Why HOW You Eat Matters For Weight Loss?

You’ve been told that diets don't work and that there is no “magic bullet” for weight loss, but one simple thing may come pretty close. 

Think you don’t have time to sit down and enjoy a meal? 

This news may convince you otherwise!

A recent study showed that people who eat meals or snacks while watching TV, playing games, reading or are otherwise distracted, tend to consume more calories in a sitting. 

This is especially true later in the day. In fact, distracted eating could increase the amount of food consumed by up to 50% and you may not even be aware! On average, eating while distracted increases the amount eaten by about 10%, compared to not being distracted.

Another surprising fact? You will eat less calories in a meal when you recall about a previous meal you ate. But if you ate that earlier meal distracted, you cannot remember how much you ate.  Studies showed eating a meal mindlessly -- while distracted increased the amount a person ate at a later meal by more than 25%! In contrast, being reminded of food consumed at an earlier meal reduced the amount consumed at a later meal by about 10%.

Although lot of my clients ask me what to eat. Very few ask me how to eat.

Of course the type of food you’re eating makes a difference. 

Although when it comes to stress eating how we eat plays a big role. 

When we eat under stress many times we eat fast and mindlessly. So we ignore our natural hunger and fullness signals and eat way too much.

What does all this mean for you? If you want to lose weight and keep it off, take time out to savor a meal. This tip is one of many I share when helping busy women to reach their weight loss goals in my  10-week mindful eating program. 

Is here a good way to manage portion sizes if you are not going to measure, count or weight for the rest of your life?  

And its not willpower that is required. If you could only resist, you would be good, slim, ageless and healthy person; you can’t resist because it just tastes so good.

 

So I ask them how fast they’re eating that tasty food.

…Oh.

They usually haven’t thought about that. And that’s the problem.

The solution? Mindfulness.

My favorite example of this is using chocolate. 

Imagine sitting down in front of the TV in your pajamas with a bag of M&Ms. You can plow on through that bag no problem, only noticing when your hand hits the bottom. 

Now, picture yourself sitting at a fancy restaurant with a white tablecloth and soft candlelight. The waiter brings you a small serving of chocolate mousse with a petite silver spoon. You take a tiny bite of the intensely rich dessert and can barely stand to eat more.

Which version sounds like the way you eat most of your meals?

Follow  10-week mindful eating program today and learn to eat mindfully!

  “A teacher cannot give you the truth. The truth is already in you. A teacher can only offer you the chance to awaken your true self.” – Thich Nhat Hanh