How to Use Chopsticks for Weight Loss

Most diets focus on calories and the amount of food we consume. Using chopsticks for weight loss forces us to rethink our relationship with food by throwing our emphasis on speed and convenience out the window. Losing weight with chopsticks can teach us that the secret of weight loss lies in savoring our food.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Pay attention to what you eat. Using chopsticks requires concentration which helps you eliminate the mindless eating that we often do when consuming out of boredom or while watching television.
2. Eat slower. It takes more time to manipulate chopsticks. As your eating slows, your brain has time to recognize your body's fullness cues. You can stop eating when you feel sated.
3. Pick up small bites. Your chopsticks can't accommodate large chunks of food which helps you learn healthy eating habits.
4. Enjoy all kinds of foods in moderation. The chopstick diet doesn't prescribe or prohibit any particular food. Weight loss success depends on the method more than the foods.
5. Open and close the chopsticks with your fingers. Stabbing food with chopsticks overrides the techniques that help you lose weight.
6. Trade the commonly used wooden or bamboo chopsticks for plastic ones. Their slippery surface requires more concentration, so your eating slows even more. Metal chopsticks are the most difficult, so use these when you indulge an occasional treat.
7. Use chopsticks with your nondominant hand. If you've been eating with chopsticks for so long that you've become adept with them, switch hands to renew the slow, purposeful eating that enhances weight loss.