Mindful or Mindless...

Millions of people make weight loss resolutions in January and by mid-February, they have already given up. Wrong diet, no accountability, no motivation? All of the above? So instead of throwing out another resolution... what if you implement this one simple idea, it will help you all year long and it may also help you hit your weight loss goal. My question to you is, "do you eat mindlessly or mindfully?"

So what the heck is mindless eating? It simply means you're eating food just because you see it. We may not necessarily be hungry, and it may not be time to eat, but we grab a handful of chips while watching tv just because they are there or out of habit, or we grab a chocolate bar from the vending machine in the coffee room just because it's there. Unfortunately for most people, we don't even think about putting the food in our mouth, we just do it!.. And maybe this is the underlying reason why your weight loss resolution has failed once again.

So what can I do about it? The opposite of Mindless eating is Mindful Eating? Mindful eating means you are actually paying attention and making better choices on when you eat and what you are putting in your mouth. It's actually very simple, however, it's not a habit that is easy to adopt as most of us have had a lifetime of mindless eating, snacking, and even drinking and it won't go away with the snap of a finger.

So where do I start?

Eat when you are hungry! Pause and check-in. Look for signals like a rumbling tummy, lightheadedness, irritability, etc. If you find yourself staring into an open fridge or rummaging through your pantry to find something that looks good, and you're not actually hungry, this could be a sign of boredom eating. If you are bored, instead of heading for the fridge or the pantry, go for walk or call a friend to catch up...and pay attention to your body did those feelings of "hunger" go away once you focus your attention somewhere else?

Stop eating in front of the TV, mobile device, or computer screen! When you are sitting and scrolling through emails or watching the Price of Right that you taped earlier, it causes us to go into the mindless eating mode. While in this mode we are not paying attention to our hunger cues and why we over-eat and gain weight. Instead, try sitting down without any distractions to enjoy a meal. Chew slowly, enjoy the different flavors and textures and think about how the food makes you feel.

While it may take some getting used to it's meant to be a practice you implement for life, so start slowly. Try putting your phone away at dinner or waiting to watch TV until after you've eaten a meal, and you just may find you enjoy your food more and feel satisfied longer. This also sets a great example for the rest of your family.

Take Away Message:

There is nothing wrong with snacking. Snacking is a way to keep from getting too hungry, and the right snacks can help us fill nutrient gaps in our diets. However, if you're snacking for a reason other than hunger, take a second to determine the motivation behind the craving. Taking the time to listen to your body's hunger cues are all valuable tools for not only snacking less but also for achieving optimal health and well-being.