Ditch Diets Forever with Mindful Eating

By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

Dieting is a multi-billion dollar market.  Even if you don’t think that you need to lose weight, you may be swayed by the plethora of magazine stories devoted to weight loss to the TV shows highlighting biggest weight loss or losers. But the problem with dieting is that it can promote an obsession with food and weight, feelings of failure, guilt and deprivation.  This can lead to a endless cycle of dieting, throwing in the towel and eating anything, dieting again and so on.  If you want to lose weight but would rather ditch diets forever, it may be time to try mindful eating.

The same is true for people with diabetes where self-management of the disease can lead to frustrations and feelings of wanting to throw in the towel and just eat whatever makes you feel good at that point.  You may find that the environment in your home is also causing temptations to eat too much or eat foods that may cause issues for your blood sugar control.

Mindful eating teaches you that food is nourishment and eating should be enjoyed but we shouldn’t use food to cope with life’s stressors.  Some have called food a cheap emotional cure-all. If you are feeling anxious or stressed chomping your way through a bag of chips may temporarily decrease your anxiety, or if you are bored and lonely, you might turn to food for comfort.

How do you start eating mindfully?  How do you make you home and eating habits slim by design?  Join us for the March 14 session of Control Diabetes for Life to learn how mindful eating and slim by design can be key in your efforts of self-management of diabetes.

Whether you have just been diagnosed with diabetes, have had diabetes for many years, or are a family member or friend intent on learning as much as you can about the serious disease of diabetes and its life threatening complications we invite you to participate in the March 14 session of “Control of Diabetes for Life”. The theme for the March session is Ready, Set, Go! Diabetes Self-Management a New Look.

“Control Your Diabetes for Life” is a program that will help you take charge of your life and learn to control diabetes and get up-to-date information related to controlling diabetes.  The program will take place on Monday, March 14. Through the two-way interactive distance education you will have the opportunity to discuss questions you have with the teaching team of Stacie Petersen, B.S.N. and Certified Diabetes Educator; Deborah Willcox, R.D.,L.M.N.T., of Franciscan Care Services in West Point; and Debra Schroeder, UNL Extension Educator in Cuming County.  Guest speaker for this session will be Terry Nelson, D.P.T., also with Franciscan Care Services.

Topics included during the March 14 session are: “Nutrition for Your Eyes”, “Are You Sitting Too Much?”, “What’s New for Diabetes Self-Management”, and “Is Your Home Slim by Design?”

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters. Recipes for diabetic appropriate foods will be shared to help you with food management goals.

Participants have the opportunity to attend from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Tekamah Herman Public High School.

Participants are asked to pre-register for Control Diabetes for Life by calling the Nebraska Extension Office in Burt County 402/374-2929. Please register by Friday, March 12, so the proper number of handouts may be prepared. School food service staff may earn two hours of continuing education credit for attending.

This program is offered free-of-charge by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Franciscan Care Service of West Point and the schools hosting the presentation. These sessions are designed to supplement the education that you receive from your local diabetes education team and not a substitute for diabetes classes through your local health care providers.

Control your diabetes for life!  Start by attending the March 14 distance education program.  Call 402-374-2929 today to register!