How To Lose 10 Pounds Without Trying

It was Mother's Day brunch. I was 12 and my sister was 10. My family was notorious for going to brunches. As a child I remember waiting up to an hour just to get into a good Sunday brunch. This day we had already gotten up for seconds. Then thirds. After all, brunch is a time to splurge!

I was half way through my third round of little desert cakes, bacon and scrambled eggs when I looked over and noticed that my sister had stopped eating. "What's wrong?" I inquired dumbfounded. We were at brunch after all; you are supposed to stuff yourself silly.

"I'm done." She replied. Done?! How can that be? There were so many delicious foods to be tried! "What about the sundae bar?" I inquired, feeling puzzled and a little lonely since she wasn't going to be joining me.

"I've had enough." She stated matter-of-factly and pushed her plate away, towards the center of the table. My heart sank. First, I was too embarrassed to go up there on my own. My parents rarely ate from the sundae bar and she had always been my Sunday brunch binge buddy. Then, just like that, she backs out of a tradition we've been sharing since we were little.

Years later, my sister was the thin one and I was the chunky one. I was an emotional eater and struggled for years, on and off multiple diets, until I found the way out that is much simpler than any diet I struggled with.

Geneen Roth in her book, When Food Is Love, points out the difference between true and false hunger and the role it plays in keeping us overweight, or on a diet.

Secret #1: Eating When Physically Hungry

Most of us grow up being told to eat three square meals a day. Then there are snacks. Then we add in that mocha on the go, family gatherings, kids party's and girls night out! It is no wonder we are stuck on diets. Nowhere in that equation are we taught about the difference between emotional and physical hungers. Yet, emotional hunger is why we go overvboard in the first place.

Sylvia Haskvitz, author of Eat By Choice, Not By Habit puts it this way. Physical hunger is hunger below the neck. Emotional hunger is hunger above the neck.

Physical hunger is a growling stomach. Emotional hunger is feeling a pull to eat even when we are not hungry. Emotional hunger then becomes eating when the body doesn't need the intake of more calories and therefor becomes pasted to our waistline.

When we follow our hunger, we never have to worry about gaining weight because we always eat when the body needs more. Another perk is that your body never goes into starvation mode and your metabolism is kept in prime condition. When we don't eat when the body asks for more, after a while the metabolism slows way down.

Have you noticed that thin people often turn down food when they aren't hungry by saying, "I'm not hungry right now, thanks." Yet, they eat plentifully when they are hungry and without gaining weight! This is why.

Want to lose weight without trying? Eat when you are physically hungry and then apply the second secret to natural weight loss.

Secret #2: Find Your "Seinfeld Point"

I was watching Oprah one afternoon. She was intervening Jerry Seinfeld and what he said clearly defines the second secret to effortless weight loss. He said, "You know, it's like that moment at Thanksgiving dinner. You've eaten all this great food and then you take that one bite. And that one bite is the one that ruins the entire experience. Now you are stuffed, uncomfortable and no longer enjoying yourself. The key is to stop right before that bite!"

I call this finding your Seinfeld point. It is the point where you have had enough to eat, are perfectly satisfied and still comfortable in your own skin. It is the point that you can still get up and move around freely and vibrantly. It is the point you walk away from a meal feeling amazing, grateful and fulfilled.

Here is a tip: The stopping point is different depending on how much the body needs. Sometimes we need more. Sometimes we need less. If you pay attention when you eat, then your stopping point will be clearer.  You can then walk away from a meal feeling light and completely satisfied, not stuffed and bogged down. 

Bottom Line

Tune in. Get to know your body. Most of us are busy and even feel divorced from our own bodies. While being divorced from our bodies is normal now-a-days, this isn't healthy! You can change this. You love your body when you take the time to tune, care and listen!

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Want to learn more about the non-dieting method, eating what you want, reaching optimal health, eliminating emotional eating and/or permanent weight loss?  I can help!  Visit me at www.EatingWithHeart.com and sign up for my Free Ezine.