I would like to share a few aspects of Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) that can assist you significantly with your relationship to eating. Should you want to explore your relationship with eating in greater depth, you may want to consider enrolling in the MB-EAT class that begins this Fall. Free Individual Orientations will be offered in August and September to give you a deeper understanding of the class and how it could benefit you. The class lasts for 9 weeks and meets on Monday evening’s beginning in October. You will find that the class provides you with ample support as well as all the practice information and materials to have more balance in your life regarding your relationship to food. Moreover, participants in MB-EAT classes have shared that this practice carries over into other areas of their life that has created more balance, peace and satisfaction.

The aspects of MB-EAT that I would like to share with you can provide you with a new understanding of how eating mindfully can bring you greater peace, provide you with more balance in your life, and help you to have more control with eating. The first practice is focusing on your mindful breathing as you observe the contents of your mind, body and surroundings with openness and kindness. Should you encounter any aspect of difficulty, breath kindness to that area of you mind and body as you take good care of that area of difficulty. As you begin to eat, observe the texture, appearance, and smell of the food as well as your surroundings. As you place the food in your mouth, again be aware of the texture and taste of the food enjoying chewing the food as a connoisseur. You may want to rate each taste of the food on a scale of 1-10, with a 10 being the most satisfying experience of taste. This practice is called “taste-specific satiety.” You may want to consider stopping eating when your rating decreases significantly. Concurrently, be aware of your hunger satiety, with rating how hungry you are on a scale of 1-10 before you begin eating, with the strongest degree of hunger being a 1. It is wise to eat when you are moderately hungry (3-4 on the scale) and not waiting until your hunger is at a 1. You may then want to measure your level of fullness, with being completely stuffed and uncomfortable being a 10. You may want to consider stopping eating when you are moderately full (6-7). A good analogy is imagining that you could still moderately exercise on a moderately full stomach (6-7) but would be very uncomfortable exercising when you are too full (greater than a 7). At first, this practice may seem mechanical. As you practice eating this way over time, it will feel very natural and enjoyable so that you pay attention to your eating in a way that respects your body and mind.

This practice of mindful eating can greatly assist you in enjoying your food with more satisfaction while not over-eating. This course can assist a wide range of people from those that may use food as a coping mechanism, those affected with diabetes, high blood pressure, binging as well as obesity. For more information, please call Ed Glauser, LPC at the Mind Body Institute or email at mindfuleg@aol.com.

Here are a few comments from previous MB-EAT participants...

So Fantastic! Loved the group support and the practice in group sessions. It helped to have the time and opportunity to process everything.

What I liked most about the class was the feeling of acceptance and hope.

I went from not looking forward to class to very much looking forward to coming and seeing the supportive group again. The support I received from the facilitator and fellow students was very important to me.

I liked most learning a method that really helps and is not just another fad diet.

I loved the class! My favorite thing about the class was all of the resources that I was introduced to — incredible! Secondly, I loved the people and learning how to meditate.