Losing Weight: the Benefits of Mindful Eating

People gain weight because they eat mindlessly. Have you ever sat down in front of the TV with a bag of chips, only to discover an hour later that you had devoured the entire bag? Not only that, but you hardly remember eating them. You don't remember the crunch, the saltiness, the flavor. This is called mindless eating. In order to lose weight, you must get back to mindful eating. There are several ways you can start eating mindfully.

Keep a food journal. The most important part about keeping a food journal is total honesty. If you eat an entire bag of chips, write it down. If you nibble while making dinner, write it down. If you eat fast food in the car, write it down. Leave nothing out. You will be surprised at how much food you are eating, as well as how much of it is being eaten without a thought.

After keeping a food journal for awhile, you will see a definite pattern in your eating. You will discover what foods you have the most difficulty with. You will discover the people, places and times of day which trigger you into mindless eating.

Another way to begin eating more mindfully is to plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. If you plan your eating throughout the day, you are less likely to stop for fast food. You are also less likely to start grabbing the first thing you find to stuff down your throat...which is often something unhealthy.

The way you shop for groceries also has a huge impact on your eating habits. The choices you make when filling your shopping cart have a direct impact on the choices you make when filling your tummy.

For example, if you have a choice between a chocolate covered doughnut or bran cereal with fruit for breakfast, chances are you will reach for the doughnut. But eliminate the doughnut and the cereal and fruit look more appealing. Keep in mind that the choice to have the chocolate covered doughnut is not totally eliminated. The doughnut is still on the store shelf. If you absolutely MUST have that doughnut, you will have to make a decision to get in your car, drive to the store, purchase it and bring it back home to eat. Chances are you will not want to take the time to do all of that.