Six Ways to Avoid Overeating

By John Davenport, Weight loss researcher and Author

www.EmotionalEatingSolution.com

Most of us overeat at one time or the other. It’s either the holiday season or vacations, or a summer trip that comes with free full course meals! But a good majority of people who experience temporary episodes of overeating are able to shed their excess pounds quite easily when they get back to their regular life patterns. However, people who suffer from eating disorders or want to shed excess weight have to take some extra effort to avoid overeating. Given below are the top six ways in which you can avoid overeating.  

1. Be aware of what goes inside. Thoughtless eating is the #1 reason for overeating. When we eat on autopilot, we are probably having something that we should not, like a packet of salty chips or a carton of ice cream. Enjoying an occasional treat is fine. But be aware of what you are eating and relish every mouthful so you feel satisfied and fulfilled at the end of it.  
2. Never starve yourself. Starving your body is like pouring kerosene over dried leaves; eventually, it is going to catch fire. Your body cannot tolerate long periods of eating absurdly low amounts of food. After a while, you will swing in the opposite direction and stuff yourself to make up for the feelings of deprivation you suffered. Instead, cut portions and have foods that are lean on calories but rich in nutrients. 
3. Go green. Diet experts always recommend that you eat a big bowl of salad or fruits before you start your meal. This curbs your appetite and helps you eat more without it telling in your weight. Have at least four servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit per day.  
4. Drink plenty of water. The human brain often mistakes thirst for hunger and sends out signals for food, while it is actually thirsting for a long cool drink. Intense hunger is a symptom of dehydration. So, before you sit down to a meal, drink plenty of fluids.  
5. Cut portions. Many of us believe that we ought to eat everything that is on the plate, or that we simply must eat a plateful of food, which is absurd! Instead of eating the biggest piece or the largest serving, eat small portions. When you go out, share food with friends, or carry a portion back home with you.  
6. Carry alternatives. When you are out for extended periods, it is only natural for hunger and thirst to catch up with you. You see something appetizing on the street side and before you know it, you are tucking in lavishly. Avoid this. Carry energy bars and high-fiber alternatives that you can chew on to keep hunger at bay. 

As you can see, avoiding overeating is not a difficult task. Simply be persistent with your efforts and you will soon be helping others with their overeating problems!  

About the Author

John Davenport struggled with weight loss problems and emotional eating since early childhood. Through rigorous research, trial and error, and a firm belief in himself, he managed to find the solution to emotional eating, lost over 30 pounds of fat, and became a long distance runner. He now devotes much of his time to help other people follow in his footsteps: lose weight, get lean, and become free from emotional eating. His articles have been features in many websites and publications.

To read more about John's unique method, the Emotional Eating Solution program, visit: www.EmotionalEatingSolution.com