Saturday, September 8, 2012

{ Slow Down, You Eat Too Fast }

I don't have a normal relationship with food. 

After my last post, which was VERY CATHARTIC for me, I have done a lot of soul searching (for lack of a better word) and have tried to narrow down some of the things that I do that contribute to my compulsive eating and binging.  One of the key things that I have figured out is that I need to SLOW DOWN and actually taste my food.  Not just taste it, but enjoy it.  I find sometimes maybe always I eat so fast that I don't taste my food,  so I certainly don't enjoy it, my stomach doesn't have time to register that it is full or satisfied, and then my brain thinks I need more food, so......you get the picture.  It's a vicious cycle.
I am a great cook, and love to experiment with vegan foods, so my meals need to start with the pure enjoyment of preparing the delicious food - the art of cooking a healthy, lovely meal.  Then when I sit down to eat, I need to take a bite, put my utensil down, chew slowly and really savor all the wonderful tastes - really enjoy the flavors, the texture and the pure yumminess of the experience of the food.

I read that it takes about 20 minutes after you start eating for the message to stop eating to reach your brain.  If I am being serious here, I am usually finished with any meal within 5 minutes, having not tasted a damn thing that went so greedily into my mouth.  *Sigh.....I have an issue.
My goal going forward is to enjoy the experience of food - both preparing it and eating it - by slowing down.  I believe this to be a key component in my journey to a healthy me - and a healthy relationship with food.


Until next time, friends, 

Lolly








2 comments:

  1. I agree...slowing down can help with paying more attention. One trick I learned was to switch hands to hold your utensils...it automatically slows you down...

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    1. That's a great idea, Jules! I am so NOT ambidextrous that if I try to use my left hand, that will definitely slow me down - way down. I think I will have to try! Thanks for the comment!

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