I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be mindful. I already knew it was a powerful way to get a handle on cravings, but I found many more benefits!
When you stop to ask yourself if you are actually hungry, or what you are hungry for, it becomes easier to eat what is nourishing to the body.
No, I don’t do it 100% of the time, but it has become a habit most of the time.
Perfection in anything is an unattainable goal that can cause us to stop making any effort at all. When we have unrealistic expectations, we are always disappointed.
So, I have been thinking about this process a lot. Stopping the chatter in my mind, and making a choice about what to think instead.
It’s more about making a choice!
I love what is happening as a result!
Wasting time getting sucked into Facebook, or binging on Netflix has nearly stopped. I’m more consistent in moving my body (“exercise”), and writing in my journal.
I don’t let the little stuff get on my nerves like it has in the past. It’s so much easier to look at the big picture when I’m paying attention to the thoughts behind my emotional response.
I highly recommend making a habit of noticing what you are thinking.
If you want to control cravings, start with using the kitchen as a trigger. Every time you enter the kitchen, ask yourself “what am I thinking?”. Or, “am I hungry?” before you get anything to eat.
You can expand the trigger to other places or times of the day once that becomes a habit.
Another idea is to set a few alarms on your phone to remind you to stop and pay attention to your thoughts.
It also helps to decide what you’d rather be thinking about. Maybe it’s your long term goal. When you have a well thought out picture of what you want your life to look like, it is easy to see when you are doing something that doesn’t fit.
Wanna stop grazing in the pantry? Download the Emotional Eating Checklist!