Weight Loss Miracle!

I'm terrified of dental work. Always have been. So when I cracked a molar on Saturday afternoon, my anxiety levels skyrocketed. What will the dentist do? Will he yell at me? Are my teeth getting so old and feeble that I'll have to end strained vegetables all the time, while waiting for my kids to visit????

Sitting in the chair a few days later, while the dentist "tssked" and "hmmmed", assuring me there was no worse way to crack a tooth, panic truly invaded. He brought out really big needles and talked about yanking teeth, so I started deep breathing. He got kind of freaked out... "are you ok or are you just breathing?" But as soon as I closed my eyes, started "dirghe" breath through the nostrils, my body was back on the mat in my yoga practice room. The panic vibes started to recede and I was able to reassure the dental team that all would be well.

Result... one honkin' silver filling that may or may not survive and orders not to chew too vigorously for awhile. It now takes about 15 minutes to nibble at a piece of toast.

So what's the connection to weight loss? When you think this carefully about each bite... when you gingerly nibble each crumb... when you rethink what food would be most nutritious cause you can only eat a small amount... that's mindful eating.

They're right. When you eat slower, and chew longer, you do feel full after eating fewer calories. In just a few days, my pants feel a little more comfortable and that bloated feeling is starting to dissipate. Is it possible to hang on to this committment to slowing down, even after the panic over my teeth has passed?

And you know, when I broke the tooth, I was shoving a snack in my mouth, distracted by a newspaper and simultaneously conversing with my teenaged son. Not mindful at all. Hmmmmm.....