Listening to Your Body

I mentioned last time that I’ve been eating more lightly since the Thanksgiving feast simply because my body was telling me to. A couple of readers’ asked how one can learn to listen to one’s body. Good question. If I were listening to my body in one way, I would be biting into a cream-filled pastry horn right now, because that’s what it is craving.



However, I’m listening to my body say that it’s really not hungry right now. My mind is also saying that finishing this blog entry is my first priority. Then I need to finish off this month’s newsletter. This is simply not a good time to hop in the car, drive to the bakery and satisfy my craving. [I’m not going to mention that cream-filled pastry horn again because just thinking about it is making my mouth water!]



It’s really more a matter of “mind over matter” and using mental tricks and skills to convince your body to want what is good for it. I’ve trained my body, by habit, to feel hunger only at mealtimes. Or if I do feel a little hunger pang between meals, I think of what “must” be done or of something diverting I would “like” to do – other than snack.



If I have overeaten, as I allowed myself to do Thanksgiving Day, I convince myself that I am still full for days after. When I feel that way, I don’t even want to look at food and consequently I eat very lightly.



The mind is a wonderful thing; and so is the human body. Using them intelligently in concert is probably the best anti-aging strategy there is. Choose to be the best you can be – whatever your chronological age. Replace bad habits with good ones and you’ll be amazed how great you can feel.



Tags: healthy eating, diet tips, holiday eating