In my years of helping people through recovery, it is clear the holidays bring about an increased need for support and skills to not only to decrease risk of relapse, but to allow for enjoyment and closeness of family and friends. These suggestions have helped many throughout stages of recovery. Warm wishes to all for a wonderful holiday.

Have you noticed that a loved one has difficulty with eating, an obsession with weight, exercise and/or body image? If you think this obsession is causing a lot of physical and/ or emotional pain, you may be able to help that person get treatment. Age, relationship, gender of your loved one, all affect which suggestions will be most helpful.

Most individuals I counsel experience some form of emotionally eating. Emotional and compulsive eating is primarily fueled by our thoughts and feelings, however, there are skills (nutritionally based) that can help. After more than 10 years of working with clients of ages and lifestyles, here are the 12 most helpful nutritional skills they found effective in combating emotional eating.

Returning to college, high school or moving out on your own, ranks high among life changes that bring about joy and stress. Change is difficult especially for those in early recovery. Adjusting to a new environment takes preparation, patience and may require new strategies.

Are you one of many people that have tried different diets resulting in weight gain, loss of self-esteem, guilt and often malnutrition? Unless you live in a cave, along with the paleo diet, you cannot ignore the statistics and evidence that DIETS DON’T WORK. They can be expensive and create a stressful obsession to be “healthy”, turning social or family meals into a battleground.