Launching mindful eating group for women

It is not uncommon for women to experience body image concerns or difficulties controlling their eating at some stage in their lives, particularly when we are bombarded with mixed messages about what and when to eat, and how we should improve our bodies.

What is mindless eating and how does it impact us?

Mindless eating is eating more than we should, even when full. So many of us eat mindlessly at times - whether we are eating in front of the television, eating on the run, trying to stay awake during a long shift at work, or chowing down everything on our plate just because it's there. Others report feeling a sense of personal failure, caught up in a vicious cycle of dieting and binge eating. Or turning to food may be used as a way of coping with stress, a learned response to avoiding uncomfortable emotions such as boredom, anger, sadness, depression, anxiety, or feelings of helplessness.

When these behaviours become automatic and habitual, they can result in reduced awareness of fullness and hunger signals, a sense of dissatisfaction or even deprivation, and an ongoing desire for more food. Fatigue, bodily discomfort, and generally feeling held back in life are common experiences for those weighted down by eating difficulties.

If you are looking for help addressing your eating concerns, you may wish to consider the Mindful Eating Group. The program incorporates evidence based treatment approaches such as mindfulness and cognitive behaviour therapy, and other skills-based treatment approaches.

What is mindfulness and mindful eating?

Mindfulness can be defined as "the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally, to the unfolding of experience moment to moment" (Kabat-Zin, 2003). It is based in Buddhist Philosophy, is at least 2,500 years old , and has begun to establish itself in a Western framework in recent years. It can help you turn towards and tolerate difficult and previously avoided feelings. The non-judgemental and compassionate attitude encouraged in a mindfulness approach can be particularly helpful for people who are self-critical.

Mindful eating, part of mindfulness practice, involves experiencing food with all your senses, noticing the appearance, texture, aroma, taste, and sound, moment by moment. It involves tuning into hunger and fullness signals, discerning between stomach hunger and emotional hunger, and acting with awareness. Mindful eating extends to food choices, shopping, and the awareness of the way food is grown and prepared. Mindful eating is about making wise choices, savoring every bite, and allowing the act of eating to become a pleasurable and nourishing experience in your daily life.

What can I expect from the Mindful Eating Group?

The group program is an 8-session program suitable for women with overeating, emotional or binge eating difficulties. The program takes a psychological approach to managing emotions and eating behaviour, body image, self-esteem and more. The group is intended to be a safe and supportive environment where individual experiences and strengths are respected and valued. Each session follows an agenda, including time for sharing and reflection, an education component with a different topic each session, and some experiential exercises such as mindful eating and meditation.

For further details about the group, see the Mindful Eating Group page on this website or contact Dr Suzette Goldwasser on 0490 667 063.