Written By: Akansha Jhalani | Updated : July 24, 2014 11:55 AM IST
5 Mindful Eating Tips That Can Help You Lose Weight
With our on-the-go lifestyles and the pressure of making the most out of our days, we are swamped with a million distractions. To add to this, we often neglect our eating habits. Eating is more often than not, an activity that is rushed and we pay little attention to it. Mindful eating is the extreme opposite of it.
Here's a scenario: When was the last time you put aside all your other chores or activities and focused all your attention on what you were eating; actually savouring the taste and texture of the food in your mouth, chewing thoroughly and being completely aware of what you're swallowing and when you are? Can't recollect? Well, you're not alone.
What is mindful eating?
Mindful eating isn't some fad diet that prevents you from putting food into your mouth, while promising considerable weight loss. It is a practice that involves your presence; the presence of your body and mind while you eat. Mindful eating has its roots in ancient yoga philosophy that preaches eating as a form of meditation. It teaches you to tame the carnival in your head and be present in the moment. To think about what you are eating, chew every morsel slowly, taste and relish it with every bite, swallow the food and know that the food is going to do you good. This is the essence of mindful.
What's in it for me?
With mindful eating, you learn to connect deeply to everything that you eat. It helps you recognize the difference between when you are really hungry and when you are just giving in to your cravings.
It prevents you from feeding your emotions away and inculcates a habit of eating healthy as you put your mind to what you're eating and the body's responses while consuming a particular food.
It makes you more aware and cautious about your portions as you are mindful and you know when you are full and when you need to stop.
You start to enjoy fresh produce a lot more and will derive a lot more satisfaction from every meal that you eat. Once in a while, eating a cheeseburger mindfully might do some good too!
How to start mindful eating?
Mindful eating is a technique that you can only master with practice. Be patient and give yourself some time to enjoy the activity.
Image source: Getty images
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