Last night, Dr. May posted this note on the Am I Hungry?® Mindful Eating Program Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AmIHungry):
“At my presentation this evening, I had a great comment from someone in the audience: ‘So it sounds like what you are suggesting is rational. The problem is that my behavior with food is irrational!’ . . . Yes, these concepts are simple but they are not necessarily easy!”
I find it to be a profound comment from the participant, and succinctly describes my own experiences. Just this week while practicing the self-observation methods described in the program, it was interesting to me that I consciously and repeatedly chose to overeat. Staying with the concepts, I was able to remain mostly non-judgmental of my behavior, and simply be curious. Then, it suddenly became clear to me that I was overeating in order to soothe my anxiety around a decision my husband and I were making about a large purchase. So actually, it wasn’t so irrational after all.
I was reverting to a coping technique that has comforted me many times in the past.
That’s why I am one of the biggest fans of this program. Self-care through awareness and choice is such a better way to optimal health than rules, personal coercion, and feelings of repeated failure.