Mindful Eating Techniques, Benefits, and Strategies

If you’re over 30 and looking to get back in shape, mindful eating may be just what you need. Mindful eating is a way of paying attention to the food you are eating and fueling your body appropriately. It’s about being present with your hunger, fullness and cravings. It’s about slowing down so you can enjoy every bite of what you’re eating – whether it’s an apple, a protein shake, a steak, or some vegetables!

Here are some great mindful eating techniques.

What is Mindful Eating?

I am not a proponent of cutting out food groups or heavily restricting intakes, unless you are competing or have a legitimate medical issue. And, while I do think some ways of eating are superior (macro counting) to others (looking at you, Keto.), I would consider mindful eating a non-diet and a different way to eat rather than a better way to eat.

Mindful eating is different than a diet. There are no rules that may or may not make sense about what you can eat or how much. It does not mean counting calories and you don’t need to buy any books or shakes to adhere to it. You just do it, and you enjoy your food while you do.

It differs from intuitive eating in that it requires more thought and effort than simply listening to your body. But if you want to lose weight, this kind of mindfulness may help get you there faster when stacked alongside other weight loss measures.

So what is mindful eating? It’s a way of focusing on your food and your body while you’re eating. You pay attention to your hunger cues, your fullness cues, and your cravings. You eat slowly and savor each bite, chewing thoroughly before swallowing, and putting down your utensils between bites so you can focus on what’s happening in your mouth at that moment (this is called “chewing meditation”).

Tips for Practicing Mindful Eating techniques

To become more mindful during meals, use your senses.

In order to do that:

1. Slow down and savor your food – One of the most important aspects of mindful eating is slowing down and savoring each bite of food. Take the time to chew your food thoroughly, and focus on the flavors, textures, and aromas. This helps you to fully enjoy your food and also gives your brain time to register that you’re eating, which can help prevent overeating.
2. Pay attention to your hunger and fullness cues – Another key aspect of mindful eating is tuning in to your body’s hunger and fullness cues. Before you start eating, take a moment to assess how hungry you are. As you eat, pay attention to how your body feels and stop eating when you start to feel full. This can help prevent overeating and promote a more intuitive approach to eating.
3. Minimize distractions while eating – It’s important to minimize distractions while eating to fully engage in the experience of eating. This means turning off the TV, putting away your phone, and focusing mainly on your food. This can help you to better savor your food and also prevent mindless eating, where you eat without really paying attention to what you’re consuming.
4. Put down your utensils between bites so you can focus on what’s happening at that moment – Having a utensil in your hand can tell your brain you are ready for another bite when you might not actually be. Put it down and let your brain focus on what you are currently eating. Then, pick it back up when you are actually ready.

Some of the benefits of eating this way include promoting better digestion, being full off of less food, and an awareness of how your body acts when it is hungry/full/just right.

The Benefits of Mindful Eating for Weight Loss

When we eat mindlessly (or on autopilot), we often make poor choices that don’t support our bodies’ needs. Mindful eating helps reduce these problems by encouraging us to pay attention before reaching for something satisfying our hunger pangs at any given moment. Instead of blindly grabbing whatever looks good at first glance (and then feeling unsatisfied afterward), mindful eaters take time before choosing which foods will satisfy their bodies’ needs best at any given time of day or night–and avoid those items that aren’t beneficial for them in particular situations.

The benefits of mindful eating can include improved digestion, better portion control, and a greater sense of satisfaction with meals.

Additionally, mindful eating can help promote a healthier relationship with food and improve overall well-being. But mindful eating has some other pretty sweet benefits as well:

Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Mindfulness meditation, which is often incorporated into mindful eating practices, has been shown to help lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which contributes to obesity, and lower blood pressure. This can lead to reduced stress and anxiety levels in individuals who practice mindful eating regularly.

Better Nutritional Choices: Eating mindfully encourages one to make choices that will be satisfying and nourishing to the body. Studies have shown that mindful eating leads to more nutritious food choices and ultimately improves overall eating habits.

Mindful eating helps you feel full faster, which can help you avoid overeating. Because you’re aware of what’s going on in your body, mindful eating can help prevent overconsumption of food and beverages that might otherwise lead to weight gain or unhealthy habits such as binge eating or drinking too much alcohol.

