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 42 WANDERLUST 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. www.wanderlustmag.com