Science tells us that the stomach has a brain and the heart has a brain. What this means is that these two vitally important organs will react to something when it enters our systems and send a message to other parts of the body independent of the "real" brain, the one on top, the one we think of as the center of our intelligence.

From my study of nutrition I know that food causes messenger hormones to be released--like leptin to tell us we are full and serotonin to make us feel good. Regardless of the point of entry, the mouth, the mind or the heart, all of the information we ingest carries the potential to affect our wellbeing. Realizing this, I had an epiphany.

Everything is Food.

At this very moment you are consuming this news just like you do at 6 or 11pm.
We sign up for news "feeds", we throw a hurt at someone and say, "eat your heart out", and they do.

Bad news is hard to "swallow." A person we find attractive may conjure the words  "yummy" or "delicious." So many food terms are used to convey emotions and ways of interpreting things. These words and metaphors represent that something is happening internally brought about by something completely external to us.

Think about this for a moment. When you take something in, whether you read it, eat it as in food, or experience it in your energy field so that you feel the experience of it, it causes a reaction no different from and often more powerful than some foods.

You might be enjoying the company of your sweetie pie or praying for the gods to take you away from this speed date fruitcake. An exhausting relationship may make you sick to your stomach with the same ferocity as an old piece of chicken but you keep eating because on some level that relationship feeds a need in you even as you might starve for a bit of love. Your body is constantly receiving and processing chemical messages based on what you "eat." Let's look at all the levels of food we've discovered.

There is comestible food, ham, apple, cheese doodle, bread, all pretty obvious as you consider the effect each might have on your particular system.

Emotional food, like a hug, a harangue, or a chick flick with a mate is also pretty easy to accept as a concept. If you hug or request a hug it's generally in a positive moment and will produce a positive result. A harangue, either given or solicited, may not obviously appear to be chosen nor might it be obvious why it counts as food. If you seek it out regardless of how distasteful it might be, you are feeding some need in you for the chemical or emotional payoff you receive.

Energetic food includes such things as a comedy show or footage of the war, each will produce a physical reaction. One show feeds you endorphins and a release the other, feelings of fear and repulsion--for most--which result in stress hormones. This can lead to feelings of despondency, sadness, helplessness and hopelessness. Your choice of course, your call, but just watch with an awareness that these "foods" produce hormonal signals that affect your well being.

How does a toxic person or need for struggle cause similar responses as food? Once again it's a chemical response. The brain of the stomach sends signals when it isn't happy with something. In the early days of ingesting this substance, or simply too much of a substance, we might notice that "Mommy, I don't feel good." As the years go on the body/heart/mind still sends signals but we become less receptive to getting the message. Or the body/mind/heart may in time compensate for the offender and just weaken the signal. It doesn't lessen the impact and "suddenly" one day after many, many days we wake up with an ulcer, or diabetes, or a broken heart--literally.

Once you have become aware of something that relates to you and your wellbeing you are never innocent of that idea again. Guilt is not my intention here, awareness is.

You wouldn't knowingly eat a rotten piece of meat but you'll swallow whole the rotten lies you tell yourself about your body, your ability to reach your goals, or leave a significantly sickening spouse.

Until now. Now I want you to assess all of the people, messages, and food choices that cross your path looking for their value. How will this promote your vitality?

You've heard "you are what you eat." Now you know something that takes that to a whole new level.

Everything is food is it not?

Who says releasing extra pounds can't be fun? Janice Taylor would like you to know that taking a lighter approach can make you lighter.

Janice is a svelt, weight-loss artist, author, certified hypnotist and weight-loss coach, but it was not always so. On her way to becoming the creative, fully expressed woman she now is she had to remove 50 pounds of what no longer served her. And she did that in 2001.

In this fun, at times wacky, guide to lightening up forever the author mixes tips, anecdotes, tricks and recipes to help you on the journey. First stop? Forgiveness.

When she was visited by Our Lady of Weight Loss, patron saint of Permanent Fat Removal, many years ago, she was told that this was not just about losing weight and exercise. She was "embarking on a holistic happening."

The fun begins at the beginning even in the early chapters which states the obvious-- this trip goes down a rocky road but help is always nearby. How? With Janice's crazy but powerful collage art pieces which show up all throughout the book, some with messages and exhortations some just speak through their imagery.

Then we are introduced chapter by chapter to hours of things to do to take your mind off food and keep your hands busy.
 
There are cheers to chant as you move away from the fridge or past the cookie aisle.

There are get out of jail free cards for those times when "The Devil Made Me Do It."

By using this book you'll take a journey into your mind to find out just what sabotages you, where your weaknesses are, and what you don't know that you don't know that keeps you holding on to those extra pounds.

And until you know what will take you off course and how to create real transformation you'll be stuck.

I'd suggest getting this book and having once a week meetings with like minded friends and do some of the exercises together. Make a recipe or two from the book and talk over a "Forgivercize." These are exercises designed to work on your thoughts and your self talk or your behaviors.

What's most striking is that as playful as this book is Janice comes from such a loving, helpful place with her advice, tips and tools.

Take a look and have a giggle. I think this would make a great holiday gift!