A lot of people tend to complain about gaining weight even though they say that they exercise constantly. Yes, working out does help you burn calories and even increase your metabolism, but when the amount of food that you eat is more than the amount you get to burn then you won’t see any weight loss in the near future.
The problem with most of us is that we don’t really pay attention to what we are eating. There are many factors that contribute to this habit such as eating out, watching TV, or using your gadget while eating. When we are distracted, we don’t really notice how much we are eating because our mind is focused on other things hence we eat more than is necessary. With that being said, it is only right that you learn how to do mindful eating where you will pay both attention and intention to what is in front of you. This way, you will be able to determine when your stomach is full or not. Try the following tips to achieve mindful eating.
- Sit down at a table to eat. The problem with us these days is that we tend to eat at our desk, or in front of the TV especially when we want to catch up on our favorite shows. Unfortunately, this habit of ours is actually causing us to eat more because we tend to just eat while our attention is somewhere else. When you sit at a table, you’ll be able to focus more on what is before you.
- Chew your food thoroughly. Again, we are guilty of just mindless chewing especially when we are with someone because you tend to chat with them in between bites. Also, when you’re in a rush, you don’t really chew your food well because you need to get going. If you really want to be able to mind what you are eating, you need to take the time to chew your food thoroughly. This will also help you feel full faster so you won’t be eating more than is necessary.
- Remove clutter on the table. Before you start eating, make sure that you clear your table of any clutter. Remove those papers that you are working on and move that laptop to your den. When your table is clear, set down your plates and other utensils so that you will teach your mind that it is time to eat. Without any distractions in front of you, you will be able to pay more attention to what goes in your mouth.
- Drink water before you eat. Another tip to mindful eating is to drink a glass of water prior to eating. This way, your stomach will feel full faster and will prevent you from eating more during your meal time. Another plus to drinking water is that you will remain hydrated which will keep you alert and energized too.
These tips are just a few examples that you should follow when it comes to mindful eating. These are all good places to start until eating with your mind focused on what is in front of you becomes a habit.
Sources: spright.com
