The Noticing - Giovanna Capozza

“The Noticing”
A GUIDE TO
START LOSING
WEIGHT AND
LOVING
YOUR LIFE
...
Table of Contents
1
2
Introduction
4
My Story
8
The Noticing: An Insightful Journey
9
Question One
10
Question Two
11
Question Three
12
Question Four
13
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
As women we have all looked in the mirror at
some point in our lives and hated at least one
part of our body.
...
The struggle with weight has become big business and there is so much
conflicting information out there with new diet trends, theories, and different
fads. It’s impossible for someone to keep up on the latest diet news let alone
figure out what works for them. All of these diets have one thing in common
though; they promise a quick fix. They don’t actually give advice that is
tailored to you and your lifestyle; they give everybody the same generic
“tips”.
The weight loss industry has also kept us distracted from the truth. Don’t get
me wrong, as a Holistic Nutritionist I definitely acknowledge the importance
of a clean diet and eating right for your body’s individual needs. I also
recognize the importance of the physiological balance of hormones and the
biology that can contribute to stubborn weight in women. However, beyond
all this at the deepest level is that:
Behind every weight or body image issue is an underlying
“need” or “hunger” that must be addressed . . .
2
.
INTRODUCTION - continued
I
t’s not enough to follow a diet
plan or take the newest weight
loss supplement as I’ve done, seen
and prescribed over and over again
in my practice before I found a lasting
solution. The reason we fall for the
“get thin quick” schemes is because
we feel we need to “feed” a hunger
and fill a void. These voices in our
heads cause us to turn to food as
comfort and medicine. Now it’s time
to change that pattern of thought
and fill our minds with something else…
the truth!
BUT first we need to find out what is
blocking us before we can transform
it. The very thoughts and beliefs and
emotions that are stressing the physical
system and causing the external
symptoms (weight gain) are at the core
of this struggle. The emotions that you
cover up and hide are being stored in
your body.
Your weight, or health in general, is the
physical manifestation of a far greater
and far more important secret than the
next “new” diet trend.
...
3
MY
story
I am Italian Canadian and although I have fond memories
of my childhood up until the age of eight, a traumatic move
to another country; which separated me from part of my
family at age eight marks the start of a lifetime struggle to
love myself. After spending many fearful, uncomfortable,
and unhappy months in Italy (a place I later grew to love
and crave) my parents decided that it was best to move my
sister (one of three that made the move with us) and I back
to Canada.
...
When I returned I did not return to the home and school
and friends I had known, instead we moved to a new
neighborhood which may as well have been on the other
end of the world and just as traumatic as the original move.
I didn’t know at the time that I was suffering from separation
anxiety and my parents did not notice that I was not coping
well with all the changes. It even took my Mother many
attempts to enroll me in school because of my separation
anxiety. I was too afraid to leave my family in case they
decided to run off with out me. When I finally did join school
I was teased and bullied first because I couldn’t be apart
from my mom and progressed towards the size of my body. It
got to the point where I experienced complete isolation and
deep depression . . .
4
. MY STORY - continued
“YOU MUST
REWIRE YOUR
BRAIN AND FIND
THOSE NEGATIVE
DEEP-ROOTED
BELIEFS YOU’RE
HOLDING ONTO AND
TRANSFORM THEM.
THIS IS THE KEY.”
...
5
. MY STORY - continued
T
he impact of these events may not have been traumatic to anyone else
but for me they triggered a deeply seated fear of abandonment inside me.
This was the start of what became years of more bullying, self-hatred, and
self esteem issues. I can recall looking in the mirror with absolute disgust and hate.
I began hitting and punching myself almost to the point of bruises because I felt so
fat and ugly and so disgusting and unlovable. As I went through grade school I
tried to harden myself against this bullying and abuse by coping as best as I knew
how, which was to seek the comfort of food.
As the years passed I increasingly gained weight and the self-hatred only
increased. I tried to suppress it and distract myself with a busy social life and
my studies. By the time I was finished high school my horrible self-image was so
deeply entrenched that it functioned on autopilot, running my whole life and
all my relationships; even my decisions. For example, I remember one year
I declined to go on vacation with my “skinny” friends because I couldn’t
bare the thought of being in a bathing suit with all the “pretty”
people. This is one of many events I decided not to attend and
instead stayed at home with some form of comfort food.
