I'm back! Took a little break--went on a wonderful trip to the tropics and am busy making the rounds of holiday parties. Last night I made this really wonderful baked brie topped with cranberry relish and nuts, then there were those outstanding stuffed mushrooms my neighbor made... then came dessert. But before I started singing this new take on a Colbie Caillet song, I remembered to be mindful with my eating like Dr. Michelle May tells us.
At last night's progressive dinner, I took a moment to remember how yucky I felt after that large plate of post-Thanksgiving dinner desert. So this time I paced myself. Yes, I enjoyed the first two courses in moderation then took little dip into the chocolate fondue but stopped before the pain of abdominal distension took hold.
I reflected instead on Dr. May's Hunger and Fullness Scale. It's like a way of taking your hunger temperature. According to this scale:
1 = Ravenous
2= Starving
3= Hungry
4 = Pangs
5 = Satisfied
6 = Full
7 = Very full
8 = Discomfort
9 = Stuffed
10 = Sick
After Thanksgiving dessert I was an 8.5 - 9. This time after dessert at my neighborhood progressive dinner I was a 5. I wasn't distracted by my discomfort so I continued to enjoy the socializing until it was time to stroll back home.
Dr. May says the best time to eat is when you're at a 2 or 3. I've been following her advice and can tell you that I didn't gain weight on my tropical vacation and even loss a tiny bit. I'm getting the feeling this is the kind of approach that works slowly but really sticks.
Try it for a week or two and let me know how it works for you. When your hunger is at a 2 or 3, Dr. May says you'll feel somewhere between "starving--you must eat NOW (2) or "eating would be pleasureable but you can wait longer" (3). The other thing I notice is that when I eat something at a 2 or 3 versus at a 5 or greater, it tastes so much more wonderful at the 2 or 3 level. Try it for just a week and see what happens.
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