Ways to Stop Overeating

Overeating is something that is very easy to do and is something that many people do almost daily. Whether it is not taking your time to eat or having a lot of stress in your life, overeating is something that just tends to happen without us even realizing it. However, this is something that can easily be avoided by learning hunger cues and simply taking your time to eat. Take a look at some of your lifestyle factors to see why you may be overeating on a daily basis and how you can fix it. 

• Look Ahead
• Before you eat, or grab something that is not a healthy choice, think about how you will feel after you eating. Taking the time to think about the choice you are about to make before you make it will help you make a better decision about if you really want it. 
• Eat Slower
• It takes time for your stomach to tell your mind that you are full. Therefore, if you meal your entire meal in 5 minutes, your brain will not know you are full and you are more likely to get another, unneeded helping. So, take your time while eating so your body has time to tell you that it is full and that you do not need anymore food.
• Eat Mindfully
• Just like eating too slowly, eating while you are driving, working or watching TV sets you up for failure. Since you are focused on other things besides eating, your brain will miss the cue that it is full/ 
• Get Your Stress Under Control
• Whether it is work or family, there is always going to be some sort of stressor in your life. This stress can wreck havoc in your life in a lot of ways, including overeating. Sometimes, stress in uncontrollable, but if you plan ahead and know that you tend to overeat when you are stressed, you can be more mindful about your meals and go into it being mindful about your food and not being distracted by other things. 
• Eat Before you are Hungry
• Not allowing yourself to get so hungry to the point where you eat everything in sight will help you eat enough to satisfy your hunger, but not overeat. 
• Learn Your Hunger Cues
• This one is very important and can be different for everybody, but learning how your body tells you it is hungry, and listening to those cues will allow you to eat when you are hungry and need fuel, rather than ignore them and get to the point where you are too hungry. Some hunger cues that your body may have include, stomach grumbling, headaches, low energy and irritability. 

Test each of these tips and assess which of these contribute to your own overeating and to see what you need to do to avoid that in your life.