Years later it became clear to me that the struggle
with my weight was about so much more than
what I was eating and how often I was
working out.
..
I was at war with myself and I
didn’t even know it!
66
.
MY STORY - continued
Yet, this knowledge was purely
intellectual and I hadn’t really gotten
it, you know down deep in your soul,
in your knowingness? I hadn’t really
had my “ah-ha” moment with it. At
the same time in reality I DIDN’T
want to look! I didn’t want to go
there, to see how badly I hated
myself. I thought it would be much
too painful, so I put it off. To become
aware of the silent war you wage
against yourself is not enough. You
must rewire your brain and find those
negative, deep-rooted beliefs you’re
holding onto and transform them.
This is the key.
BUT first we need to find out what is
blocking us before we can transform
it. The very thoughts and beliefs
and emotions that are stressing the
physical system and causing the
external symptoms (weight gain)
are at the core of this struggle. The
emotions that you cover up and hide
are being stored in your body.
It was not until I became aware that
my weight gain had started affecting
every area of my life that I DECIDED
to make a change. That’s really the
first and most important step you can
take is to simply decide you want to
change. After you make the decision
comes the hard part; figuring out what
is causing this inability to lose weight.
How did I do it? I took it step by step
looking at what was holding me back,
issue by issue. Not only changing my
diet and lifestyle, but also by making
small changes in my habits, perceptions
and the way I spoke to and saw
myself. I used all of the tools and
knowledge I had accumulated over
the years to battle these issues. Now I
want to share this knowledge with you!
“That’s really the first and most
important step you can take is to simply
decide you want to change.”
7
...
The Noticing :
AN INSIGHTFUL JOURNEY
B
elow you will find four questions to
ask yourself every time you eat or
have a craving. These are the starting
point to discovering those deep-seeded
issues that are contributing to your
weight gain. I call this process of inquiry
and curiosity “The Noticing”.
It’s important, as you ask yourself
these questions, that you remain
nonjudgmental about your findings.
When you notice something come up,
approach it with the thought; “Hmm...
That’s interesting.” As opposed to “Oh
my God I can’t believe I’m feeling that,
I’m so horrible!” It’s all about getting to
know the hidden parts of yourself that
motivate your choices.
These are the parts that fight against
your ability to see or feel for various
reasons. It’s about uncovering the hidden
secrets of your body.
For now, as you ask yourself the four
questions I only want you to notice your
thoughts and feelings, but if you would
like to take it a step further grab a journal
and put those thoughts and feelings
in writing. So here is your kick-start to
unveiling the “not-so” hidden secrets
behind your weight. The process of inquiry
I call “The Noticing.”
The following questions are meant to be
asked when you start to feel hunger.
Read through them now and when you
do feel hungry or the “need” to eat than
I want you to sit in a quiet place (with your
journal if you choose) and ask yourself the
following questions:
8
Question 1:
Does it feel “safe” being hungry?
This may sound like a weird question but this can unearth a plethora of primal
fears that we all carry. Ask with the intention of truly knowing and being truthful
with yourself. I found that when I started my weight loss journey and purposefully
noticed my hunger what I really found was that being hungry made me nervous
and anxious. I noticed the need to fill it immediately with something, anything just so
I would stop feeling.
When I allowed myself to sit in this anxiety I realized that there was a deeper
fear and need behind it that food would only superficially fill. Once I dealt with
this issue I began to feel safe and changed the way I made decisions. My fear of
being hungry was actually a fear of abandonment. The separation anxiety I felt at
the early age of eight had remained with me for many, many years. Once I was
able to address this issue I not only let go of my fear of abandonment, but also I let
go of the need to seek out food to stuff, so to speak, these feelings back down.
...
“Once I dealt with this issue, I began to feel safe
and changed the way I made decisions.”
9
.
2.
THE NOTICING - continued
QUESTION TWO:
What is my body feeling right now?
