For those of you who have recognized that you are at least subtly addicted to food, this post will be providing a list of practical tips that will assist you in eating less, and thereby Living more … That having been said, it is VERY IMPORTANT to remind yourself regularly just why you are disengaging from this addiction (or any addiction, for that matter). If you are doing so solely for your own benefit – solely for your own “better health” or to become “more attractive” or to “have more energy”, then your battle will not be truly effective.

Anything done for self is essentially a fear-based choice. And as every addictive behavior is also founded in fear, chasing away an addiction primarily for personal benefit will actually feed the very fear that caused the addiction to surface in the first place.

To effectively vanquish any addiction, your motives must harmonize with an intention that flows counter to your yearning – and such an intention must always somehow be selfless (a.k.a. Kind, Caring or Loving).

That having been said, let’s look at some practical methods to make releasing your eating addiction a smoother journey.

TIP #01 – FEED ANOTHER … One of the best ways to tap into the very real psychological dynamic mentioned in the previous few paragraphs is to wait until you are deeply desirous of a meal, and then to go and give food to those in need while you are hungry yourself. This is a radical maneuver, to be sure, and you are going to have to be extra consoling to your ego to get it to allow you to do this, and yet if you can muster the Strength to Give away food when you most want to eat it yourself, your addiction will not stand a chance.

TIP #02 – AVOID DIETING … The evidence shows that 98% of dieters regain the weight they lost within 5 years of dieting, and that almost 70% of them regain that weight within the first year of losing it. In addition, dieting depletes muscle mass, entrenches feelings of guilt and shame related to eating (which strengthens the addiction that inspired the diet in the first place), and slows the metabolism — making it much easier to gain weight (and much more difficult to lose it) in the future.

“There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.” ~ Mark Twain

TIP #03 – DOWNSIZE the DISHWARE … Give away all large plates, bowls and silverware.

TIP #04 – DRINK SPRING WATER (see attached image for inspiration) … While most of you are probably eating too much food, the probability if just as high that you are all drinking far too little water. Along with just being good for you, drinking water curbs the appetite, making unhealthy food cravings more manageable.

TIP #05 – KEEP FRUIT VISIBLE … Cut back on snacks, and yet if you do snack, snack on raw fruit – period. Studies show that keeping a bowl of fresh visible in your home dramatically increase the amount of fruit you actually eat.

Most of us are on the “See Food Diet” (we eat whatever we see), so make sure healthy stuff is the stuff that is easy to see. One corollary of this tip is to make sure that you have healthy snack foods with you whenever you are on the road. It is mush easier to resist Burger King when your stomach is lightly full of your favorite trail mix.

TIP #06 – SAVOR YOUR SUSTENANCE … Mind your S’s: eat Slowly, eat Silently & eat Supra-consciously (i.e. deeply aware of your surroundings and in deep gratitude for the food you are eating) … Doing so will help you stop eating before you are full, which is quite the healthy thing to do.

By the way, humbly blessing your food (i.e. sending it “good vibes” of reverence &/or gratitude) before it goes into your body can help you remain conscious while eating it.

“When speaking, speak … When eating, eat.” ~ Zen Proverb

TIP #07 – REMEMBER THE WHY of your eating … Your ego just eats to eat. It is always preparing you for a pending famine (that simply is not on the horizon), and thereby thinks you need to stuff yourself whenever you get the chance.

Instead of heeding its subtle whispers, remember why your True Self eats: to Power-Up your body to better serve others.

It can help to carry around pictures of your Loved Ones (or, if you are feeling really advanced, your enemies) in your wallet or purse. Look at them often and remember why you want to not merely survive, but thrive – that you don’t only want to live, but LIVE WELL.

“One should eat to live, not live to eat.” ~ Benjamin Franklin