Mindfulness: Woo-Hoo or Woo-Woo?

minimyzeme
minimyzeme Posts: 2,708 Member
edited November 18 in Social Groups
The longer I'm working the plan, the more aware I am that mindfulness is really key for me. As I reflect on my eating and drinking and 'slothing' prior to WW, it occurs to me much of it was done without much awareness of sensation. By that I mean I imbibed much of the time not because I was hungry but because it was there and I found I could eat to justify any occasion--happy, sad or just because...

By being more mindful, I'm finding it easier to limit my eating and drinking, most of the time without feeling like I'm giving anything up. In fact, (and this is where it gets kind of woo-woo for me), I find really paying attention to good choices makes me feel good and motivates me to keep working the plan. When I'm in that cycle, I more fully transition to wanting and going for all the benefits that come with it. Of course, that can extend to making the better choice (MTBC), even if it's not the best choice.

Maybe I'm just fascinated with minutia, but I guess after decades of not noticing any of the internal dynamics behind my eating and drinking habits, this change intrigues me. The mindfulness is not entirely natural to me, but is becoming moreso over time. And for the time being, it really helps me to not only stay on plan, but to feel good about doing it! So for me, mindfulness is actually a woo-hoo kind of thing.

What's your experience with this aspect of weight loss?

Replies

  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,538 Member
    Reading your post I got this image of the way I used to be- a pinball just bouncing around in the machine. Will I go down the drain? Or will I get whacked by a flipper for a fun ride to the top before coasting back down. It was all the same to me.

    I had to be mindless. No one with a working brain would live like that.
  • goldenfrisbee
    goldenfrisbee Posts: 1,640 Member
    88olds wrote: »

    I had to be mindless. No one with a working brain would live like that.

    That's it! I turned off that part of my brain.
  • GavinFlynn1
    GavinFlynn1 Posts: 1,664 Member
    I remember really enjoying mindfulness back when I first joined WW . This time I haven't practiced it as much . This post is a good reminder for me. Thanks!
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,538 Member
    @goldenfrisbee- I attribute it to sleep apnea. I probably didn't have a real nights sleep in 8 years. About 2-3 months into CPAP, I started this trip.
  • mcbluesky
    mcbluesky Posts: 92 Member
    Mindfulness keeps me OP. I was eating just because it is there, or I am stressed, or whatever. Not caring really about the taste, as in "am I really enjoying the whole bag of cookies, or container of ice cream, etc". Just eating all of it because it was there. Out of control mindless eating brought me here. I enjoy fruit and vegetables, so why am I literally killing myself eating this junk. I also really enjoy exercising, so why am I eating mass quantities of junk. There may still be a binge or two every now and then, but I am much more in control and mindful of what I am eating and the quantity thanks to WW.
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