Weight Loss Tips : Habit Conflict?

 

Weight loss tips and questions from our Zlimm Community

This is a question from Niki Willows who asks:

“I’m a bit confused about listening to my body (Habit 1)  and eating regular meals (Habit 2).  Today I had a banana for breakfast and went to a meeting.  I wasn’t at all hungry.  I intended to have mid-morning porridge as usual but still wasn’t hungry.  Went for a walk and it’s now 1pm so I know I ought to eat or I shall be rather hungry by 5ish and could be tempted to snack whilst cooking tea.   SO, should I eat 3 meals a day even if I am not hungry?”

We say:

“The aim is to eat regular meals AND to be hungry for them. But don’t eat if you aren’t hungry. Following the signals of your body is the basis of Mindful Eating – an essential habit.

However, regular meals help you to get into a rhythm where you become skilled at estimating how much you need to keep you going until the next meal. eating regularly will also help to even out your blood glucose levels.”

Tips we give to anyone who isn’t hungry for a meal:

1. Skipping a meal is risky. If you feel starving later in the day it can lead to binging. So if you aren’t going to eat, plan a small healthy snack for later in case you need it.
2. If you aren’t hungry for breakfast – look back at the day before to check you aren’t eating a big meal too late in the day.
3. If you have spent years on diets trying to suppress hunger signals, it’s easy to fall back into the habit of ignoring your appetite -  so stay on the look out for your hunger.

If you have a question about eating habits, just pop it in the ‘Comments’ box below and I’ll do my best to answer it.