Present Moment Eating

I realized that when I go home to see my parents, I instantly become a vacuum cleaner.  In other words, I inhale and eat everything in sight. 

All my life I have been a "hungry" person and always wanted to know when we would have our next meal or snack.  I burn a lot of calories, so eating is important to me. 

During this trip home I realized that I was eating more than I wanted, needed or liked. 

Thankfully, I'm not one to gain weight, so I didn't yo-yo up and down, yet I did notice this shift in eating.

I've never been a sweet eater and would prefer to have more of the main course instead of a piece of cake or a cookie. 

When I was ten (I remember this so clearly) we went to a baby shower for my mom's cousin.  Of course, they had cake.  When someone offered me a piece, I politely said, "No thank you." 

My mom told me it was rude not to take the cake, yet I didn't want it. 

Back to present day - my big "a-ha" moment came when I realized I was eating cookies, cake and having seconds, thirds and fourths of the main meal.  My eating wasn't "me." 

As a result of a strict diet due to my food allergies (which I no longer have) and a yeast cleanse, I was operating from starvation mode.  The moment I could eat whatever I wanted, my brain said, "Eat all you can and as much as you can because you never know when it will all go away." 

I was so excited to have the freedom to eat anything I wanted that I was eating because I could -not because I wanted that particular food. 

With the snap of my fingers, I shifted into the present moment and filtered my food choices and amounts through "Is this what I really want and like?" 

The results have been amazing.  Now, I'm back to eating what I like and want and stop when I am finished. 

What a blissful "a-ha" and energy raiser!

What's something that could use a little "present moment" in your life?  How does the present moment color your perceptions? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.