Decorate a Table for Weight Loss
Dear Nancilee,
I am making a real effort to follow the Weight Watchers program. I want to purchase a new set of dishes and want to have these purchases aid my dieting efforts. Can you help me understand:
1. What shape of dishes will aid dieting?
2. What color (s) should the dishes I purchase be? Blue was mentioned in your book, "101 Ways Feng Shui Can Change Your Life," because this color will slow the pace of eating. However, I do not eat quickly. Could blue cause me to eat even more slowly and over a longer time thus increase my difficulties with curbing my appetite?
3. Does texture matter? Should I purchase natural glazed pottery or the standard smooth porcelain?
4. What color(s), shape and texture(s) of placemats should I put under my dishes?
5. What shape, texture and color of serving dishes encourage sensible portions?
Thank you,
MM
Highland Park, Ill
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Dear MM,
Commitment to change begins with dedication and it’s apparent you are determined to uncover ways to help you stay the course. I congratulate you for that.
Here are the answers to your questions:
1. Stay away from round dishes. Circles stimulate a great deal of mental activity. When our mind is over-stimulated, we tend to eat more for we are likely to replace our intention to diet with other thoughts. I call this unconscious eating. Square dishes will help you maintain awareness of your goal to lose weight.
2. You don’t wolf down your food so you don’t need to slow down per se but you do need to fuse your intention with your attention. The color orange promotes union, thus it would encourage you to adhere to the food plan that leads to weight loss.
3. Natural, non-glossy earthenware is more appropriate for dieting because shiny surfaces are attention getters. It is better not to be seduced to focus on the plate full of food, but elsewhere.
4. Dark burgundy placemats under orange plates would help stimulate conversation. The excitement of sharing ideas can divert the desire to eat.
5. Most importantly remember that dieting is not about denial, it's about learning to be satisfied with taste as opposed to quantity. Years ago I read an article
about how French women, who are typically thin, eat triple crème cheeses, chocolate and foods with heavy sauces that would make a diet guru cringe. The trick, the article explained, was in the serving size. You can eat everything, but do so sparingly.
A few years ago I decided to lose 10 pounds and did so by developing the habit of snippets. When I wanted to taste a roll with butter, I would pinch off the tiniest piece and load it with butter thereby receiving the satisfaction of the taste without devouring massive amounts of calories. In the same way, choosing small dinner plates and serving dishes can help us reduce the amounts we ingest.
In addition, get into the habit of spearing small amounts of food each time your transfer it from the plate to your mouth. It’s a well-known fact that it takes the brain about 20 minutes to register the "I feel full" sensation and if the rate of consumption is slowed down it is more likely that you will eat less and yet feel satisfied. A ticking clock with a repetitive, measured sound can set a relaxed, slow eating pace.
I can’t wait to see the "before and after" photos because I know you can do it!
Best future,
Nancilee Wydra
Nancilee Wydra, Feng Shui Master and author of eight books
on feng shui, travels the country lecturing and
consulting for Fortune 500 companies and individuals.
She is the founder of the Feng Shui Institute of America
and has developed the first nationally certified
professional training program on feng shui in the
country.
To secure additional
information about her lecturing, consulting and teaching
contact her at: NancileeWy@aol.com
or visit www.Windwater.com
or 888-488-FSIA or --for FREE answers to feng shui
questions: www.EfengshuiUSA.com.
Nancilee Wydra’s
Books:
1. Feng Shui The Book of Cures
2. Designing Your Happiness
3. Feng Shui in the Garden
4. Feng Shui and How to Look Before You Love
5. Feng Shui Goes to the Office
6. Feng Shui for Children’s Spaces
7. 101 Ways Feng Shui Can Change Your Life
8. Feng Shui Principles for Building and Remodeling
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