Weight Management

Ok, so here are my GCSE Biology question for you:

You drop something reeeally heavy on your toe, do you:

a) Feel intense pain, howl and grab your toe, uttering a few swear words
b) Ignore your body signs and think, ‘pull yourself together, it’s only a toe, I’ve got 9 more where they came from!’

It gets to 3 in the morning and you have yet to go to bed, do you:

a) Yawn, feel your eyes start to close, notice your concentration is all to pot, feel your limbs are heavy and tired, and start to fall asleep.
b) Ignore all your body signs and say,’ I just need to push on and do a few more things before I go to bed.’

A huge box of all sorted deluxe biscuits has just arrived in the office, do you:

a) Tune into your stomach, feel that at the moment it is about 80% full, as you had lunch only an hour ago, and so decline a biscuit for now.
b) Ignore your body signs of fullness and go ‘wahooo, my favourite biscuits, I’ll have that one, that one and that one’.

How did you do?

Mainly A’s – you understand that your body is a well oiled machine. When we ‘tune-in’ to its messages, it informs us of the optimal way to look after it and treat it.

Mainly Bs – your mind rules the roost. Your mind can easily block out subtle messages from your body. Start to feel your body’s messages, and this will lead you on the road to intuitive eating and no more bruised toes!

TOP TIPS FOR INTUITIVE EATING

1. Your body has the answers to whether you are physically hungry. Every time you go to eat, ask yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being starving, 10 being full) how hungry are you. If it is above 7, your body is indicating that it does not need any more fuel. IF you are still adamant that you are going to eat something, say out loud, ‘I am not physically hungry, but I am going to eat this anyway.’ See what affect this has on your decision now.

2. Ask yourself what sort of thing you would like to eat? Sweet or savoury, hot or cold, filling or just a snack, spicy or plain, rich or bland, fruity, creamy.... the list goes on! Mentally taste some options on your tongue and then in your stomach. How will you feel 30 minutes after eating it? When you eat food, it is something that should be really tasted, enjoyed and savoured – so make sure you choose something which your body really wants and needs. One time this may be salmon, the next it could be strawberries.

3. Truly tune into what your body would like to eat, and throw away the diet sheets which rule your mind. Let your body make the decisions not your mind.