Mindless Eating. . .

THREE TIPS TO PRACTICE:

• WHEN YOU EAT A MEAL USE A SALAD PLATE RATHER THAN A DINNER PLATE.

(Your stomach is not the first thing that registers that you're full.  When your eyes see your plate is empty, or nearly, your brain starts to register that you are "full."  Same sized portions on a small plate LOOK bigger than when they are on a large plate.  Your brain is tricked into thinking you're eating more, thus getting full on LESS simply by regularly eating on a smaller plate.
 

• CONSUME FEW OF YOUR CALORIES IN LIQUID FORM.

This may or may not be an easy tip.  It was for me because I hadn't gotten into a habit of drinking a lot of pop, or caffeinated drinks.  However, it is an excellent tip.  If you use the excuse of "I drink diet drinks...there aren't any calories in it..." stop anyway.  Do it slowly.  Don't do cold turkey.  Just drink one less than you normally would each day, and gradually taper off until you are limiting what you drink to predominantly water.  (Milk and orange juice or other vegetable or real fruit juice is okay...)

• IF YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE HAVING A "BAD" TREAT, YOU CAN...BUT ONLY AFTER YOU EAT A PIECE OF FRUIT.

I was really amazed at how this worked psychologically, and physiologically!  Your mind isn't feeling "deprived" by knowing it CAN have the treat.  Your body is given a natural sweet first, which reduces the craving for the "bad" sweet.  As this is repeated, your body gradually loses it's craving for the "bad" treat and your mind doesn't even notice. 

REMEMBER: Your brain is the thing that needs retraining...not your stomach!!  You never have a craving in your stomach that your brain doesn't think of first!