Another trick to shed the pounds off? It’s called mindful eating.

Tell me, Tell me!

 It is called mindful eating.

This approach is based on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, which involves being fully aware of what is happening within and around you at the moment. Mindfulness techniques have also been offered as a way to relieve stress and alleviate problems like high blood pressure and chronic gastrointestinal difficulties but can now help you shed the pounds off.

How does this relate to food and weight loss?

When you are mindfully eating you are noticing the colours, smells, flavours, and textures of your food; chewing slowly; getting rid of distractions like TV or reading and learning to cope with guilt and anxiety about food. Noticing and taking time during your meal breaks helps you slow down, allowing your body to fully absorb the nutrients and become filled before you decide to go for seconds.

How to start?

Experts suggest starting gradually with mindful eating, eating one meal a day or week in a slower, more attentive manner. Here are some tips (and tricks) that may help you get started:

• Set your kitchen timer to 20 minutes, and take that time to eat a normal-sized meal.
• Try eating with your non-dominant hand;
• Use chopsticks if you don’t normally use them, this will make you eat slower
• Eat silently for five minutes, thinking about what it took to produce that meal, from the sun’s rays to the farmer to the grocer to the cook.
• Take small bites and chew well.
• Before opening the fridge or cabinet, take a breath and ask yourself, “Am I really hungry?” Do something else, like reading or going on a short walk.

There you go! I challenge you to mindfully eat every day for an entire week. Who knows it might benefit you! Why not try?

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