MiladyB

I've been preparing today for my support group meeting tonight. We are going to discuss "Mindful Eating". I ran across this practice recently, searching around the internet and it just made so much sense. You know it felt like that piece of the puzzle that just makes everything fall into place, for me. This is one of the newsletters I read and I wanted to share it with you.

Food: The Solution, Not the Problem
By Donald Altman, M.A.

When a person chooses to see that food is the solution, not the problem, they are often filled with a sense of relief. Why? I think it may be because it gives them hope, as well as permission to let go of their symptoms—even if for a moment. And, it may give them some space from the pervasive idea that a struggle with food is too difficult to be overcome. Besides, we all know how easily food can be abused. Writer Rita Mae Brown states this very nicely when she says, “Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself.” Fortunately, once food becomes a solution, hope is just around the corner. Turning that corner, however, takes a lot of time, effort, and discipline. A mindfulness approach to food is not a shortcut. In fact, it may be the long road to making peace with food, hunger and self-care. However, this is one case where a long road with several detours may make for a richer and more meaningful journey. Mindfulness can be taught in numerous ways and with endless variations. The one constant, perhaps, is that a mindful approach changes the eater’s relationship with food. And that makes all the difference. Food ceases to be viewed simply in terms of “good” or “bad.” Rather, food becomes connected to one’s feelings, body, and the world at large. It means awakening to the deeper purpose of food, as well as to the underlying desires and cravings for it.

There are three advantages to observing and describing one’s relationship with food. First, is a fundamental awareness of patterns and behaviors. Begin to think of yourself as detectives (and not as hanging judges!). By paying attention you may begin to notice your food habits. For example: Do you use food as a reward? Do you use food as a way to signal others for attention?

A second advantage of knowing one’s food relationship is that it generates compassion—towards oneself. Compassion means, from the Latin, “to be with suffering.” Compassion and forgiveness allow a person to become more present with food and eating.

Thirdly, awareness of a food habits can shed light on other life patterns, as well as the relationship one has with her/him self. For example, one who continually skips meals or eats fast food, might ask: What other things in my life am I skipping over or indulging in like a fast food meal? Best of all, when mindful eating transforms food into a solution, the relationship to food has new and forgiving space in which to grow and change—and where all things are possible. Or, as Groucho Marx once said, “Man does not live by bread alone. Every now and then he needs a cookie.”

The Basic Mindful Bite

The basic technique of mindful eating in the CAMP System is the Basic Mindful Bite. You can use this technique with any solid food.



As you bring food to your mouth, slow down and become aware of your movements.

Once the food is in your mouth, clear your hands. Put silverware or remaining food down.

Chew this bite with your mind in laser-sharp focus on the process. Concentrate on the taste of the food and the act of eating. Don't do anything else while you're chewing. Simply chew and pay attention.

Keep chewing until the food is uniformly smooth. Use this consistency of the food as a signal to swallow.

After you swallow, but before you bring more food to your mouth, rest for a few seconds, thereby inserting a pause into your eating.



All the other strategies and techniques of the CAMP System have, at their centers, this Basic Mindful Bite.

(other strategies: http://www.mindfuleating.org/LivingCamp.html)




Internet Resources Mindful Eating
www.tcme.org
www.mindfuleating.org
www.mindfulpractices.com
www.eatingmindfully.com
www.balancedweightmanagement.com
www.med.umich.edu/umim/clinical/
pyramid/index.htm

Body Image
www.beyondhunger.org
www.bodypositive.com
www.hugs.com
www.healthybodyimage.com

Inspiration
www.getinspired.org
www.gratefulness.org

Meditation
www.tcme.org
www.learningmeditation.com
www.wccm.org

I'm curious to hear how this article affects any of you. If it rings true you may want to check out some of the resource sites.

__________________
~Beth~

Little Victories; Grand Rapids, MI
Bariatric Support Group

Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol,
peripheral vein disease, joint pain and 210 lbs GONE!!


Century Club: July 3, 2006
ONE-derland: Dec. 22, 2006
Double Century: May 29, 2007
Goal: June 15, 2008

Lap RNY: 1/30/06-Dr Randal Baker
TT/BL: 09/21/07-Dr Ronald Ford
PS Revisions: 04/29/08-Dr Ronald Ford
Gallbladder: 05/14/08-Dr Randal Baker
Emergency surgery (Intussusception): 02/29/09-Dr James Foote