7 Proven Ways to Stop Overeating
Have you ever said “Just one slice of bread” and then gone on to eat 2 more? Food addiction is one of the most subtle problems and once you’re finally aware of the signs of food addiction there’s a whole mountain to climb to battle it.
But why do we get addicted? Why do we eat more than our body needs?
Mostly, it’s because we’re eating our feelings, not the food. That snack is just an easy way to get that little dopamine hit we so crave. Eating to improve mental headspace and then having a bad headspace because all that eating made you gain a few kgs. It’s a vicious cycle! It is also important to understand the signs of food addiction.
So here are a few simple steps to stop overeating:
Avoid stress eating
Looking at food as a stress reliever is something that we all do but the effects of this, especially in a lockdown are disastrous. Even Zerodha’s founder Nithin Kamath recently shared his fitness journey with us. He said that he had to distance himself from his kitchen, to help reduce snacking every other minute. So try and reduce stress by overall minding your mental health and schedule and turn to other alternatives to relieve this stress. Be it meditation, a good set of small work breaks, or even therapy.
Know your trigger foods
What are the foods that increase your hunger or cause you to go off the rails and on a binge meal? For some, it might be one cup of rice that turns into 3 cups and for some, it might be ending each meal with dessert. Be mindful of what foods cause you to eat more and keep track of them.
Replace sugary beverages with water
Every sugary drink not only bumps up calorie intake but also does so at basically zero nutritional value. Instead, you could be consuming other nutritious foods that help you stay satiated and also aid recovery after workouts. Water is a great substitute for these drinks. You’ll stay hydrated and your stomach will stay full for a larger time as well. So this hack has double benefits!
Skip the container
Eating out of a container is well known to have toxic effects on your body but another thing it takes your mind off is portion size. Different containers can hold different amounts of food. So you never know what your true serving size is! Using the same plate/bowl for your meals allows you to gauge correct portion sizes and also prevents you from taking that extra helping!
Plan a day for your favorite foods
Cheat days are something everyone widely talks about and there’s a reason for it. Rewarding your body with some indulgences on a pre-decided day allows you to be more disciplined and also prepares your digestive systems to take the load for that one day as opposed to every day! Oh, and as Gul Panag says, call it a ‘Treat Day’, not ‘Cheat Day’. Don’t have an adversarial relationship with your food. You can also include healthy protein bars in your diet.
Chew your food
Our brain takes a few minutes to register a full belly. Chewing your food allows not only your brain to register each morsel but also allows for easier digestion. The feeling of satiety will come only from a slow eaten, well-chewed meal. Wait 10-15 minutes after you’ve had your meal before turning to a snack.
Plan your meals in advance
Meal planning allows you to modify your intake depending on your trigger foods and also allows for a well-planned, balanced meal. Include a healthy breakfast like muesli in your plan.
Instead of waiting for hunger to wash over and then overeating a snack, having a pre-planned meal and quantity makes clean eating much easier.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the healthiest sugar substitute for sugary beverages?
A. Water is a great substitute for sugary beverages. You’ll stay hydrated and your stomach will stay full for a larger time as well.
Q. What are the advantages of planning the meals in advance?
A. Meal planning allows you to modify your intake depending on your trigger foods and also allows for a well-planned, balanced meal. Instead of waiting for hunger to wash over and then overeating a snack, having a pre-planned meal and quantity makes clean eating much easier.
