Most people who want to lose weight have been on at least five to ten diets, if not more, in their lifetime. They are dieting professionals. The thought of “This time it will work, this time it will be different” is in their mind every time they start a new diet.
So the cycle continues of starting a new diet, losing some weight, then, the eventual rebound of weight gain, often to a point higher than pre-diet levels.
Another common downside to dieting is the attention given to food. Dieters are often instructed to focus on and even study their food with tactics like counting calories or carbs, or to eat a certain type of food and no others.
This process can actually sabotage their success, because the diet makes the dieter more preoccupied with food.
Dieting makes food the enemy, especially when one eats a non-diet food. Dieting slows metabolism! And, lastly, dieting is usually a stepping-stone to eating disorders.
A Different Approach: Mindful Eating
Mindful or intuitive eating means the person is aware and deliberate while eating.
First, the mindful eater responds less to external cues — like the sight or smell of food, restaurant signs, television ads or large bowls and plates. Instead, the mindful eater tunes into their body’s natural signals of hunger and fullness, so they stop eating when full and don’t start eating unless they are truly hungry.
Second, the mindful eater limits distractions — like a television — which might prevent them from hearing their body’s signals.
Anyone can become a Mindful Eater with practice. Stay tuned for tips on putting mindful eating into practice!
