Mindfulness has also triggered a positive response around the way and the food I ate.

I remember being a serial dieter who repeatedly fell off the wagon.I used to blame it on my lack of willpower and was endlessly questioning my self-worth…you know, the inner voice that tells you”you are not good enough”,”you are not deserving of anything”,’you are a failure”…

But the fact is that the diets I was following were so restrictive to the point that I wasn’t able to sustain them in the long term.It gave me false hope and dragged me down into the cycle of on-again and off-again dieting.

My inability to remain consistent was going against my willingness to pursue health and happiness.

My weight fluctuations led to self sabotage and a plethora  of limiting beliefs about myself.I knew deep down that the sole gateway was to redefine my relationship with food and mostly make peace with it.Easier said than done!

I worked on erasing guilt,judgement and implemented “food freedom”.Rather than seeing it as an enemy I constantly had to compete with, I joined forces with food and in time,it became my ally.

And today I am here to tell you that any way of eating that can’t be maintained through the ups and downs of our daily lives,is not an effective long term sustainable solution.

Having said that,there are solutions!

I understand that when you happen to deviate from the wagon you can feel as if you have lost control of your health and body but the wagon is just a strict set of rules and that’s ok not to 100% abide by those rules because you do not need to be 100% healthy to be healthy.HEALTH DOES NOT REQUIRE PERFECTION!

REDEFINE THE WAGON.Your own wagon, if this one is not serving you.Because your self-worth as a human being has nothing to do with your ability to eat a specific way.Anytime you restrict, you set up the desire to eat.

Who said you cannot allow yourself to enjoy a chocolate chip cookie(my favorite)?

But who also said that if you indulge in one, you then have to finish the whole packet and keep going the entire day with all sorts of sugary foods and  other foods labelled as “forbidden”and “bad”?.

 Don’t get me wrong.Redefining or ditching the wagon does not mean binging.It simply mean that as you eliminate imposed rules,you are free to make choices that work for your you and your body.

And this is why the tittle is “WE ARE HOW WE EAT”.

When we change our perception on food and focus on the way we eat using mindfulness, it becomes easier for us to learn what our body wants and what it doesn’t really need.

Food is meant to be enjoyed and to nourish us, not to fill us with anxiety and regret.

By applying a mindful attitude towards eating you are slowing down, avoiding distractions and essentially focusing on the manner you consume your food.

Mindful eating is about being aware of what and how much you eat. It is about giving permission to eat foods you enjoy and avoiding eating in response to external cues.It is about trusting yourself and let go of harsh judgements to finally become the best judge of your experiences.

When we are in tune with our bodies and honouring our personal wants and needs, we can develop a more sustainable approach to eating that supports us in our daily life.All we need is to bring the focus back on our experience at meal times.

Ultimtely, your experience will lead to less impulsive eating, you will notice a reduction in the amount of food you consume and opt for even healthier  choices.

BE AWARE AND SLOW DOWN

Avoid all distractions.No tv, no phone, no reading.Just focus on the food in front of you and the action of eating.When you have no distractions you are more aware of how appetising it looks, the smells, the textures and the tastes.Notice the appearance, the colors, the aromas.Giving full attention on the food will allow you to realize when you are full since you have paid attention to what and how much you have eaten and eaten more slowly.

What scents can you pick?

Does a memory emerge?

What colors do you see?

Imagine you were sitting having chocolates and only focusing on the experience of savoring each one of them at a time, believe me, it’s unlikely you’ve had as many as you would if your mind was preoccupied with other thoughts.

So at you next meal try removing distractions and chew your food thoroughly(at least 20 times). Pause, put down your fork and take a breath between each bite.Engage your senses, connect with your internal fullness cues and see the magic happen…

WITH LOVE…