It was summer of 2019 when my sister, Cari and I attended a health conference where the craziest thing happened.

One of the speakers specialized in mindful eating, and honest eating. Here’s what she did (and what those two things mean).

This speaker had us all get a plate of food. Then she told us not to eat it.

It was surprising how upset people got. I even got antsy!

So what was the purpose of this experiment? And what does all this have to do with your weight loss?

Years ago, this speaker was still dieting. She had been for a long time, and she got more and more depressed, to the point of wanting to end her life. She had it all planned and everything.

But before she ended her own life, she decided she was going to eat whatever she wanted.

So for three months, she ate nothing but cookie dough. Morning, noon, and night, it was only cookie dough.

At around the three-month mark, she started craving salads and steaks. She wanted them, so she ate them.

Obviously she didn’t end her own life.

Instead, the whole experience taught her how screwed up her relationship with food was.

A lot of people have a dysfunctional relationship with food. We see it as a reward, a punishment, a way to celebrate, a way to numb, a way to cope, a way to feel good, you name it.

We mindlessly gorge on it while watching TV or scrolling on our phones.

Because food’s so abundant in many parts of the world, we take it for granted. And as a result, we don’t really value it.

Hey, no judgment. I stand over the kitchen sink with a plate of food and inhale it in 37 seconds.

But I’ve also come to recognize the value in mindful eating. It’s where you turn off all the devices, put away the book, and sit and eat your food. No distractions.

It helps you get in tune with your body, and really listen to it.

Try it for your next meal. No TV, no phone, no distractions. Just sit and eat your food. See if you can do it.

Mindful eating has a lot to teach you about your relationship with food, and how well you listen to your own body.

Listening to your body is key to losing all your weight and keeping it off. It’s one of the top weight management tools you can have.

Mindful eating is a great way to get good at it. Give it a shot!