The big secret to losing weight, above even strictly calories in and calories out, is knowing exactly what is going in and what you are doing for yourself. In a certain sense this means "really" knowing, or even contemplating the various components of your journey, from your food, to those steps, to your emotions, your thoughts, the way you handle stress, the reaction you have to a certain food or event.
Mindfulness involves a spiritual and emotional component that we need to master if we are going to summon the power to stay motivated.
Mindless eating, that is, eating without thinking, is a big culprit during the Holiday season. Mindless eating is not caring about what is going in, letting your resolve go, deciding to just pack on the pounds.
Mindfulness is being fully present in the moment, not making any judgments about it, but fully experiencing what the moment is. It is not letting your mind wander, but bringing it back to the center of consciousness.
Mindful eating, then, is fully experiencing your food in the moment. Truly smelling, tasting, enjoying the food, rather than scarfing it down mindlessly. When you have portioned out your food, look at it, don't just pull food out of a bag and pop it in your mouth.
Slow down! You're probably eating too fast. The slower you eat something, the more you are likely to be mindful of what you are eating. Take pauses between bites. Drop your fork or spoon if you need to.
When you are done with your plate, wait 20 minutes. Your body needs about 15 minutes to register that it is full. Waiting is part of this mindfulness. It is getting your mind and body in sync. Even if your mind wants more, your body might be finished without you even knowing it.
So try this out today. Eat slowly. Experience your food. Try waiting before taking another portion. Be mindful.
No comments:
Post a Comment