Stop Mindless Eating Now

By Elizabeth Solana Calabro

Our relationship with food is very personal. We associate food with activities, events, experiences, feelings, memories, emotions, our past, present and future. Food choices reflect our heritage, religion, culture and history. Food and its aromas can tempt, excite, comfort, energize, nourish and support our wellbeing.

Our relationship with food is more than just as fuel. Balancing the intake of nutrients with the expenditure of energy, while feeling satisfied and fulfilled--that is the goal.

Unfortunately we are bombarded by advertising, bigger packages, supersized portions and platters, free samples at the supermarket, and colors and aromas that trigger memories. All this increases appetite, encourages us to eat more often and in greater quantities.

We are surrounded by food temptations and live a sedentary lifestyle. A recipe for poor health and added body weight. Brian Wansink, PhD, who has studied and researched current eating patterns makes the point in his book Mindless Eating that we are hardwired to crave fat, salt and sugar based on our ancestors' survival needs; long term storage of energy (fat), prevent dehydration (salt) and to distinguish between poisonous (sour) and edible (sweet) berries. Although we are no longer living the rigorous lifestyle of our ancestors, those cravings continue. The majority of the time we are not even aware of the amount we are consuming. Mindless eating has become the norm, an unconscious habit. Consuming large quantities of food, unaware of what was eaten or even if we actually did eat. I'm sure there have been times when you didn't even realize you ate something... perhaps while watching TV or sitting at a computer

It's time to make a change, release the emotional connections to food, and learn to listen to your stomach and how your body feels. Take control of the habit. Feel satisfied, enjoying each bite fully aware of the taste, texture, aroma and consistency of these smaller quantities of food.
On a conscious level you can do the following:

Survey your surroundings and take action:

• Remove food temptations at home and work – toss it or give it away. "Out of sight, out of mind" works wonderfully for food cravings
• Don't grocery shop on an empty stomach, "your eyes are bigger then you stomach" Dr. Wansink has proven that!!
• Get a look at what a real portion should look like!

On a subconscious level, hypnosis can help you to become more aware of the physical feeling of fullness, assist you in eliminating poor eating habits and release the emotional connections.

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