21/11/2019
We’re all guilty of over overindulging every now and then. After all, with so much delicious food at our fingertips any time of the day it can be hard not to eat a little too much more than we really should.
Overeating on a regular basis, though, can cause some ill health effects that can actually be very detrimental to our health. And overeating can be a difficult habit to break, especially after doing it for an extended period of time. If you struggle with self-control, especially at the buffet, then follow our top tips on how to break free from overeating.
A lot of people eat their meals whilst doing something else; usually this is watching TV or using their phone. It may seem like a harmless habit but when people are distracted they tend to feel less full eating their meal which inevitably makes them eat more. Try and remove these distractions by moving away from your computer at lunch, turning off the TV during dinner and sitting at the table and eating breakfast before leaving the house in the morning.
A lot of people make the mistake of making a diet plan that cuts out all of their favourite foods. By going completely cold turkey from eating your favourite guilty treats you are in fact much more likely to break from your diet and binge on unhealthy foods.
Instead, you should focus on limiting the number of unhealthy snacks that you are eating each week gradually. That way your body has a chance to adapt to the change in diet, and you have a chance to mentally prepare yourself for those days without indulging.
Studies have shown that by eating food from containers; chips from paper bags, ice cream from the tub or takeaways straight from plastic containers, makes you eat more food than you should do. Try portioning your food out onto a plate instead, this gives you a clearer picture of your portion sizes and helps you better control the amount you are eating in one sitting.
Stress is one of the most common causes of overeating in the UK as our hectic daily lives and limited time to ourselves are driving us to comfort eat on a regular basis. By scheduling in some exercise or some mindful meditation, or even just some gardening, reading or deep breathing will help you reduce your stress levels and make you less inclined to grab for snacks throughout the day.
When you visit a restaurant, it is important you choose quality over quantity so that you leave feeling fulfilled rather than over-filled.