Mindful Eating Testimonial

20 Meal to Success! / Mindful Eating Testimonial (As of 09/05/2015)

Over the last 8 months or so my weight has stayed consistent with minor fluctuations of 2 to 5 pounds.  I didn’t give it much concern.  Why should I? I had been overweight for quite some time and I was enjoying being a size 10/8, I started at a size 24.  I was aware that I could lose more weight but I was enjoying where I currently was.  I knew that I was eating more than I should, but didn’t give it much concern.  I would eat a huge salad for lunch while either reading, being on the computer, paying bills or whatever I needed to get done.  I knew I needed to focus on my food, eat without distractions but I told myself I just didn’t have the time.  I had previously watched PD-Ed lessons about eating only when hungry, stopping when full and eat without distractions.  I was just not ready to make that change.

While watching PD-Ed #92 lesson on Plant Based Sustainability and Meal Satisfaction, I finally decided to make some changes and focus on the things I learned from class #92 and previous classes.  Just as I started to do this on my own, a challenge was given by Julie Marie creator of Protective Diet on the Protective Diet Living Facebook Group of 20 Meals to Success.  This challenge came at a perfect time.  There were many students that took on this challenge.  Having the group participation and support was motivating and inspiring.  After the 20 days I decided to continue practicing what I called mindful eating for the entire month.  I wanted to break old habits and form new ones.  I decided to record my Mindful Eating 30 days journey.

During the challenge I had good days and bad.  I did not always eat undistracted but I did try to focus on how much I was eating and to stop before stuffing myself.  I was also more mindful of what I was putting into my mouth.  While baking, did I need to lick the bowl at the end?  Was it necessary to constantly taste what I was cooking?  When I was under stress, was I eating because I was hungry or because it was soothing the stressful feeling?  Many question came to mind that helped me to focus on mindful eating.

Things I noticed and learned while participating in the 20 meals to success challenge:

1. I was not taking time out of my day to really focus on myself, what and how much I was eating.
2. Eating way to fast.
3. Overeating without really noticing.
4. Eating while cooking really adds up.
5. I can easily overeat after dinner while cleaning up the kitchen and putting things away.  
6. My body will let me know if I have overeaten. It was not always an immediate response, but it definitely lets me know.
7. The more I focused on eating slower the easier it became to listen to my body
8. It really doesn’t take much food to become too full.
9. Reduced the time spent in the kitchen.
10. Portion size naturally decreased.
11. Meals stretched further.
12. Did not feel stuffed (as long as I remembered to apply the principles).
13. The longer I practiced mindful eating the easier it was. (like anything)
14. When you are truly hungry your food tastes even better than when you are not hungry.
15. I was more aware of how much I was eating.
16. Realized It’s okay to leave food on the plate

I realized that I was eating because it was time to eat instead of eating because I was hungry.  The more I practiced mindful eating the more aware I became of what my body was telling me.  I enjoyed my food even more when I sat down to eat.

On day 30 of the 20 meal to success challenge.  I lost a total 12 pounds this month.  I now fit comfortable into a size 8 and just put on my first size 6 pants.  Weight loss was not my intended goal but it was something I experienced.  More importantly my focus has changed and desire to overcome bad habits and start forming new health habits has become a reality.  My plan is to continue to apply the things I have learned.

Protective Diet: Guide to Optimal Health

Protective Diet Newsletter: Reset Your Natural Calorie Tracker For Maximum Weight Loss : (Testimonials of others that applied the 20 meals to success challenge)

Protective Diet Newsletter: Health Food Satisfaction and Sustainability

Complimentary PD-Ed Class #92 Food Anxiety

Huffingtonpost article