Do you find it difficult to stop eating when full? Perhaps you don’t want to stop because the food tastes so yummy. Maybe stopping means returning to uncomfortable feelings such as stress, boredom, loneliness, fill in the blank. Or stopping might mean going back to doing something, like working, that you’d rather avoid. The first step in helping yourself to stop when full is to bring mindfulness to exactly what is happening.
To do this, identify and vocalize what you are feeling. Say out loud or quietly, “I don’t want to stop! This tastes so good!” Or “I don’t’ want to go back to feeling lonely, sad, etc.!” Acknowledge your feelings and bring compassion to yourself. Tell yourself, “Of course it’s hard to stop. It’s not fun to feel sad, lonely, etc.”
Stop for a moment and breathe. Put your hands on your heart. Allow youself to feel the loss that comes with stopping. Let yourself frown. Comfort yourself as you would a small child. Then, think of something kind you can do for yourself if you stop eating.