The Stock Market & Intuitive Eating

It's still party season and will be until January. Think of eating as making an investment in yourself, and position yourself for success. Use intuitive tools to guide your choices so that you stay grounded and in control.

When diet restrictions cause frustration, often the result is emotional eating. When you use your intuition there are no restrictions. Instead, you focus on your immediate quality of life.

Intuitive eating is like smart financial investing.

An article about financial investing said:
"Emotional decisions tend to be impulsive and irrational decisions that compromise the realization of your stated goals."  That's exactly what happens when you make emotional eating decisions.

The stock market has been completely unpredictable for some time. It goes up and down, creating frustration and disappointment for many. For some, this yo-yoing is part of investing. For others, it creates a spiral of despair.

Here are intuitive rules to remember when you eat and are ways to make a solid investment in yourself and your future.

• Don't panic and let your emotions drive your investment (eating) decisions. Instead, take a long-term approach, confirm your previously set goals and assess your risk tolerance in view of your eating choices. Protect yourself by using your intuitive tools to stay clear about your priorities.

• Have a taste of what tempts you to make yourself comfortable. Really make sure you taste it for pleasure. Chew well and slowly. Take a second taste and you'll notice it's not as good.  When we're not really hungry, just a taste is the rational investment.  Consider how you would feel if you ate more than your body wanted, and ended up binging. You always have the option to eat less. You are in control.

• Keep an open mind and be skeptical when someone tells you the latest fad for maintaining your perfect weight.  You can try anything, but trust only your own body when it comes to eating. No one except you knows how you feel physically. It's good to learn about your body and it's best to stay connected to your physical and emotional priorities to make grounded decisions.  An open mind shows you your options.

• If you overeat, don't fixate on food you've eaten. "Once you make  a purchase, focus on whether the stock still represents one of your best ideas." Beating yourself up is destructive emotionally, and useless. Instead, learn from your mistakes. Everyone slips up; the intuitive way to handle it is to give yourself grace and commit to being wiser next time.

• If your first choice isn't available or you find you're at an unexpected party where food is abundant, stay balanced by using common sense to stop and assess your options. It's intuitive to be flexible and go with the flow. Enjoy yourself by tasting your options with dignity. Stay clear about your long-term goals.

• Anticipate the foods that will tempt you at a party, and plan to ride out the evening without panicking by remaining committed to your long-term investment/eating plan. This way you will position yourself for success.

Intuitive eating is the healthy solution to 21st century stress-driven living and eating challenges. It's having an open mind, a flexible attitude towards yourself and eating - you know yourself. Stay clear and you'll like the way your investments turn out. 

"All investors have a unique situation regarding their finances." Your eating choices are uniquely related to your lifestyle and body type. "Solutions to your financial concerns vary dramatically depending on your particular set of circumstances."

Intuitive eating is personal. Download your kindle copy of Am I Really Hungry? 6th Sense Diet : Intuitive Eating,  and have the answers in your pocket 24/7.  It's an investment in your future you can count on!

*Investment article written by Joseph M. Lanza, Branch Manager of SagePoint Financial, Inc., Ridgewood, New Jersey