CHAPTER 1
What Is the Divine Dining Method?
In the simplest terms, divine dining is a conscious eating program designed to bring your full awareness to the act of eating. It is a program that will help you be aware of what you eat, how you eat, and why you eat.
Have you ever struggled with making healthy food choices? Or are you sometimes unaware of what you are eating until the food is all gone? Do you forget to take the time to enjoy your food? Or do you have food triggers that cause you to go on autopilot or become numb while eating?
If you've answered yes to the above questions and you've been looking to make healthy changes, then the divine dining method is for you!
Divine dining is for you if you have
1) struggled to make healthy food choices;
2) struggled with weight management;
3) eaten on the run, completely unaware of what you're eating until it's all gone;
4) eaten so quickly that you didn't even taste the food;
5) experienced a poor self-image or negative self-talk; or
6) binged or eaten compulsively.
Do You Eat to Live or Live to Eat?
Divine dining helps you identify your food issues and triggers and helps you design the best way to incorporate healthy eating into your life. It helps you be in full control of what you eat, when you eat, and why you eat.
Remember: divine dining is not a diet; it's a supreme act of self-love!
For the purposes of this book, the definition of mindfulness is "awareness of the present moment without judgment." Mindfulness is an important part of the Divine Dining Method, as it teaches us to be aware of what we are doing (eating) in the moment.
Q: Why do we want to be more mindful?
A: Because we want to feel we are truly living and not just running through our days on autopilot. We want to be in full control of ourselves and to live more fully from our hearts. We want to be aware of the energy and emotion behind the act of eating. In terms of divine dining, we want to be consistent in the way we approach mealtimes. We want to be aware of what we are eating and why. Knowing ourselves and our motivations for what we are eating is a key to mastering the world of the Divine Dining Method.
CHAPTER 2
Who Is It For?
Truthfully, this book is for anyone who eats.
In our society, we are focused on fast, convenient, and easy; never mind the repercussions these priorities have on our health and well-being. All kinds of people have attended my seminars — thin women, burly men, lifelong yo-yo dieters, and those who don't appear to have a weight problem. I've learned that many issues are related to the act of eating, but not one other approach besides the Divine Dining Method comes even close to mindfulness and conscious eating!
It's important to remember that the Divine Dining Method is a conscious-eating program that is different for everybody. Everyone has different food issues. Some people can't eat when they are stressed; some overeat when they are stressed. Some eat late at night, and some eat while cooking dinner. Once you understand your own issues, you've made the first step in making lasting change.
I'm passionate about helping people understand and accept their food behaviors and getting them to realize that this is the first step in making lasting changes.
I've been inspired by how people have done in our past programs. Here is what a recent client had to say: "The Divine Dining Method taught me to sit and relax while eating and to savor my food instead of rushing through a meal. I was often guilty of leaving the table mid-meal to write a note or put something away. Now I have been treating each meal as a sensory experience."
Here are some of the benefits of adopting the Divine Dining Method:
[check] It aids weight loss.
[check] It puts you in full control of your eating.
[check] It works in conjunction with any eating style.
[check] It activates a healthy digestive system.
I have run workshops; held private, individual sessions; and facilitated online virtual retreats, and now, because of my desire to have this program reach more people, I've created an online course that has the entire program in an easy-to-use format. With lessons, a workbook, and meditation recordings, you will have all the support you need to have a successful divine dining experience. You can find the interactive online course at: https://www.lvinglotusgroup.com
You will be inspired in more ways than you could ever imagine in this healing journey, with information and tools to help guide you on your way.
You will come away from this program with many ways to transform your food issues and desires, empowering you to make amazing changes. You'll be challenged to confront your existing belief systems and discover how to let go of old patterns while simultaneously opening the way for the new and exciting process of mindful eating to fully take hold in your consciousness.
Here are the top ten reasons for the Divine Dining Method:
[check] It's not a diet but a supreme act of self-love. You get to eat what you want and, more importantly, love what you eat!
[check] It's easy. You don't need special equipment (the crystals are an added bonus but not necessary), scales, weigh-ins, or food portions.
[check] It's portable. Take your mind with you, and you'll be present no matter where you are. As Jon Kabat Zinn said, "Wherever you go, there you are."
[check] It teaches compassion and self-acceptance. What's not to love?
[check] The Divine Dining Method lasts your entire lifetime.
[check] It teaches being nonjudgmental — a helpful technique that will serve you well.
[check] It really works! I love speaking to people after they've been doing the DD Method for a while. It changes your brain in relation to how you approach mealtimes.
[check] It helps create balance. When you are mindful in one area of your life, you are more aware in other parts of your life. It helps to bring balance to your mind, body, and emotions.
[check] Anyone can do it!
[check] It's a positive approach, focusing on how to eat rather than on what not to eat. This is an important distinction and one that helps shift your mind-set and train your brain in a gentle way.
CHAPTER 3
What Are the Benefits?
The Divine Dining Method is a conscious way to transform your mealtime. By working with mindfulness, meditation, affirmations, and crystals to use as energetic touchstones or reminders, you will be guided to be more conscious and aware of your eating.
Here's a note by a recent Divine Dining Method...
