END EMOTION-DRIVEN EATING: SHE SAVORED THE FLAVOR AND DROPPED TWO SIZES

Apr 23 2009

END EMOTION-DRIVEN EATING: SHE SAVORED THE FLAVOR AND DROPPED TWO SIZES

Dina Jachens lost 40 pounds without giving up any of the foods that she craves. Instead, she learned to enjoy them one piece at a time. Dina, a 31-year-old full-time mom from Midland, Michigan,

had her three children within 4 years. Each pregnancy left her a little bit heavier, and she had an increasingly difficult time getting rid of the extra pounds. “I was busy every minute, but not doing the things I could have done to keep in shape,” she says. “And I tended to eat whatever I could grab, which included lots of chips and other salty snacks.”

Even as her weight climbed toward 175 pounds during those 4 years, Dina didn’t think much about slimming down. Then, one day, as she sorted through some size 10 and 12 clothes that no longer fit, she began thinking about a family reunion that she had recentiy attended. At past reunions, she had always received lots of compliments about her appearance. But not this time.

Dina looked in the mirror and took a good long look at herself. She didn’t like what she saw. She vowed that she would get back into the size 8 that she had worn before having her kids.

“I realized that my eating habits had gotten out of control,” Dina says. “I was eating whatever I wanted to, as much as I wanted to. I’m a salt freak, so I’d eat chips by the handful. And before my periods, I’d crave chocolate, so I’d eat a good part of a bag of M8cM’s.”

Dina knew that she couldn’t completely give up the foods that she loved. But she learned how to control how much of them she ate by savoring them one piece at a time. Take those M&M’s. Dina stopped tossing them in her mouth a fistful at a time. Rather, she put one on her tongue and allowed it to completely melt before starting another. “It usually takes only about 10 M8cM’s until I feel satisfied,” she says. “That’s a lot better than a whole bag.”

The same rule applied to chips. Instead of eating them by the handful, Dina crunched one at a time, giving herself a chance to really savor the taste.

Dina made other changes in her eating habits, like giving up most desserts as well as high-fat, high-calorie foods that she didn’t really care for. “If there was something that I simply couldn’t pass up, I’d eat only a bite or two, just to get the taste,” she says. She also launched an exercise program, walking 6 days a week.

In 12 months, Dina managed to take off 40 pounds. She’s maintaining her weight at a healthy 135 pounds—and she’s back into her ^ size 8 clothing.

WINNING ACTION

Indulge yourself one bite at a time. Dina has found a terrific way to deal with her cravings for high-fat, high-calorie foods: by eating treats one piece at a time. It sounds like she’s enjoying them more, too! Do the same, and I bet you’ll find out how much you really enjoy every bite. Another suggestion is to look for your favorite treats in single-serving packages. If you crave chocolate, for example, buy a box of Fudgsicles instead of a half-gallon of ice cream. It will give you built-in portion control.

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