Try a Side of Mindfulness
I took the third piece of pizza. It tasted good, the first bite or so. But then, I was just sick feeling and my stomach was tight and gurgling. Heck, two pieces would have been plenty, but I wasn’t thinking. Seriously, I WAS NOT THINKING. We were watching a movie, I was gobbling the food, not really experiencing it. Totally unaware. No way was I paying attention to how my body was feeling, which was to say, way full. So I grabbed that last piece.
Then, my body hurt and I felt mad at myself and even a bit guilty. Right? Because often the very thing we need to survive — food — becomes a source of punishment.
This is why a more mindful approach to eating and to life is working better for me. I’ve stopped worrying about what I eat, and I’m developing my awareness to enjoy ALL that I eat. I do want to be conscious so that I can make good choices. And, if I’m going to eat the junk I want to appreciate every salty mouthful. When I eat mindlessly I don’t because 1) I’m zoned out. 2) Because I’m zoned out I eat too much AND that makes me feel gross, which isn’t all that enjoyable.
Try a Side of Mindfulness
I live with mindfulness pretty regularly. At least I’m working on it. I have a chime on my phone every hour to remind me to pause and be mindful. I meditate. I consciously pause throughout my day to become aware without judgment.
I practice this stuff and so that the habit becomes stronger BECAUSE mindfulness IS ALL THAT. It is the easiest most practical way I’ve found to ground myself so that I can freakin’ calm down, and notice my life. AND, WHEN I DO, I can savor it or give thanks for it or move into compassion or whatever moves me.
Yet the food thing has been harder for me. That’s why I think this is such a worthwhile topic. It stands to reason that if we slow down, become aware, and take note of our body and our foods we don’t have to fight against either of them. Like we can become allies with food — the very thing that actually sustains us, instead of fighting against it.
This is the basis behind mindful eating and there is plenty of science to back it up.
The authors say, Mindful Eating Is:
Deliberately paying attention to your experience of food WITHOUT JUDGING.
Becoming aware in each moment of your thoughts, emotions, hunger, flavor, the nutritional value of food and other factors.
Appreciating the difference between real physical hunger and other triggers.
Choosing to eat foods that you enjoy AND those that nourish your body.
Experiencing the flavor of food and it evolves from one bite to the next.
Noticing how fullness develops and how it feels to be full. Ding, Ding, Ding, this one set off the alarm. Yes. Right?
Using nutritional information to make informed eating choices.
And, the capper, Mindful eating FREES ENERGY FROM WORRIES ABOUT FOOD.
So, with this list in my hot little hand, I decided to just work with these things. For lunch I just ate a piece of chicken in spicy mole sauce and it, not kidding when I say this, was one of the best meals I’ve eaten. Ever. So full of flavor and spice AND yet, I left part of that goodness on the plate.
Huh. That doesn’t happen much. Read: Never. I was taught NOT to leave anything behind. But, I felt so full and satisfied and just happy about it all, that I didn’t need ANYTHING ELSE.
Mindfulness allows you to tune into your life and that means your meals too, in an open, comforting way that allows for clarity, insight, wisdom. And peace, people, there is peace here, even if your are leaning over a big ol’ pan of brownies.
No need for judgment, guilt, self-criticism and just knowing THAT takes the pressure off and probably some of the weight too.
