Let me tell you a story…
There was a person who struggled with his weight. He was dying to look good and feel good, but somehow never managed to do it. He was trying so hard to eat the right thing at the right time, but he always screwed things up, gave in to temptation, sometimes he indulged in food, to only take himself further from his goal. He was trying so hard to figure out where he loses it all, where he slips, trips and falls!
Now let me take you out of the story! Does that sound familiar? Do you somehow relate yourself to the story above? Have you asked yourself a thousand times “Why?”
The answer is simple– you need to practice mindful eating! Sounds funny? Well, it is the most logical way to eat, but nowadays we find it the hardest thing to do. We live in a fast pace world, where things change fast and we need to be quick in order to catch up with everything. We lack time and often times we use our breakfast or lunch time to catch up with some work. How many times do you have breakfast sitting on your computer, checking your e-mail, surfing in the web and etc.? How many times do you have dinner, watching TV? All this takes your mind away from your plate and your food. And that is the problem!
I bet you’ve heard it a billion times how your brain needs some time to receive signals that you are full. That has something to show you! In order to feel satisfied and full, your brain needs to register such an information. When your brain is busy with all kind of other stuff, you shift your focus from food. And there it is, you reach to take a bite from your plate, when you notice you’ve already eaten everything. When did that happen? You just started eating and you don’t even feel close to being full? There you go for some more food. That is the pattern for every meal and it all adds up. Meal after meal, everything in excess is being stored as fat.
You look yourself one day and wonder when did it happen? I will tell you when- while you were busy watching TV, your health slipped away. While you were busy checking your e-mail, your body was starving for attention. While you were busy feeding your emotions, your brain was waiting for a signal!
We often wonder what should we eat in order to achieve that desired weight loss… and the truth is that we first need to focus on how we eat, and later on what we eat! No matter if you are eating steak with broccoli or pizza, if you do not live in the present moment, if you do not give attention to what you put in your mouth, if you don’t let yourself taste food, and experience that taste with all your senses, you will still find yourself struggling!
Mindful eating- when you eat, do exactly this- eat! Don’t interrupt yourself with other activities!
Do you practice mindful eating? Or you are one of these busy people, always trying to do some multitasking?
Choose to be an Athlete – Sarah Scholwinsky from CrossFit Central on Vimeo.
