Feeling hungrier and less satisfied: MINDFULNESS as published in Archives Internal Medicine 171:1585 9/26/11.
WEIGHT LOSS and even the ATTEMPT at weight loss has a biochemistry that makes one FEEL HUNGRIER and when you eat, LESS SATISFIED. HOLD ON …. Take a second … Think about it … Or even better JUST NOTICE and OBSERVE where you are-what is going on-what do you want-why do you want-is it justifiable and safe?-and then SLOW down. ACCEPT all the urges you have, but begin to react to or not become CONTROLLED by that thought-direction-URGE. Once again, HOLD ON: just sit or stand there: recognize and observe these old frenemies.
Particularly when distressed or even a little bit hungry we return to AUTOMATIC-URGE-trigger-eating. The goal of mindfulness is to INTERRUPT AUTOMATIC processes/teach people to focus less on reacting to incoming feelings-desires-patterns-urges or hunger. Instead accept, observe without judgment: allow yourself to JUST NOTICE/be aware when these AUTOMATIC processes start.
Observe, NO JUDGMENT. What do you want, what don’t you want?
Are you prepared to delay a pleasure now for a later greater again? The initial answer will be “no.” The real answer will be you wish you had held on – not acted. There is in you an Alert Judge that is non-judgemental that sees everything you do–and then responds with the laws of the universe called biochemistry. Every cigarette makes a scar like every other wrong/food choice. Somewhat like Foxwoods casino, you are asking for a payday that you don’t want both almost immediately after you eat and then later with your weight-appearance-physical limitations. So, just HOLD ON-observe non-judgmentally: watch/learn/NOW (!) alter your reactions. Let those urges and limitations just become a thought, a reflection that you NOW have control over. Set your self free with this mindfulness to avoid that unnecessary eating.