Posts: 1,488
4/29/13 6:40 A

Today is the beginning of week 2 for me. I need to find the focus of the week , emotions and mental state connection but am back with it after a few days of being sick and letting go of everything but sleep

Edited by: BABCIATEA at: 4/29/2013 (06:41)

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4/25/13 2:10 A

So being aware is a HUGE part of the process I think. We don't always get to have the fun of eating calmly so what I think you should try is maybe have a small snack when u r hungry one that u can eat on the go like : a yogurt drink, a fruit, an energy bar - something that is about 100 calories and then relax a bit this will give u some time to get home and make yourself a healthy meal when u r not starved it is always more balanced. Try it and let me know how it works.
xoxo from Israel

Posts: 366
4/24/13 11:23 A

I've noticed that when I am feeling hurried or in a rush or a time crunch, I want to eat faster. I still try to enjoy the food, really think about it, but my mind then races away from my meal and on to something else.

I want to focus more time on the background of how I am feeling, get me to a peaceful point, and THEN eat.

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4/21/13 1:52 A

I think that deep down inside u know the reason why you eat with an urge
try to look harder and find answers within yourself and take care of it. What is it that u really need?
do u need a hug? better weather? a friend to share with?
only u know the answer
once u get it out (even in writing for yourself) u can start treting it
xoxo from Tel Aviv

Posts: 641
4/17/13 9:08 P

I am trying to examine myself to see where I am at before I eat. But I am not doing so well. I think I am doing more eating with an urge and not understanding the urge.

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4/17/13 11:19 A

Before I started eating, I tried to examine myself, really think about how I felt. I think I was mostly at peace, a little strained from work and from taking new pictures. I took my time to eat and tried to really pay attention. I found I ate a bit mindlessly, so I really had to work to keep myself on track.

I didn't feel super hungry afterwards, which was great. One of the best things I've found about mindful eating is how you don't feel so hungry and food seems to taste better.

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3/22/13 11:05 P

I thought about everything I was eating and did notice at night I tend to be more nervous and tend to crave food.I am doing deep breathing and eating slower and try reading since I love to read I tried reading the bible and I felt calmer and forgot about the food I wanted.

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11/23/12 8:52 A

I spent more time noticing my breath yesterday as I sat in the passenger seat on a 2 hour drive.
I can breathe.

I also enjoyed a delicious lunch at Dr Laffa Restruant in Toronto. I am thankful for the healthy food that was prepared and served to me yesterday.

I slept well lastnight, I woke once but was able to quiet my mind by noticing my breathing and eventually went back to sleep and rested well.

Edited by: RIVERS48 at: 11/23/2012 (08:55)

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11/22/12 8:23 A

Thursday morning there is a heavy, thick fog, the sun lighting up the eastern sky. I really like a heavy fog when I am not having to go anywhere
Last night I realized how anxious I am as a result of challenging myself to make a speech on a topic of my choice. Preparing the speech brought up a lot of emotions and interesting thoughts from past experiences which I worked through. I was able to move beyond my fear and make my speech. I didn't realize that my exhaustion was from all that hard work .which was causing me to have some anxiety.
Last eveing i felt like going to bed early but did not. I waited up for Rick to see how his meeting went. Today I wonder if I had done what I felt like doing would it have made a difference in my sleep pattern.
I also had a beer with him which was the first in a few nights.

Retreat i say to my self, time to recover.
Breathe and breathe again.
Take time to relax.
Breathe.

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11/18/12 10:12 A

I completed week 2. Not sure what I learned. I still have trouble with eating whatever I want. I will continue working on thinking about what I'm eating before eating it. I need to work on the "I don't care!" attitude when I want something that is unhealthy.

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11/18/12 8:47 A

Yesterday seems long ago.
I am tired this morning.
Looking back I enjoyed most of what I did yesterday.
I had time to myself to organize or bring together a project I had completed and can now put away. I was mindful as I did that and because there was a lot of papers to sort through I made myself get out of the house and walk to the grocery store. It was alike a spring day in November. I greeted people along the way, I felt light and clear mentally and physically.

I took my time cleaning and clearing the kitchen and finally dusted my bedroom furniture which had a good coat on it.

Eating I sat a short time and ate some left over broccoli and jamacian beans. I thoroughly enjoyed that meal. I also had a banana and 2 apple, i tasted them only occassionally.

