Another aspect to health & wellness is our eating habits. We got very interested with the concept of mindful eating in relation to our health and well-being. One of the dimensions of holistic wellness is taking care of our physical bodies. Thus, we take into consideration the way we eat and what we ingest in our bodies regularly.
Women and men nowadays are very conscious about how they look physically. This also contributes a lot to a person’s self-esteem. So when a radical advice is introduced to us like “eat what you want” , this can be horrifying. Eat what I want? ! You must be crazy! Goodness, if I am allowed to eat what I want, I’d be gobbling up cakes and ice creams, potato chips and candies. You scream.
But before you react violently, here is something interesting. Mindful eating is actually the natural way to eat. Mindful eating is also known as intuitive eating. This simply means that we use our internal cues for hunger and appetite to guide us. Oh it’s becoming clearer now, right?
In the beginning, you know when you were born, you intuitively followed your inner guidance. Infants cried when they were hungry and refused to eat when they were full. But along the way, we begin to distrust this inner guidance when those around us begin to dish out comments about our appearance. ” She’s getting fat. He’s so skinny. He eats too much. She eats too little. “ Well -intentioned as they are, we begin to be conscious about our bodies and pretty soon we end up with eating disorders and weight problems.
Dieting has become the in-thing. It seems the words that come out frequently out of our mouths is “I’m on a diet. Don’t tempt me. “ The constant fear that we will become fat and so even if a person goes on a diet, they never manage to keep the weight off and sometimes even gain more than what they have lost.
Mindful eating on the other hand takes on a more positive approach. As with the concept of holistic wellness, it is still choosing to live a healthy lifestyle by acquiring a positive attitude coupled with good eating habits.
MINDFUL EATING OR INTUITIVE EATING CONCEPTS:
Acceptance of your body – It must begin with a healthy acceptance of your body. Remember that there are various shapes and sizes of our bodies. And that is what makes us unique. After years of dieting, this simple yet profound concept of acceptance of one’s body lead to new ways of perception which helped improve self-esteem and better well-being.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, naked and bare, how do you feel? Are you able to appreciate your body? Are you feeling shy? Ashamed? Embarrassed? It’s time to accept your body.
Say it aloud and say it often. I love my body! I accept every part of my body. I appreciate my body and how it functions and serves me.
Eating in an attentive manner – Learn to listen to your body cues. This includes knowing when, what and how much to eat. Of course, in the beginning, you may be following the old eating habits that you have – like stuffing yourself even if you feel already full or ignoring hunger pangs because you are on a diet. So eat enough to feel satisfied and yet not stuffed.
Plan on balanced meals – make sure you eat grains and vegetables, protein, small amounts of healthy fats and/or fruit. This leads to the feeling of satisfaction.
Eat what you want – This concept means that if you constantly deprive yourself and then it results to overeating. Observe these moments and you will see this to be true. So compromise by allowing yourself to eat rich foods but in small quantities.
Redefine how much is enough - Mindful eating is eating until you’ve had enough. We may have to redefine how much is enough. If you always feel you are uncomfortably full, redefine how much is enough. If you eat until you feel so stuffed means you are not listening to your body cues of satiation.
Eat slowly and enjoy your food - If you eat slowly, this is one way to tune in to your inner signals. Chew thoroughly. Allow yourself to savor the food. Don’t rush. Enjoy each piece of morsel into your mouth. This can truly enhance your enjoyment and make feel more satisfied. Remember to avoid overeating and making it into a habit.
What Mindful Eating is Not:
Mindful eating is not about worrying about your body size or ideal weight. It is not measuring about food and counting calories obsessively. It is not about dieting, deprivation or avoiding food on a daily basis.
Daisy and I had the chance to observe mindful eating when we went to Taiwan and had a breakfast experience with the monks of Fo Guang Shan Monastery. It was an amazing thing! And in the silence of the meal, we got the chance to savor the food and ate with gusto.
So if we eat this, are we practicing mindful eating?
Mindful Eating in a Nutshell:
Mindful eating or intuitive eating is about having a loving relationship with food in response to your body needs. It is eating to support your body’s healthy state. It is about balance, wise choice or selection and acceptance of yourself. It is eating consciously in a way that makes you feel really well. When you eat, be aware of your surroundings and be in the moment.
By: Michelle Simtoco
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Hi There Loving Abundance,
I know what you mean, The understanding that we are what we eat, is no longer a new idea for most of us. We are perfectly aware that what we choose to eat effects our mood,weight and health. Most diet regimes, nevertheless, are proven to fail. No matter how hard we try, our determination sooner or later weakens and the pounds start to slowly but surely creep on just as before.
Thx.