Have you ever wondered what it would be like to simply eat and think like a thin person?
Naturally thin people don't constantly obsesss about food and their weight. Instead they listen intuitively to needs of their body. In essence, thinking like a thin person is all about listening to your body and responding to the true signals it is giving you, not the false hunger that is created by smelling a cheeseburger or seeing a slice of chocolate mousse cake. It's about being recognizing when your body has had enough food and not just eating more because the food is there or it tastes amazing.
Here are some simple steps you can take to think yourself thin:
Do you think thin people hop on the scales every morning? No, they don't.
Obsessing with the scales makes you a slave to them. When you lose a pound or two you might feel great, but if you gain a little then it can set you into a spiral of self-destruction. The feelings of failure that follow can send you running for the nearest bar of chocolate or other comfort food.
Not to mention bathroom scales are not an accurate way to monitor your weight. What if you are exercising more and gaining muscle? Or maybe you need a good bowel movement – well there goes a few extra pounds?
Ladies, is it that time of the month and your body is puffed up with fluid weight? So many factors can influence that number on the scales.
So it's time to stop judging your success by what you weigh and start looking at all the positive changes you are making in your life. Let the way you feel and the healthy choices you make be your new weight loss barometer. Or simply watch as your clothes get looser and your body get smaller.
Take a moment or two to ask yourself if you feel really hungry. There are many times when we think we feel hungry, but only a few when we are truly hungry.
Often we feed our feelings because of a false emotional hunger. Or maybe we mistake feeling thirsty for feeling hungry.
True hunger is that slight gnawing or empty sensation in your stomach. Take time to listen to your body, to really listen to your body's needs. Eat only to satisfy true hunger and stop when your body has had enough. Choose foods that make you feel satisfied, nourished and light and avoid all foods that make you feel heavy, bloated and uncomfortable. It's as simple as that!
Digestion begins in your mouth and good digestion is critical to transforming the food you eat into the energy your body needs. When you chew your food it stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes in your stomach and digestive tract. If you eat too quickly, these enzymes don't have the time they need to effectively digest you food. When you eat quickly you also swallow more air and ingest larger pieces of food which puts strain on your digestive system and can cause bloating and gas.
Also the hunger hormone Leptin will continue to increase as you eat, until your hunger has been satisfied. Chewing your food thoroughly and eating slowly gives your body time to recognize that it is full and allows leptin to send a message from your stomach to your brain to stop eating because you have had enough.
4. Eat Smaller Meals More Often
Eat at least every 4-5 hours to provide your body with the fuel it needs to function efficiently. This will help maintain your blood sugar levels and keep your metabolism revving. Plan ahead so that you have healthy food on hand at all times. Remember that you want to eat when you start to feel hungry, not after you become ravenous. When you experience excessive hunger it is a sign of low blood sugar levels which will create cravings for sugar and other CRAP foods.
Sit down, slow down, relax and enjoy your food. Creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere when you eat encourages you to chew more thoroughly, eat more slowly and makes it easier to listen to your body. Also try to avoid anything that distracts your attention away from food, such as watching television. This way you are more likely to remain aware of how much you are eating. The more conscious you are when you are eating, the more you will listen to the signals saying you have had enough.