Eating without thinking

A lot of things we do automatically. Some like intuition just seem to happen, others like playing the piano or driving are learned automatic behaviours.

Eating can also become an automatic behaviour, so that we eat without really noticing that we are doing it.

The environment is filled with cues that encourage us to eat. These can include magazine articles, television programmes, adverts, the way a supermarket is laid out, and host of other little cues. We scarcely notice them, but they are there all the time and in huge quantities.We learn over time to respond to these cues which trigger eating in an automatic way, without it really passing through our consciousness.

On the whole we do things automatically when they are very important to us. For example, you don't need to think about running if you see a grizzly bear coming at you. There is no thinking needed, you just run. Eating is also essential for survival, so not surprisingly, eating is an automatic behaviour too. Look at the research about this. Understanding this helps you control your eating without having to use up your willpower.

The most automatic eating is where you eat with your hands. Usually, when you eat without cutlery, you tend not to notice how much you are eating. And this sort of eating is not associated with hunger. What do you eat without cutlery?

If you are in or near Glasgow and want to lose weight, try hypnotherapy with me.
www.carolinebrowntherapy.com