i’ve introduced many of my clients to the concept of mindful eating.
which is basically paying attention while you eat.
being fully aware of your eating experience, without passing judgment on yourself.
a simple idea.
not always an easy task.
taking the time to slow down, to fully taste and savor your food, to notice your body, to not be critical?
difficult stuff.
but this approach can be a huge relief to women who have spent years trying one diet after another.
i observed an interesting development with a few women though.
they put a lot of time and effort into practicing the components of mindful eating.
instead of allowing and becoming intuitively comfortable with the pleasures that naturally surfaced.
as a result, rather than directly benefiting from it, they seemed deeply frustrated.
trying to eat mindfully had evolved into yet another diet for them.
and what happened when they found themselves eating without conscious thought?
when they realized they were not faithfully adhering to this new plan?
it created feelings of guilt, promoted self-punishment, and began to consume their lives.
mindfulness is not an all-or-nothing strategy.
it’s a tool to help an individual become more aware of what she is doing.
of how she is spending (or wasting) her time.
of what may be passing her by (with eating, with life).
with mindful eating, the goal is not perfection.
even so-called normal eaters do not eat mindfully at all times.
there is often a “disconnect” between body and mind for them too.
sometimes they’re distracted.
sometimes they’re bored.
sometimes they’re avoiding something.
sometimes they’re just not keeping track of how much they’re eating.
mindful eating is a path to a harmonious relationship with food.
a way to appreciate the meal in front of us.
a way to be fully present while inhaling the aromas and tasting the flavors.
a way to engage with our surroundings.
a way to be in tune with our needs.
are you familiar with mindful eating?
have you ever tried practicing more awareness during a meal?
what was the experience like for you?
please feel free to leave a comment.
i always welcome others’ insights.
