Don’t Check Out While Eating Your Meals (be present)

Posted on May 8, 2018April 17, 2019 by Evelyn Parham

BE PRESENT How do you check out while eating meals? Some people check out without realizing it but checking out means that you don’t pay attention to the eating process because you are preoccupied.

Preoccupation while eating causes a few things to happen. Below are a few things that happen when we check out while eating meals/snacks.

Eating Too Much

One thing that happens when we don’t pay attention to the eating process is that we overeat.

We don’t plan to overeat; it sneaks up on us because we are absorbed in other activities that don’t have anything to do with eating.

We should be aware of what we are eating and not allow ourselves to be distracted.

Distractions cause us not to detect when we’ve had enough food. And we’ll eat because it is an activity to do while being distracted.

Eating Too Fast

We live in a fast-past society, and it seems like everyone is in a hurry to get things done.

When it comes to food, we should slow down, but most of us don’t slow down.

We eat fast because we move fast naturally. And we wonder why we have indigestion, bloating, or gas?

There comes a time when we must slow down and if it means taking a little longer to eat, then do it.

Some people think wolfing down meals is something to celebrate, but it is not.

Try slowing down the next time you eat and notice how you feel.

To slow down, you have to be present; you cannot check out, check in with your meals and enjoy it to the fullest.

Not Being Aware

The last thing that checking out while eating a meal does is that it hinders awareness.

Eating a meal should be a time when we focus on the meal and only the meal.

I know focusing solely on eating is challenging but start practicing it and see what happens at your next meal.

If you are having lunch or dinner with family or friends, be sure that you are aware of the food.

If there is an unpleasant conversation, shut it down as soon as you can because your mind and body need to be at ease and not stressed by something that upsets you.

Final Words

Allow yourself to be present while eating your meals. Your mind must be present; you cannot check out and allow any distractions to get you off track.

Check in with your food each time you eat and notice what happens.

You’ll probably notice that you recognize when you’ve had enough to eat.

And you’ll also take more time chewing and enjoying the food as well as the company in which you share your meals.

Stay checked in with your food. Don’t check out.

Until next time.

Take care of you and OWN IT!

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The One Simple Step to Better Digestion

Posted on April 5, 2018December 2, 2018 by Evelyn Parham

You are busy, busy, busy and you barely have the time to sit down and enjoy a meal and so you are always eating on the go. Eating on the go is not your friend, it is your enemy. Your digestion could be better, but you have accepted your concerns as a way of life. You can take control and have better digestion with this one simple step.

Never Slowing Down

You are so busy that you do not have the time to sit down and enjoy a meal. And so, you eat fast to move on to the next task.

When you do not slow down, your body gets stressed out, and you learn to deal with the stress of continually going, and going, and going.

In today’s society moving fast is the way to go. Some say if you are not getting stuff done, then you are not doing anything, but I beg to differ.

If you never slow down eventually your body will slow you down. Your body gives you signs that you need to slow down, especially with food.

When you notice indigestion, gas, heartburn, and other concerns with your digestion it is time to take a closer look at what you are doing.

Okay, Slow Down

The one simple step that you can start doing today as it relates to your food, well, you can do this in your life too, is slow down. Slowing down in your life helps you slow down with your meals.

Most of us, if we eat on the go, are eating fast. The one simple step to better digestion is slowing down. Take the time to chew your food, instead of taking a couple of chews and swallowing it down.

Chew your food until it is thoroughly masticated (liquidy) in your mouth. Chewing food for at least 20 times before swallowing is a good practice.

Chew, Chew, Chew

Making sure you chew your food takes some time and forces you to slow down. While you are eating your food, take deep breaths because doing so calming which is a good thing for your digestion.

Your Assignment

At your next meal, practice chewing your food and eating slow. If you are naturally a fast eater, eating slower is challenging, but you can do it.

Focusing on chewing, breathing, and slowing down is a great place to start.

Until next time.

Attention: If you want more digestion tips, grab my eBook, 7 Steps to Better Digestion: A Simple Guide, here or click on the photo below, when you subscribe to my newsletter. It’s free.

Food Intolerance, Do You Think You Have One? here’s how you know

Posted on August 16, 2016May 23, 2018 by Evelyn Parham

Food Intolerance, Do You Think You Have One?

While chatting with a friend, she told me that after eating bananas she feels bad. A YouTube subscriber asked, “How do you know that dairy/cheese caused your digestion issues? Today, I tell you how you can discover if you have a food intolerance.

My Quest Bar Experience

I published a post about my experience with Quest Bars. In the beginning, I really enjoyed Quest Bars, but I started noticing a common occurrence after eating these protein bars. And that common occurrence was diarrhea. Now, I could have ignored the symptoms and kept eating Quest Bars, but I chose to stop. When I stopped eating Quest Bars, diarrhea stopped.

How do You know if You Have a Food Intolerance?

A food intolerance is less serious than a food allergy and oftentimes limited to digestion problems. Digestion problems can include: bloating, gas, flatulence, stomach aches, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.

Here are some ways to discover if you have a food intolerance:

Make a mental note or keep a food journal. Be mindful of when you try a new food item. If you have to write it down, then do so in a food journal. If you notice anything unusual, jot it down or make a mental note.
Try eliminating the suspected food. Eliminate the suspected food for at least a week. After the week is up, reintroduce the suspected food back into your diet. Take note of how you feel and what happens after reintroducing the food back into your diet. If you have digestion problems after reintroducing the suspected food item, then you know that food is the culprit.
Pay attention to your body. Oftentimes, we assume that digestive issues are normal occurrences, but in actuality, this is not the case. Your digestion system should run smoothly and when it acts up, it is a sign that something is happening that needs your immediate attention.
Get tested for the suspected food intolerance. If you do all the above and still cannot pinpoint what is going on, get tested to learn what causes your food intolerance. Oftentimes, you can figure this out by simply doing a process of elimination, but if you cannot discover the food that causes the problem, then please have a food intolerance test.

Your Body is the Messenger, Please Listen

Your body sends you signals on how it is doing. If it is not doing well, it will definitely let you know.

You have to spend time with your body, listening to the messages your body sends. If you ignore the messenger, your body, then how will you ever get to the cause of what’s happening in your body.

After listening to your body and noticing what’s happening with your body, the next step is taking action.

Stop ignoring the messenger, pay attention, and take action!

Discussion: If you have a food intolerance, please share how you discovered the food intolerance.

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