THE CAT IN YOUR HEAD

This is an excerpt from my new book:

ENJOY EVERY BITE: End Your Struggle with Food and Weight Loss

First of all, this is a true story and no names have been changed to protect the innocent…When I was seven years old, my family moved from Kinde, Michigan to New Orleans. This meant the family cat, Ginger, also moved with us. Ginger was an outdoor cat and wasn’t litter boxed trained, so when we stopped for gas, my mom wanted to give Ginger a chance to relieve herself. Somehow my mom attached a leash to Ginger’s collar and carried her to a grassy area. That’s when it all went wrong.

A nearby dog spotted Ginger and started barking, which frightened her so much she started flailing on the end of the leash. I have a vivid memory of seeing my mom desperately holding onto a leash as a thin calico cat jumped and flipped in the air. My mom must have been a cat whisperer to somehow get Ginger back to the car.

I tell that story because it makes me think of how most of us exist mentally. Our minds are like cats on a leash jumping and flipping to try to get away from perceived danger. The only difference is we’re flailing in our head over an argument with our spouse, or our son’s poor grades, or what’s streaming on Netflix, or what’s that smell?

So, what can you do to get yourself more focused in order to make better choices when you eat? The following list of apps is just a sample of what’s available to help you be more centered when you eat.

Useful Apps 

1.   Am I Hungry? guides you through the decision-making process when you eat.

2.   Headspace helps you practice meditation and mindful eating.

3.   Eat Drink and Be Mindful lets you record your hunger type and level and reminds you to eat mindfully.

4.   Mindful Eating Tracker guides you in making decisions about food, hunger level, satisfaction, enjoyment and gratitude.

5.   In the Moment helps you decide why you want to eat: hunger or emotion?