We’ve just returned from a week’s vacation…one where I’m sure I didn’t follow the “mindful” eating plan very well…if at all. BUT…it was vacation, and I did manage to finish the book and have some more things to share from it.

“Shut the front door” moment #2:

There is a Mindless Eating zone…one where you don’t notice the difference in calories you’re taking in for the day. This can be your downfall…or your secret to weight loss…

Okay…so they explained it this way: Say you’re on a 2000 calorie a day plan and you eat 3000 calories one day…you’re definitely going to notice the difference. You’re going to feel bloated and sloggy (my word…not theirs), Say a different day you eat 1000 calories…you’re going to notice that too. You won’t have any energy at all. Those are major differences. BUT…say you eat 1900 or 2100 calories, those are small enough changes that you’re more than likely not going to notice.

If you’re eating 2100 calories instead of your normal 2000, you’re going to put on weight. Simple math. You’ll put it on slowly…but you’ll put it on and hardly notice…that is until your pants get tight. The same is true however for 1900 calories…you’ll more than likely lose weight…slowly, but this direction is way better than the alternative!!

Seriously…if this is interesting at all…read the book.

moment #3: The running analogy

If a runner sets out to run until she’s tired, she’ll ask herself every step…”am i tired yet? am i tired yet? am i tired yet?” However, if she sets out to run to a landmark and back, she’ll more than likely meet that goal.

Same goes for eating…if you set out to eat until you’re full…you’ll more than likely eat way more than you need to in order to attain “full” status. Especially since you don’t notice you’re full right away – it takes a few minutes (like 10) to notice that you’re full enough. You should set the amount you’re going to eat first…fill your plate with what you’re going to eat…and don’t go back.

This one is especially hard to do…this is a big downfall for me.

This section also talks about packaging of snacks for the kids…and how if they know there’s more, they’ll want more, so feeding them out of a box of snacks or even putting their snacks on a plate will give them clues that there are more for them to have. However, if you package things in small snack-size baggies, when they’re gone from the baggie, they’ve gotten the clue that there is no more.

Especially helpful for me to read in determining snack sizes for the kids…when do you give more…when do you not?? Helpful in trying to raise children who are mindful of what they’re eating as well – whether or not they know it.

Stay tuned…next post…the book finale.