Tro,

Consider that food and vegging aren’t really an issue, the issue is unskillful eating and unskillful vegging. For instance, vegging while watching TV often produces more suffering in the mind. So, while it may be nice to escape our issues for a few hours watching some CSI, at the end its a net gain of mental spinning.

For skillful vegging, consider metta meditation. Metta is the feeling of warmth we have in our chest, meaning “friendship”/”loving kindness”. When we veg while growing metta, it produces a peaceful mind, so as we walk, eat, or whatever, we do so from a place of buoyancy and peace. Then, there’s no push for indulgent behavior. When we’re tired, we rest. Hungry, we eat. Balanced, simple.

Consider “Sharon Salzburg guided metta meditation” on YouTube if interested. One nice side effect of metta is that it produces concentration quickly, so when we act, we can see how it really feels. With indulgent eating, for instnce, our mind and body becomes quickly unhappy as we eat. Mouth says yum, body says ick. When we eat healthy, our mouth says “awww, really?”, but our body says “thankyouthankyouthankyou”. Watch, listen, let your body win, and you’ll be fine. The mouth adjusts over time. 🙂 Namaste.

With warmth,
Matt