Overeating has probably been one of the hardest things for me to overcome in my weight loss journey. I know what I should and shouldn’t eat. I do pretty well at eating the right things. But even too much of the good stuff can add too many calories and blow your weight loss efforts. Check out these 8 tips to not overeat.
I know how tempting some foods can be to eat even when you aren’t hungry. But one of the biggest tips to not overeat is to avoid eating just when you are not hungry. If you have to, avoid food all together when you aren’t hungry. Don't feel tempted by something just because it looks or smells good.
It takes your stomach a long time to register that it is full. Most of the time we have already eaten too much by the time our stomach starts feeling full. The trick is to put your fork down between bites. Don’t pick it back up until you have completely finished your bite and swallowed. This gives the food more time to reach your stomach and alert your brain when it is full.
Enjoy each bite of food and chew slowly. If your pizza is so amazing you should want to savor it, not rush through each bite and on to the next. That second or third slice doesn’t taste any better than the first. Chew slowly and save yourself from over eating.
Another tip to not overeat is to fill up on the good stuff first. Vegetables have more fiber than simple carbohydrates like white rice and potatoes. Eat your veggies, chew slowly, put down your fork between bites, and then move on to the other food on your plate.
Sometimes dessert is too good to skip. It’s fine to indulge. But instead of stuffing that double layer chocolate cake drizzled in fudge in your mouth, why not share it with your best friend. You don’t need it all and she is sure to love some of it too.
Food portions at restaurants can be insane. Sometimes one entrée can be enough to feed two or three people. Have the waiter box up half your meal right away so you aren’t tempted to eat it. Save the leftovers for lunch or dinner another time.
Don’t forget to drink water. One of my favorite tips to not overeat is to finish a glass of water before my meal. I continue to drink water with my meal. The water takes up room in my stomach leaving me feeling fuller and saving me from overeating.
Many experts suggest this tip to not overeat. They say to plan out small meals throughout the day. Try to eat 5 to 6 small meals instead of 3 larger ones. Knowing what you are going to eat in a couple hours may save your from eating too much at lunch or dinner.
What do you think about these tips to not overeat? Are you going to give any of them a try? If you are one that constantly finds yourself overeating, what have you done to try to stop the habit? Please share your own tips to not overeat.
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