The key to eating healthy?

The key to eating healthy? Avoid any food that has a TV commercial.

Just think about how true that is. I have never seen an ad for broccoli!!

I just found that quote and liked it, but my conversation is about Beck again, because this new principal, even if you never pick up this book, is a really important thing for all of us to work on.

Have you ever strolled through Costco, or any grocery store for that matter, and indulged in the "samples" offered at almost every corner some days? STOP. I know, it's just a bite, and can't have that many calories....yes, it can.

It is more than the calories, however.

Think about this today. How many times do you eat standing up? Making dinner and sampling a taste..eating a "tiny" bite of something from the refrigerator...eating that last bite on your kid's plate...standing and eating a meal??

Everything is wrong with this. Eating MUST be done sitting down, because you gain control when you sit down, and make it a meal. Try today to not eat anything standing up, and if you want to have a bite out of the fridge, sit down and eat it.

OK, that's step one. Step two is even more important. While you are sitting down, having your meals, eat slowly today. Make a huge effort to put your utensil down in between every single bite. Chew 15 times or more with every bite. What you are trying to do is let your stomach catch up with what you are eating. By the end of the meal, you want your stomach to know it is sated. It takes about 20 minutes for a meal to be fully recognized by your stomach, and the longer you take to eat, the more satisfied you will be when you are done.

So, sit down, put your food/utensil down in between bites, and eat S-L-O-W-L-Y. I am trying to retrain my brain to think like a thin person. I know this eating standing up and eating fast, and not putting my fork down is a problem that I must work on, and intend on having it be an ingrained habit.

I started yesterday, and with my salad, I spent almost a half hour eating it. I couldn't finish it, and I can ALWAYS finish it. I am going to really concentrate on this because I know it is important to my future me.

Did you know that it takes about three weeks to develop a habit? So, sit down, eat slowly, stop between bites, and by December, you will have developed one of the best healthy and thin habits there is.

I was thinking about Thanksgiving after I wrote that last paragraph. Can you imagine the quick eating (maybe the word is shoveling) that goes on with that holiday? It is especially ridiculous when we think of how long it takes to prepare that meal. It should be savored! Make an effort this year, to be the LAST one finished. You won't want seconds, and you probably won't have any room for pie!! (OK, wishful thinking...)

Spark on.

Beck book:
"The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person"
by Judith S. Beck