Mindful Eating for Emotional Wellness

Mindful eating has many benefits that extend beyond just the physical. It has been shown to have positive emotional benefits that can contribute to overall wellness. One of the main ways that mindful eating can have an emotional benefit is by helping to reduce stress and anxiety levels.

When we eat mindfully, we are fully present in the moment, focusing on the sensory experience of eating and tuning in to our body’s hunger and fullness cues. This can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety that may come from worrying about what to eat, how much to eat, or feeling guilty or ashamed about food choices. By letting go of these worries and focusing on the present moment, we can experience a greater sense of calm and relaxation.

Additionally, mindful eating can help to improve our overall relationship with food, which can have a positive impact on our emotional well-being. When we practice mindfulness, we become more attuned to our body’s needs and cravings, and we learn to trust our intuition when it comes to making food choices. This can lead to a more positive and accepting attitude towards food, and a greater sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. Ultimately, this can further lead to more feelings of satisfaction and less guilt or shame over what we eat. Obviously, that is a good thing.

Overall, the emotional benefits of the mindful eating techniques listed here can contribute to a greater sense of overall wellness. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels, improve our relationship with food, and promote a greater sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance.

How to Get Started with Mindful Eating

To get started with mindful eating, you’ll need to prepare your environment and create habits.

To help yourself focus on the present moment, set up an eating space that is free of distractions. Turn off the TV and put away any devices that could be a distraction (i.e., phones). If possible, eat at a table rather than in front of the computer or TV screen. You may also want to consider sitting down instead of eating while standing or walking around–this will help prevent overeating because it forces you to slow down!

Once you’ve prepared your environment for mindful eating, it’s time to create some good habits!

Eat slowly; take small bites and chew thoroughly before swallowing each one. Pay attention only on what’s happening right now–don’t think about yesterday’s lunch or tomorrow’s breakfast. Put down utensils between bites so they don’t distract from chewing.

It is all about the mindset. You have to put in the effort if you want it to pay out. Without actually putting in the mentality that it requires, mindful eating will not get you very far.

Mindful Eating Strategies for Weight Loss

To lose weight through mindful eating techniques, set realistic goals and create an action plan. These two steps are essential for both, mindful eating and weight loss success.

Additionally, make sure to have a supportive team behind you. If possible, enlist the help of friends or family members who can provide encouragement when things get tough.

Keep track of your progress in writing (or on social media) to reinforce those behaviors going forward–and make them easier to remember when times get tough later down the line if/when temptation strikes again!

Practice portion control – One of the most effective ways to lose weight through mindful eating is by practicing portion control. This means paying attention to the amount of food you’re consuming and being mindful of your body’s hunger and fullness cues. To do this, try using smaller plates or bowls, and take the time to savor each bite of food. Eating slowly and mindfully can help you to feel more satisfied with smaller portions of food. It can also help to avoid distractions while eating, such as TV or phone, as these can lead to overeating.

Be mindful of your food choices – Another important aspect of mindful eating for weight loss is being mindful of the types of foods you’re consuming. Try to choose nutrient-dense foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, while also being mindful of portion sizes. To do this, pay attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, and choose foods that will nourish your body and keep you feeling satisfied for longer periods of time. It can also be helpful to plan meals and snacks ahead of time, so you’re less likely to make impulsive food choices.

Conclusion

Mindful eating is a great way to improve your health and take control of your weight. It’s also something that can be done anywhere, at any time.

With mindful eating techniques, you’ll be able to eat healthier foods while enjoying them more than ever before.

Let Us help You Out

At CONDITIONerd we are here to help you achieve better physical and mental health through exercise. Check out the plans we offer to our customers and see if you could benefit from working with our team. And if you have questions, you can always contact a CONDITIONerd team member. 

Personal trainers, like those found here, can help guide you on your pathway towards reaching your fitness goals, whether that is getting bigger, stronger, faster, more lean, or just generally feeling better.

We can get you setup with a periodized workout plan, supplement information, and advice on nutrition to help you reach your goals.

The only thing you need is some motivation and a willingness to change some old habits.

Get into contact with us to find out what membership is right for you. In a CONDITIONerd program, you’ll be surrounded by others who can help you to get where you want to be.

Generally, our clients start to see some pretty awesome changes in 2-3 months time, some sooner.