Voila

Wellbeing 

Can't believe this is the last post for 2015!

Have fun this festive season, laugh lots, eat scrummy food and mingle with some fabulous friends. 

Gx 

Wellbeing post by Lucinda Leachman @yogilucinda 

Indulge

" OK, its time to stop the denial and start enjoying the festive season! Whilst it seems that this time of year comes around all too quickly when you get to a certain age, it is nevertheless a time of thanks giving, sharing, compassion and, most importantly, indulging. I know, it’s not a word that is often linked to healthy living and eating, but indulgence is an important part of any balanced lifestyle. The problem, however, is that we have long equated indulgence with what’s bad for us and with over- indulgence, the side-effects of which are unanimously negative (there are very few of us who haven’t experienced the joy of the morning after the night before, or the sickened stomach of the post-Quality Street binge on Christmas Day). 

But what about indulging in a positive way? What about ‘allowing you or someone else something enjoyable’, for no other reason than it feels good? There is a lot to be said about giving ourselves the time and permission to do this, and very often during the Christmas period our attention is focused on indulging others and neglecting ourselves. I was talking with Gaby about this just the other day, and she was saying that she has recently realised that she was getting through a whole week without having given any time to herself, week after week! And so she made a commitment to herself to change that and to do something each week that was only for her, away from her responsibilities as a mother, stylist, Pilates teacher…(the list goes on), a series of roles which all require her to be focusing on others and not herself. I think this is a really important part of making ourselves truly available to others, and to carry through a strong and steady presence into our very hectic lives.

Of course, how you choose to do this is entirely up to you. For some, it may be an hour spent at the nail salon, or lunch in their favourite café, a massage, meditation class, yoga or Pilates, or perhaps a long-overdue afternoon nap. For many of us though, indulgence is equated with food and drink, and this is sometimes where the difficulties start. High-sugar food, the sort most frequently sort when we think of indulging, is highly addictive, damaging to our bodies, and the enjoyable effect always too short-lived as we crash and burn with headaches and indigestion quickly afterwards, only to crave more the second the sickness has abated – as far as indulging goes, I can think of far better ways to treat myself.

This is not to say that we shouldn’t enjoy a sugary treat or two, or raise one too many glasses, but perhaps we should change our understanding of what ‘indulgence’ actually is. If we want to have a drink, or five, or eat a whole tub of ice cream, that is fine as long as we do it in full awareness of the fact that it is in no way enjoyable for our body or mind in the long-run, and will not provide the satiating or enjoyment we are actually looking for. It is a quick-fix (albeit one that at times is well worth the repercussions). Indulgence is to do something truly enjoyable, something that has a wholly positive effect on us, and we all know by now that what is good for our body is good for our overall sense of well being, health and happiness, and that when we crave a physical indulgence it is very often linked to a deeper emotional need.  Whilst no food or material thing can fill an emotional void in our lives (no, not even those glorious velvet party dresses!), the good news is that today it is completely possible to indulge ourselves in a really healthy, happy, non-hangover way, with everything from chocolate, to ice-cream, to cake and beyond. And whilst those sorts of treats may not cure whatever emotional issues we may be having, a balanced internal physical state is proven to effect how we feel and think. 

I’ve already shared with you my recipe for homemade chocolate, and my favourite websites and books to find healthy versions of all your favourite treats, but I have included them again below along with links to some of their best (in my opinion) recipes. I have also included a few suggestions for healthier options when you are in need of indulging yourself with food, a need that is not to be ignored, especially in darker colder months when food and nutrition has to supplement the lack of light in our days and help keep us warm!!

Click on image to read or print 

Have a wonderfully indulgent Christmas Voila readers, see you in 2016! xxxx "