and you have indigestion most of the time, then something has to be done. Up to that point, I had tried every diet book known to man plus I had done the rounds of all the slimming clubs (group therapy just isn’t for me but it works for some). I had been a dieter on and off for over 30 years and something different was called for but I didn’t know what.
It was then that I spotted a Bridge to Health leaflet in my church. I contacted Mathieu and he asked me to keep an honest diary of all food and drink that passed my lips plus the emotions and feelings I encountered throughout the day. Even as I was writing I could begin to see where I was going wrong. It’s funny how a person can live a fantasy of being a healthy eater when we are clearly not. Delusional – definitely…
The next step was to have a one to one with Mathieu. He had carried out a study of my diet diary and came up with a very useful analysis of what was going on. I felt quite amazed that he had found “areas of strength” – that made me feel immediately better that I actually had some, and of course went on to suggestions for improvement and things to consider. Straight after the appointment I went shopping for food. I filled up a trolley with all the things that had been missing from my diet.
Since then I have been enjoying what I eat much, much more. I have switched to eating lots more fruit and raw salad vegetables and nuts. I don’t feel and act as if I am “on a diet” because I am not. I am gradually changing my previously unhealthy eating habits for healthy ones. I am gradually drinking less tea and coffee, having hot water instead especially first thing in the morning. I am trying to get out for a walk every day. You will note that I have used the word gradually, in the past I have found that stopping something immediately in a “giving up” sort of way, just doesn’t work for me, I end up with cravings which I give into.
How do I feel now a few months on? Well, clothes are looser, weight is coming off slowly (but I don’t keep jumping on and off the scales like I used to), the back ache and knee aches have gone, and best of all no more indigestion.
At long last I think I have found an approach to eating that is working for me.
Christine B.
Can we help you? Telephone Bridge to Health on 01895 200050 to talk directly to an osteopath (not a receptionist) – or email us if you prefer. We are based in Uxbridge, at the Fitness First health centre on Uxbridge High Street (a 4 minute walk from Uxbridge station on the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines).
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