With this question you are going to take three deep breaths and tune into your
body, give yourself at least a minute of analysis here. Are you feeling tension
anywhere? Is there anxiety about someone, or something on your mind that you
may be feeling in your arms, legs, stomach or chest? Remember, no judgment,
just think “Hmm...Interesting.” When you start to feel your body it will reveal to you
your motivations and intentions behind your choices.
...
At first you may say, “Well I’m just hungry and that’s it!” If you allow yourself to sit
with your body longer you’ll notice that you’re carrying stress in places that you
have not allowed yourself to feel. We tend to plaster over our emotions and
carry on but the fact is that pushing them down is never a good idea.
...
Becoming more present in your body allows you to be more present in the
moment and acknowledge these emotions. In addition, if you can learn to start
listening to your body you won’t overrule clues that you’re full or that a certain
food is not sitting well with you. This will lead to your discovery of the hidden
emotions that are sabotaging you and your weight loss.
10
.
THE NOTICING - continued
QUESTION THREE:
What am I really hungry for right now?
The importance of this inquiry is to see that often what we’re really hungry for or
craving is something that food can only temporarily satisfy. Sometimes it’s safety,
security, validation and/or love. If you’re truthful with yourself you’ll see that
sometimes the hunger or craving is just another way for you to go outside of yourself
to cover-up or avoid dealing with the fact that you’re angry with your spouse, sister
or friend. Additionally, it could be related to the fact that you didn’t get promoted or
didn’t speak up for yourself in line at the grocery store.
...
3
When we start to notice our “triggers” we can identify the number of times we reach
for food instead of dealing with or noticing where we are at emotionally. You may
still choose to eat after this, knowing full well that you are eating because you’re
angry, but at least you are now making an informed and aware decision. Remember
this is a step in the right direction. When you’re ready you will start to choose
differently.
11
3
.
4.
THE NOTICING - continued
QUESTION FOUR:
Are my actions, choices and decision in
this moment an act of self-love?
...
We all know deep down on a level beyond intellect what foods feel good in our
soul and feed our energy system with nutrients and high vitality. For example, if
someone loves you how do they make you feel? How do they treat you? Do
they hug you and support you? Or do they hurt you and behave in a toxic way
toward you? You see where I’m going with this? If your goal is to love yourself
and your body then your choices will reflect this. Your choices will also reflect
back to you when you’re punishing yourself or when you’re being uncaring toward
yourself.
For example, choosing to eat a food that you know is not good for you or will
make you feel sick. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t necessarily mean always
eating like a saint, but it does mean that you become aware of the choices you
make surrounding food. Are you making a choice to love yourself in the moment
or are you using food to cover up some of the issues you may have unearthed in
your process of noticing?
12
the conclusion
So there you have it. Your first baby steps to “The Noticing”.
This noticing is about getting curious about your motivations instead of
judging them. When you notice and gently question, without judgment,
you can empower yourself with knowledge. This will in turn lead to
making different choices and truly creating lasting change. The process
of inner awakening and noticing all these emotions may unearth some
really painful and traumatic events for some, so it’s important to find a
professional to work with to help guide you through this process.
Your journey to weight loss should include first and foremost, before diet,
nutrition and physiological components, the journey within. This is a journey
back to the true you and to uncover the hidden secrets behind your
weight. A journey back to self-love!
...
13
Giovanna’s specialty is working with the underlying psychology or “false filter” that rules our
experiences in the world, including the state of health in our body. She’s had 7 years clinical
experience as a Homeopathic Doctor, Holistic Nutritionist and Energy Medicine Practitioner before
she transitioned into coaching & mentoring women full-time. Giovanna has studied with some of the
world’s most successful and influential personal development & mindset experts. She is known as
a Woman’s Empowerment Coach, Mentor & Speaker. A proponent of the quote “when sleeping
women wake, mountains move”, she believes that it is every woman’s right to live a life that fills her soul
up with joy and excitement and that the key to this is self love. She is founder of the Love Blueprint™
program, which helps women create a deeper level of self worth, understanding and personal power
to overcome dis-eased states of mind & body. To learn more about Giovanna’s programs visit her site
- http://www.giovannacapozza.com
Photography: Melissa-Mercado.com
eBook design: DigitallyBrewed.com