Have you ever been on a diet? Well, we are here to tell you that dieting is the problem and not the solution for losing weight.
Dieting is all about cutting down calories. There are a number of diet charts that can be followed to help one reduce weight. However, they are not always the healthiest choice that one could follow.
We, as humans, have always paid more attention to what and how much we eat and not how we eat.
Most of the time, we rush to get to work and eat quickly because of our busy schedules. We either eat our meals while driving to work, working, or watching television on the couch. Regardless of whether we are still hungry, we eat food blindly. In the end, we consume food for reasons other than hunger – to combat emotional needs, reduce stress, anxiety or boredom.
To get rid of this unhealthy mindless eating, we should follow the process of mindful eating.
The practice of mindful eating extends the concept of how we eat even further. The theory behind this is that eating more slowly and thoughtfully may help us appreciate our food more, make healthier food choices, and reduce our tendency to overeat.
What does eating mindfully actually mean?
Eating mindfully is all about mindfulness, about enjoying every bite of your meal. It is the practice where you are completely aware of your surroundings while consuming food and moreover aware of what you are eating.
You stay in a distraction free environment – no television, phone, laptops. The main focus should be on your food; the taste and the quality of food. Instead of rushing, we can concentrate on chewing more carefully. When we chew better, our body is able to derive from nutrients from the food. Chewing is also a good exercise for our mouth and helps us build a sharp jawline.
There are many ways that you can use to take a slower approach.
Take your time while munching your food. Set an alarm for a specific period of time and consume your food throughout that time. Eat small bites and make sure to complete your food completely. This will also help you in digesting your food properly. When you take your time to chew and digest your food, the body also gets time to extract the right nutrients efficiently. This process also makes you feel fuller. As a result, you don’t feel hungry faster and facilitate weight loss.
Making a meal for oneself can be another thoughtful act of self-love because cooking for yourself gives you choice over the ingredients and serving size. On a Sunday evening, for example, cooking the dishes for the week can seem like meditation. Planning, chopping, preparing, and organizing food into containers with care may be relaxing and even enjoyable!
As you choose, prepare, serve, and consume your meal, it’s about focusing all of your emotions and being in the moment. Losing weight without losing out on your favorite food is the solution and not following any unsustainable diet.
So let’s get our lifestyle right by eating mindfully and staying healthy!
