SLOW DOWN AND CHEW

What are your eating habits? Be honest. Many of us eat while scrolling on our phones, watching TV , while driving, at a kids practice ….I personally can eat a whole bag of chips while watching a fitness channel on YouTube (the irony hahaha). I know I’m oblivious to how much and quickly I just ate. Hell, I’m a health professional! So, I can imagine you reading this can share in this.

This unawareness will certainly lead to weight gain. Even though we do, eating shouldn’t be multitasked with 5 other chores or leisurely hobbies.

Years back I read a book from a Buddhist monk about diet and nutrition. I know, I know, what does a Buddhist monk know about diet. Turns out a lot! I inherited tons of my current advice from this book. The one tenet that really stuck with me was not to tell yourself no. If you are craving chocolate, have it. Ice cream, go ahead. Salty chips, great! BUT, savor the bite. Chew the bite. Really be hyper-aware of the taste, the texture, and how it is making you feel. If you do this you’re going to eat roughly 75% less of that food! Amazingly this works.

This is an awesome trick because it prevents the diet game. This is when you label a certain foods “bad”, then inevitably have it, and then beat yourself up about having it. You are so angry at yourself you sabotage your eating even more and eat the whole pantry. Don’t do that. Do what the Buddhist monk said to do instead!

To Your Health,

Mark Radio