| Mindful eating is about being conscious of why you | | | | on the present moment, which in turn, helps you |
| are eating. It is about listening to your body and | | | | disengage from habitual, unsatisfying and unskilful |
| identifying how your body is telling you if it is hungry | | | | habits and behaviours which in turn helps you with fat |
| or full. It is the ability for you to be able to tell the | | | | loss. |
| difference between emotional hunger (stress eating) | | | | Our body is beautifully and wonderfully made, we do |
| and physical hunger. It is about being aware of what | | | | know that the brain and central nervous system |
| you are doing, to identify whether you are mindlessly | | | | receive signals from the body on whether food is |
| snacking or that you are really eating because of | | | | desired or needed. These signals can be caused by |
| hunger. | | | | many triggers, including psychological states such as |
| Regardless of which weight loss program you follow, | | | | our mood or stress level. |
| if you not in touch with the HOW and WHY you eat, | | | | Once eating beings, the brain has a key role to send |
| and less about WHAT you eat, you would not be | | | | out a signal when fullness is approaching. If the mind |
| able lose weight. By being mindful of the feelings that | | | | is "multi-tasking" during eating, like watching a TV |
| start and stop your eating, of being in touch with | | | | program or doing work, these critical signals that |
| your emotion, you will know when you are satisfied | | | | regulate food intake may not be received by the |
| rather than stuffed or starving. It is developing a | | | | brain. If the brain does not receive certain messages |
| state of awareness that will allow you to take a | | | | that occur, such as sensation of taste and especially |
| closer look at your behaviour to food and this will aid | | | | satisfaction, it may fail to register the event as |
| you in your weight loss issue for effective result. | | | | "eating". This scenario can lead to the brain sending |
| Mindless eating has a lot of negative health | | | | out continual signals of hunger thus increasing the risk |
| consequences. Research has proven that when your | | | | of overeating and obesity. |
| mind is tuned out during mealtime, your digestive | | | | Mindfulness is where you practice the |
| system may be 30% - 40% less effective. This may | | | | moment-by-moment awareness of life. It is paying |
| cause digestive distress such as gas, bloating and | | | | attention to your food and not being caught up in |
| bowel irregularities. Besides these, mindless eating | | | | your own thoughts and scarcely aware of what you |
| may also lead to overeating and obesity, as your | | | | are eating. When you do this, you will become aware |
| ability to accurately assess between hunger and | | | | of how much food you are putting into your body. |
| being full is weakened. This is one reason why it is | | | | Truth is, this is not a new concept. By practicing this |
| always suggested not to have your meals in front of | | | | skill, you will automatically learn to eat healthy foods |
| the TV. | | | | for weight loss. |
| Mindfulness helps focus your attention and awareness | | | | |