Issue 6: Mindful Eating and You
What does it mean to eat mindfully and what difference does it make? To eat mindfully is to eat in a state of presence, not distracted by thoughts of worry, obligation, shame or regret. To be present is to sense and enjoy the experience of eating as it unfolds moment by moment. It may sound easy but it requires some persistence. It also means to let go of ones struggled with guilt, shame, doubt and to be in the experience, not in your head. To practice is to come back to this moment of eating when you realize you are no longer aware of what you are eating. It is simple but not easy. 1
You may be thinking "What difference will it make to pay attention. That can't really do anything!” Our thinking can be very assuming, unfounded and cut us off from different ways of learning and lock us into the old patterns of thinking, behaving and being.
Mindful eating can be helpful. One, when we eat mindfully we can enjoy the food more and tend to eat less. Secondly, we can start to learn what food taste like to decide if we really like it. Many times we discover that foods we have been eating our whole life, we may not even enjoy. Third, we can get out of autopilot and start to make skill decisions about our eating habits. Remember we cannot be present and lost in thought or feelings at the same time. It's either one state of being or the other. Which do you prefer?
In my mindful eating groups, I have noticed that those who find the program to be helpful seem to have three qualities. They tend to be people who are open-minded, willing to try something different and fed up. It is just such an attitude which enables us to disengage from the old patterns of thinking and living. Remember to be a mindful eater is not to judge but to see what the experience has to offer; without expectation but instead with an
attitude of curiosity and openness.
Eat Mindfully, Breathe Mindfully & Enjoy Life!
The Center for Mindful Eating (www.thecenterformindfuleating.org)