I was very hungry at supper. I had philo pastry stuffed with feta and spinach a glass of milk and a piece of rye bread. I made myself a cup of tea, sat and watched the evening news. I enjoyed the tea and stopping for what seemed like the first time that day.

I was tired and didn't know what to do. Watched some mindless game shows on the game station .
I lost steam and had no idea what to do.

Rick came home and we caught up on each others day. He was tired too.

We ended up watching Doc Martin on pbs and having 2 beer and popcorn.

This week I would like to payattention to how I am feeling at the end of the day and mindfully choose what I put into my body.

debbie

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11/10/12 1:06 P

What revelations have I made about the relationship between my mental states and my eating habits? Nothing I didn't know before - I have emotional eating tendencies. Looking forward to week 3's challenge.

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11/9/12 2:28 P

I'm almost done with week 2. This sure is a lonely challenge. No one but me. Anyway, I think I'm doing pretty well with this. Checking why I'm eating something before I put it in my mouth. I don't agree with the last criteria, tho. Choosing food based solely on nutritional value is a sad existence in my mind. I believe you should enjoy your food. Otherwise, I might as well be eating some kind of grey gruel that tastes like crap but is nutritionally balanced.

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11/4/12 8:35 A

Week Two's Focus: Before eating, become aware of how your thoughts, emotions, and energy levels affect your eating. Ask yourself questions such as, "What is my emotional state right now?" "Am I eating just because I'm tired?" "Did I choose this food because it's nutritionally valuable, or because I'm craving it?"

I'm starting week 2 today. I'll see how I do with this.

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9/15/12 12:14 P

I've finished week 2 and am realizing how difficult it is for me to do an emotional check on myself. This is especially true for weekday lunches. I work close enough to go home for lunch, which I "need" just so I can recharge and choose food I've bought with menus in mind. The double-edge sword is that I'm currently facing a stressful situation on the home front. It was very difficult to concentrate on enjoying the food I managed to eat. This has not been a totally successful week. Wondering if I, too, should stay at this point a little longer.

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6/2/12 10:23 P

I am just starting week 2. Week 1 was helpful in slowing down. It is amazing how much more I am tasting my food when I slow it down. As I understand this, week two is about checking in with my emotional state prior to starting to eat. I have been trying to take a moment of gratitude prior to eating but this will mean making even more space to check in with my emotions.

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4/2/12 7:54 A

Just starting week two and I think this is where I'll have a ton of problems. I'm usually fairly aware of what I eat, but to actually assess why I'm eating, what I'm feeling, etc.... Hmmm...

Posts: 877
12/10/11 5:38 P

I spoke to Dr P today. We are definitely going to get our Mindfulness group at work back together, starting Wednesday. We were supposed to take a break until the New Year, but none of us can stand it! It is amazing how close you become with those you meditate with. I am sure that this will help me with my mindful eating, as well. The more that keeps mindfulness in the forebrain, the better!

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12/9/11 8:50 P

current weight: 168.0

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12/9/11 6:16 P

Thank you for the encouragement, Kim. I'm planning to stick with Week 2 for awhile, until I am sure that I am being consistently mindful of my mood every time I stick food in my mouth. Mindfulness has brought so many positive changes into my life. I am truly grateful!

Carol

Posts: 760
12/5/11 9:14 P

Carol, seems like you're making progress...awareness of when we struggle is still progress! I'm a firm believer in staying within a particular week of a challenge until I get comfortable enough and consistent enough with the changes I'm making. I sure didn't accumulate my bad habits overnight!
Kim

current weight: 168.0

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150

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12/5/11 5:45 P

Still doing ok. Won't last forever though!

Posts: 877
12/4/11 3:52 P

I seem to be in a more controlled phase of my lifestyle change, so continue to struggle with mood identification before I eat. Think I'll just stick here awhile until I start to struggle again. I really, really want to understand my own motivations.

Dr P talked with me at the company party last night and said she wants to go ahead and restart our meditation group now, rather than waiting until the New Year. She misses us as much as we miss her! I love our group and a couple of the docs are becoming interested in joining us, even though they may not be able to let their guard down enough with the staff. That is part of the battle, however, so I hope they give it a try. It has been life-changing, that's for sure!

