Eating With Purpose: Simple Habits for Healthier Food Choices
I am currently almost 12 months in, I’ve lost over 100 lbs, and I am determined and motivated to keep going.
*Keep reading for some very simple, but very helpful advice that has helped me along the way.*
My journey here is not just about weight loss.
It’s about being an overall healthier person. A person who has way better chances at living a longer life. Keeping up with my kids, being present for them, and not feeling so lazy and dragged down all the time.
It’s about being healthier and happier because I am worth it.
My journey is about recovering from this food addition.
It’s about repairing my relationship with food. Coming up with strategies and methods to continue this lifestyle long term.
Finding ways to cope and maintain once I hit my goal so that I don’t relapse and fall back into old habits.
Do you ever eat a meal, finish it, sit back and think – did I even taste that?
Did I truly register what I was putting in my mouth? Did I taste the flavour or the spices? Was I just running on auto pilot and putting food into my mouth without even thinking about it? Savouring it? Enjoying it? Did I even chew?
Yeah, me too.
This was a big problem of mine – eating just to … eat. Not even registering what I was doing. I would sit down to eat something, continue working, watch TV, scroll through my phone and social media, etc. Next thing I knew, it would be gone, and I’d barely even remember chewing it.
This helpful advice that I am going to share with you is something so little, but something that has had such huge impact on my journey and repairing my relationship with food.
Eat with purpose.
That’s it. That’s all you need to do. Simple, right?
But what does that mean?
It means make your meal and sit down at the table. It means limit your distractions like work, social media and TV shows (side note: they will in fact still be waiting for you when you’re done eating.)
Sit down and eat your meal one bite at a time. But don’t just eat it. Don’t just chew it. THINK ABOUT IT. Think about each bite you put in your mouth. Taste it. Enjoy the flavours.
Take your time.
The slower you eat and the longer you take to actually enjoy the food you’re eating, your body will start to feel full faster.
Your brain will get extra dopamine from enjoying the food. Extra dopamine will help you to feel content for longer, and there will be less chances of emotional binging afterwards.
I know, I know. Trust me. LIFE IS BUSY. I am a mom of 3, I work full time, I own a house that requires cleaning, laundry and yard work. I have to feed the other 4 members of my family almost every day (I seriously don’t know why they think they need to eat EVERY day, but whatever.)
I get it.
None of this is easy. But trust me on this – if you put your mind to something, you absolutely can achieve it.
And trust me on this one last thing – if you make the time, if you make one positive, healthy choice at a time, if you improve your health and stick to your goals – it will 110% without a doubt be worth it.
Tell me in the comments below:
How often do you actually sit down, eat a meal, and think about every bite?
