Wednesday, January 16, 2013

100 Days Of Weight Loss ~~ Day 16

100 DAYS OF WEIGHT LOSS--DAY 16

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16,2013

NURTURING POWER OF FOOD

When you're feeling stressed or sad or lonely, food does seem to make you feel better. At least initially, it calms your anger or anxiety and lifts your spirits. But how long does food keep working?

As you know, the first two bites of any food have the most impact on your taste buds. But they're also the only ones that have any emotional power! After you finish those first bites, you'll have received whatever benefits the food has for you. Eating more of it simply won't bring you additional satisfaction or make you feel any better.

YOU'RE DONE!

After a long, stressful day, Kathy grabbed a pint of chocolate cherry ice cream from the freezer and then sank into her couch. As she ate the ice cream straight from the carton, she kept thinking, "Maybe this is the bite that will do it." Of course, it didn't work. She just felt worse.


Once your understand that eating more won't continue to improve your emotional state, you can use this in your favor. With a little effort, you can train yourself to feel better after eating only a small amount of nurturing food.

LETTING FOOD WORK

In weight loss seminars, I often hand out small chocolate chip cookies, Then I invite the class participants to eat two bites of their cookie while allowing themselves to feel nurtured and emotionally soothed by them.
After they finish those first two bites, I ask them to throw away the remainder of their cookies. Some people can hardly bear to do this. Yet at the same time, they admit those two bites were completely satisfying, and they really don't need to eat any more.

TODAY

Intentionally eat something that will help you feel better. Soak up the pleasure from a delicious piece of chocolate. Allow yourself the comfort of eating your favorite ice cream or a luscious cinnamon roll. Eliminate any thoughts of guilt or remorse as you eat this food.

After two bites, stop! Remind yourself that your needs have been met and eating more of the food won't increase your healing level. Then give away or toss whatever food is left.
Write about how you felt doing this exercise. Also, notice what level of satisfaction you experienced as you ate the first tow bites of the food.

No sweets for me!!!!!! I know I would eat the whole thing, I can't throw good food away.

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