Carol

Posts: 877
11/30/11 8:09 P

Keep letting my busy mind buzz around, rather than taking stock of my emotions. I hope to be mindful all the way home, exercise, then settle down for my meal. By being mindful on the drive home, I hope that it transfers into a mindful attitude at meal time. Here goes!

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11/29/11 5:31 P

OK, I completely fell off the Week 2 bandwagon. It's time to get back on and STAY ON!!

Posts: 877
11/14/11 10:50 P

I am trying my best to remember to gauge my emotions before I eat. I have a lot more positive thoughts than I thought I would. I am cooking a lot more, so I credit the desire to TASTE my food in Week 1 that encouraged me to take the time. I continue to fight cravings for high calorie food, so will try to spend some time dissecting my thoughts when a craving hits. I love this challenge!

Carol

Posts: 5,000
8/13/11 1:57 P

I start getting sleepy and run out of energy right after lunch, and that's when the snacking begins. So I need to check what's missing in my meals - breakfast, lunch, and morning snack - that is not giving me enough protein to sustain me. I need to jump start my metabolism for the afternoon.

Posts: 805
6/15/11 10:46 A

I found a Buddhist prayer which I say before every meal:

This food is the gift of the whole universe
Each morsel is a sacrifice of life
May I be worthy to receive it
May the energy in this food
Give me the strength
To transform my unwholesome qualities
Into wholesome ones

I am grateful for this food
May I realize the Path of Awakening
For the sake of all beings

I copied this onto a card and placed it where I eat. Reading it helps me focus to eat mindfully.

Posts: 2,554
5/17/11 12:25 P

I do better when I think about what to eat and when to eat. I seem to do much better on the weekends. I usually plan out my day..and fit into the day what I need to do. The hardest part for me is that my family events seem to revolve around food. I try to plan better for those..but sometimes the plans change and there are loop holes. I need to learn about correct serving sizes..and stick to that. I seem to bring healthy foods..but not enough sometimes. ugh....So I find myself hungry about an hour after I eat..and that is when I start to graze....

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5/11/11 8:14 A

I am learning a lot about the food/emotion connection. Today I woke with a nasty headache. The weather is ooky out there and is really upsetting my sinus. I have a busy day planned ....just about everything is going all topsy turvy. Even the TV broke! YIKES.

I have friends coming over this afternoon for tea and chit chat. I have whipped up two batches ( different flavors) of the HungryGirl brownies that I will be serving.

CHOCOLATE...what is it about chocolate. The house is filled with an amazing aroma. It really is a comforting smell.

Knowing that it is calling me and I they are not even out of the oven, mean....I NEED TO FOOD POLICE myself today. I have been doing well with eating and don't want to blow it by an extra brownie ( or two).

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5/3/11 9:04 P

Tonight I am embarrassed to say I ate pure junk. I ate a bunch of multigrain cheddar pringles
followed by a big chocolate chip cookie that my friend gave me before leaving this evening.
I am finding more and more that because I am now cognisant of everything I am eating and asking myself how I am feeling, why am I eating this food etc. that emotions that I normally would push down with food are cleared and my eating is controlled and conscious. Even though I
did eat junk, I stopped. I didn't eat the chocolate cake or frozen yogurts and ice creams that I have. I ate slowly and mindfully and I stopped.
This is such new behavior for me that I myself am shocked. I am learning and I am so very greatful.

Posts: 3,476
5/2/11 9:09 P

I know now that my emotional state strongly effects whether I eat, how much I eat and what I eat.
I know when I am happy and caught up in something that interests me, I completely forget to eat altogether. I have found in the last little while that I am often forgetting to eat lunch.
I will either eat too much when I'm upset or simply not eat at all.
I am trying very hard to listen to my body and so I have stocked up on every conceivable food on a vegetarian diet. For the last 2 weeks in a row I have thrown out 3 kinds of cake. This has never happened to me before. I now try to understand what my body craves. Tonight it was orange juice. I have this wonderful orange-cranberry -pomegranate juice. It was cold, sweet and tart. I also forced myself to eat supper as it was close to 9:00pm. My relationship with food is dramatically changing and I am truly amazed at what I am learning. I

Edited by: BLUEBIRDSFLY at: 5/2/2011 (21:11)

Posts: 33
5/2/11 1:48 P

Here is where we can discuss week two. How are your emotions affecting you? What revelations have you made about the relationship between your mental states and your eating habits?

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