In many cases it's the dose that makes the poison.

You can go out and have an occasional glass of wine with friends. You can plan out healthful meals and prep foods ahead of time. You can commit to exercise on a regular basis.

But anything can be abused. What do you over-do? Is it your career, the Internet, food, cocktails, exercise, busyness?

Get real with yourself. You can sit in front of the TV all weekend eating bon-bons and pizza just as easily as you can plan out the cleanest, most nutrient-dense, life-giving diet until it consumes much of your time. Either of these can be used to avoid participating in the reality that is your life - the ups and downs, the ambiguity and steadiness, the anxiety and ease, the boredom and excitement.

I meet plenty of people who say they are looking for the "perfect diet" to feel better, and in many cases food can do just the trick. But many times what they are really looking for is something to distract themselves with - a distration with the justification of it being "good" behavior. We get concerned when people are looking for drugs as a way to check out, but what about diets, strict work out regimes, or over-working?

I am reminded of Oprah once referring to her eating habits. She said, "I went from binging on cake to binging on celery." Should we applaud her for upgrading her food choice? Sure. But just because celery is labeled "good" and cake is labeled "bad," the heart of the matter can easily get overlooked. What about the binging?

How to Check Out to Check In

We're not looking for perfection here. We're looking for balance.

If watching a movie gets you so invested and you catch yourself laughing, feel your heart racing, your body tensing, or your eyes getting teary, you actually are checked in. You've agreed to be there, watching the movie and participating in the experience.

Other times, you may need to find pockets of time to check out so that you can check in more effectively. Don't you feel more effective after having taken a week-long vacation? Where can you find pockets of time throughout your week?

Then there's food. If you are fully aware of your food and how much you're enjoying it, the pleasure or satisfaction it gives you, and the signal of satiation...boom, you are present! You can sit down to a meal and have a completely different experience just by agreeing to be there. And once you agree to be there, you give yourself the divine gift of the subtle - the ambience, flavors, textures, and consistency that can really make a meal an experience. 

Anything can bring you back to the present moment. You eat everyday. Why not start with a bite?

Visit Laura at www.RealFoodWellness.com