[Gemme]

Whenever I would find myself doing that.....nibbling mindlessly on stuff.....I was not above spitting it into the trash. The very second I realized it.

I've also worn a rubber band on my wrist and tried the whole snapping it thing. It's supposed to redirect your attention and can be used for everything from changing eating behaviors to quitting smoking.

Mindful eating is a big deal for me. When I practice it, I don't overeat and I don't emotionally eat because I'm taking time between bites and I'm sipping fluids (ideally, water) every few bites. The fork/knife/spoon/spork goes down between bites and I pay more attention to what's going on around me than what is on my plate. I also ask myself am I really hungry or am I bored/scared/angry/etc. If the answer is not I am hungry or I don't feel the rumble that literally says "feed me!" (flashback to Little Shop of Horrors, anyone?), I don't eat then. Period.

Now, here's the fly in the ointment....how often do I do this? Not nearly enough.

It's absolutely about reflexes, Papa, and retraining yourself to not go on autopilot but to be more aware of what's going in your body. You just started, so give yourself some credit that you realized it and just keep working on being mindful and disengaging that autopilot. Journals are a fantastic way to gauge your progress. Definitely keep that up. Make sure to notate what you're feeling when you eat. That helps too.