I’ve decided to put myself in obedience training this week.
I need to get some of my bad eating habits under control, STAT. I have a tendency to:
- Eat standing up
- Eat exceptionally fast
- Graze mindlessly throughout the day
I started reading The Beck Diet Solution by Judith Beck, Ph.D. over the weekend, a book all about techniques to get your head around sticking to a long-term healthy eating plan. It’s not a diet, in fact, Beck recommends you pick a healthy eating plan and use her techniques to help you stick with your selected program. Fair enough!
So, this week I’m going to put some of Beck’s techniques from the first 3 or 4 chapters into practice. Starting today, I’m going to train myself like I would a dog. Here’s how:
- SIT. I will sit down to eat. No more grabbing a handful of almonds out of the cabinet just because or drinking a protein shake standing by the blender. I have a table, it’s time to start using it every single time I eat. (By the way, this is Bella’s cousin, Charlie, demonstrating the art of sitting for us here.)
- STAY. I will stay focused on what I’m eating and slow the heck down. I have a tendency to multi-task when I eat, too. So I’m going to attempt to be a little less distracted.
- PRAISE. As silly as this sounds, I’m going to congratulate my bad self when I’m successful. A simple “good job” should do the trick. Last week I didn’t eat that extra handful of almonds and you would have thought I had a major breakthrough!
Now I really must go fetch myself a healthy meal and go sit at the table, otherwise I’ll end up in the dog house!
Jessica@HowSweet says:
March 8th 2010Those are great ideas, especially since I tend to eat on the run a lot, too!
Lindsay Cotter says:
March 8th 2010Ditto. Guilty as charged! I’ll have to look into that book. SOunds interesting. Hope you technology free weekend was relaxing!
LC
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad says:
March 8th 2010I am soooooo bad about sitting down to eat and/or eliminating distractions during meals. I’m always watching tv or blogging while chowing down!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says:
March 8th 2010I’m so bad at just focusing on a meal. My breakfast and lunch especially–I’m always eating while working!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says:
March 8th 2010These sound like good tips…I need to work on slowing down with my eating too :-)
Naomi(onefitfoodie) says:
March 8th 2010OMG what a cutie!!! I used to stand and eat all the time, and I realized I would eat so much more because it was usually eating out of the conatiner near the fridge. I now try to take out a portion in a dish and SIT and eat :)
Jody - Fit at 52 says:
March 8th 2010Great post! I have heard nothing but good things about that book! Such simple things to do but many don’t. That sit down is a great one! We are all guilty of standing & eating at some point & that leads to mindless eating & too fats eating for sure. Just those couple things, sit & slow down/stop the mindless eating will lead to big results!
By the way, cute dogs! My mom used to have a doggie named Belladonna, Bella for short! :-)
Jodi says:
March 8th 2010Girl, you know who fast? Kas. She can kill an omlette in 4 bites. Unreal. I hear you on this…might have to try a few myself. Mine is eating on time. I will forget to eat which is awful. Thanks for sharing the tips!:o)
Suzanne says:
March 8th 2010Good reminder that I need to SLOW DOWN when I eat! Carry over habit from when the kid was a baby and I had to steal away a few minutes just to eat something, but it’s such a bad habit.
Heather (Wheres the Beach) says:
March 8th 2010I need to work on that praise part!
Christy says:
March 8th 2010Those are some great goals! I work from home….so it’s easy to go to the kitchen and grab something. I’m also getting back to basics! I think it’s the sunny and warmer weather here lately that is getting me more motivated :)
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says:
March 8th 2010I like to sit on my kitchen counter and eat. Classy.
I AM sitting though, does that count?
Erika @ Dr. TriRunner says:
March 8th 2010Haha… I’m laughing because the ^ comment about sitting on the counter and eating is something I used to do ALLLL the time. With the TV on. Rock star :)
I could definitely use a dose of this sit/stay/love here… I always remind myself to CHEW my food, and that definitely helps in slowing down and actually tasting what you’re eating.
The Candid RD says:
March 8th 2010I need to work on the “sit” myself. It’s a good idea to sit and relax, and actually enjoy your food. Sometimes I even eat dinner on the run, in my own home! Yikes. I will work on these too. I think this sounds like a fantastic plan.
Hope you had a nice weekend Joanna!
angela says:
March 8th 2010ok so we’re the same person – this is too funny! i constantly do something to multi-task while i’m eating (check email, read fitness mags, peruse the newspaper), and i eat way too fast because i’ve got things to do! my first thought on this subject when i saw the title was “stop eating when you’re full!”. i know little mylo only eats when he’s hungry and then when he’s done…he meanders off. somehow i continue to lurk in the kitchen! love the simple but very applicable concept and how it applies to us (less-hairy) creatures. as always – you inspire and inform! hugs…
ang
tanya says:
March 8th 2010I started a 10 week fitness challenge today because like you, I felt some of the old not so good habits creeping back in. Good luck on your challenge for the week!
Evan Thomas says:
March 8th 2010I think these are great goals for anyone to take on!
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) says:
March 8th 2010I’ve been trying to stop eating my food in record time. Slowing down is hard!
empower me photo guy says:
March 8th 2010There are some great ideas there! I think we’re all guilty of eating on the run or not really paying attention to what we put in our mouths from time to time. Giving yourself praise for a day well done will really empower you to keep going! Best of luck
april says:
March 8th 2010Great tips! I have a habit of chowing down my meals in nothing flat. Its so good I can’t help it! lOL
Mom says:
March 8th 2010Cousin Charlie can also turn around and shake *hands” left and shake “hands” right…
Diane Fit to the Finish says:
March 8th 2010These are great, great tips! I’m often so busy that sometimes I forget what I had for lunch!
FatFighterTV says:
March 9th 2010OMG, Charlie is so adorable! I totally need some obedience/mind training too. Need to get on it.
Miz says:
March 9th 2010oooh I LOVE THIS JOANNA!!
methinks you have a magazine article here…