Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand April / May 2015 - The Health & Wellness Issue | Page 44
Ask Luciana
ASK LUCIANA
Dear Luciana,
Since hitting 30, I’ve been dealing with the battle of the bulge.
It seems no matter how much I exercise or diet, I can never get rid of about 10 pounds. I’ve had my thyroid checked
and all is normal. I’ve heard that sometimes this can be a “mentality” thing, which might be
true for
me, but skeptical.
I’m
Any words of wisdom?
—Elsie
Dear Elsie,
Mind and body are by nature
interconnected. They work in symbiosis and often one reflects
the state of the other.
I’m a counsellor, not a nutritionist or a personal trainer, yet
often I find myself asking clients,
“How much water do you drink
a day?” They look at me with perplexity at first, but then it all starts
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to make sense. I’ll ask other
questions: Do you get enough
sleep? Do you go out in the fresh
air? Do you exercise? These
are all questions that help me understand how well you take care
of your body.
People who are physically
healthy and active are more resilient to stress and have a more
positive approach to life in general.
On the contrary, if there’s something
troubling your mind for a long period
of time, it will eventually affect your
body. Anxiety and stress for instance
can lead to poor sleep and lack of appetite or increase in appetite, hence
weight gain or loss and lovely eye bags.
There may be several reasons, or a combination of reasons, why you’re struggling
to get rid of those 10 pounds.
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