08 Mar 3 Tips to Help You Stop Overeating

If you are trying to improve your diet while increasing your exercise levels, there are several things to keep in mind in order to make your new diet a success.  Most importantly, you shouldn’t look at a diet as a temporary change in eating habits.  Rather, you should make a lifestyle change that simply involves making better food choices.  Therefore, in order to give yourself the greatest chance of success with your changing diet plan and in order to prevent yourself from overeating, you should keep these tips in mind.

Tip #1:  Don’t Starve Yourself

In the long run, starving yourself will hurt your diet in many ways.  First, if you go for long periods of time without eating, your body will go into a self-protect mode that involves burning calories more slowly.  As a result, it actually becomes more difficult to take weight off.  Second, no one can live forever on a diet that involves a very limited intake of food.  Therefore, by starving yourself, you are simply setting yourself up for failure.  Rather than denying yourself food, try to choose foods that are healthier and eat throughout the day.  Healthier choices include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and foods that are high in fiber.

Tip #2:  Change Your Eating Habits

By changing a few of your eating habits, you can make yourself feel fuller without having to eat so much.  One way to do this is to eat more slowly, as it generally takes your brain about 20 minutes to realize that the body is full.  As you eat more slowly, pay attention to your body so you can begin to realize when it is becoming full and when it is time to stop eating.  You might also want to trick your mind into thinking that you are getting more food by using a smaller plate.  Psychologically speaking, seeing a plate that is loaded down with food will help you feel more satisfied once all of the food is gone.

Tip #3:  Choose Foods That are More Satisfying

In order to help yourself feel fuller and more satisfied after you eat, it is important for you to choose more satisfying foods.  Foots that are high in fat and sugar tend to be less satisfying, which means you will become hungry more quickly after eating them.  Instead, choose foods that are higher in protein and fiber in order to feel full while consuming a lower number of calories.