Do you enjoy what you eat? Or are you just putting anything into your body because of hunger and stress?

Do you enjoy putting clothes on in the morning? Or do you regularly look for the ‘loose’ pants and top?

Do you go to bed with incessant thoughts of all the things you ‘shouldn’t have’ eaten that day?

What are you going to do about?

mr.fat kitty isn't enjoying his energy levels — Are you like mr. fat kitty? Not enjoying your energy levels & desperately needing some coffee?

Enjoy it all, the good and the bad

Now that mindfulness is all the rage, everybody is talking about how important it is to slow down and create some enjoyment in our day-to-day lives. And yes, to create. It sometimes takes frustrating amounts of effort to stay positive and be fully present ‘in the now’, as they say.

One way to drill into your brain that it’s actually something you can do and be ‘in’, is to try thinking of the word ‘enjoy’ as a moment in joy. Maybe just looking at the word differently can help snap you out of it when all you really want is to chow down. And if you’re going to eat junk; take in the joy from that too! Because appreciating the greasy, salty, carby goodness as a once in a while thing = no guilt + full enjoyment + prevent guilt cycle of self-hatred.

Fudgy Chocolate Date Treats, something to really enjoy!

How to enjoy it all

As with anything new, starting small with something manageable is what creates lasting effects. Take breakfast, for example. Are you rushing through it just to get some energy in you, or skipping it all together, or actually stopping and sitting and tasting your food? Pay attention to your eating habits next time you eat a meal to be a more conscious eater.

Fluffy Banana Pancakes with Chocolate Mousse

Try something tomorrow. First, a big glass of water. Next, take a moment, shut your phone off (actually power it down – don’t just put it on silent – it’s amazingly liberating!), sit, and eat your meal with no distractions. Savour each bite. Notice how you feel half way through. Not hungry anymore is one possible outcome. This could lead to realizing your portion sizes are pretty big and you’re actually okay with less on your plate. Being conscious means more pleasure in the moment and more attention to your brain’s satiety cues.

Fresh Summer Salad — I used to hate salad, now I enjoy it daily. Finding lettuce you like, loading it with quality olive oil, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy avocado, ground sesame seeds, chia, and nutritional yeast = flavour party in your mouth

Just remember what the server says to you before you eat… “Enjoy!”