Is Heaven a place where your food weakness—your crutch or indulgence is zero calories?
Do the looming festivities, with all their joy, happiness, food and alcohol elicit dread (and later, guilt) in you?
The holiday season is around the corner and for many of us that spells food fear and weight gain.
What is going to be the net increase after all the feasting? How much will I lose of myself and my happiness by gaining? And how can I stay in control to avoid my downward, disastrous spiral?
Not a pleasant place to be.
Fear not. We’re going to shake it up. There are alternatives.
I’ve decided to share with you some secrets: solid behaviors that have changed my relationship with food and ultimately have brought down the numbers on the scale. Significantly. For good.
Alternatives that work. That can work for you too.
Nobody needs added stress. Let’s make this pleasant, simple, free – and powerfully successful. The holiday season – and the rest of your life - will not be about weight gain if you follow these five tips:
1. WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE THANKS
Give thanks?
Seems like a no brainer, right? How is this going to end my weight problems? Well I’ll tell you how.
Stop.
Take a moment.
Consider where that food came from, how it got to your table.
Thank the elements—the sun and the rain.
Thank the workers—farmers, packers, shop assistants, truck drivers.
If you have a religious or spiritual practice of prayer—do it.
And now, eat.
Difference? Instead of mindlessly eating away from the start—as so many of us do—you’ve brought mindfulness to your meal. Think about this: We gain weight insidiously, not stuffing ourselves, but eating a little bit too much each day – mindlessl,” Dr. Brian Wansink.
You’re now in a position to savor the taste, experience your satiety and simply put, not eat on auto-pilot.
When the red flag of fullness begins to fly, you’ll actually know about it – and stop eating!
2. WHY YOU SHOULD CHECK-IN FIRST
How often do you order food at a restaurant that you truly want? When last did the food you ate “hit the spot?” Or does the menu dictate what it’ll be today?
Try this one out . . .
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and ask yourself “What do I feel for right now? What do I need to nourish and love myself?”
Do I want something Sweet? Sour? Hot? Cold? Crunchy? Spicy? Or maybe even something not in the line of food, like a big helping of Love and a side order of Attention and Respect?
You’ll be amazed!
Sweetie, you know what you want; you know what and how much you need. And given half a chance, your body will guide you to the best, most supportive choice. Just ask and LISTEN in return. The wisdom is yours already. You know how to lose weight.
And by the way, don’t eat want you don’t want to avoid hurting your host. Babe, you count too—and the honesty you’ll be giving him or her is far healthier and respectful to everyone than simply swallowing it down and shutting up. But be nice about it, okay?
3. SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: CHEWING ENCOURAGES WEIGHT LOSS
No, seriously. I mean it. Honest!!
I know, I should be charging you $$$s for this. But angel, you’ve got teeth—use them! They’re going to make you thinner!
And chew slowly while you’re at it.
The quick guide to why and how:
First up, digestion begins in the mouth. The enzymes that break down components such as fat and carbohydrates actually begin their work in your mouth – in your saliva. By breaking things up properly from the start, you’re increasing the chances of nutrient absorption and decreasing the chances of gas! Pretty cool, huh?
