3 Reasons for Over Eating (and How to Stop)
If you’re carrying around some extra pounds, it likely means you’re over eating. And with that, the real questions become:
Why are you over eating? and how do you stop?
Let’s start with the first one. Why are you over eating at all? There are a few common reasons:
Reasons for Over Eating
#1 Mindless Eating
It’s very common to be eating something without really realizing what you’re eating. If you aren’t paying attention when eating, such as when driving, watching a movie, or snacking at a party while talking, you can easily end up eating more than is comfortable for your body.
#2 Over Eating as Habit
Do you clean your plate because that’s what you were always taught was right? Many people do. Or do you just eat the amount you’re served without paying attention to your fullness levels?
The habits we have when eating are usually learned patterns we developed as kids.
#3 Deeper Reasons
You might use food as a sense of pleasure or comfort to replace areas in your life where those aspects are lacking. Maybe you eat to change your mood or for recreation. Maybe you’re a closet eater.
3 Steps to Stop Over Eating
Now that we’ve identified common reasons for over eating, ask yourself which ones sound like you. Do some exploring to think about what is causing the over eating patterns.
Then, it’s time to focus on how you will step over eating:
#1 Be Mindful
It’s time to start paying attention to what you’re eating—and how much. By being a mindful eater, you can ultimately save tons of calories each day without even noticing it.
Start by eating without distractions, and only eat whenever you’re fully present and conscious of what you’re eating. Avoid eating in the car, turn your TV off to enjoy your meal, and try to wait until dinner is done instead of snacking while prepping.
#2 Eat Balanced Meals
Pay some attention to what types of food you have for each meal. It’s satisfying to your body when you have a balance of whole grains, lean proteins, tons of veggies, fruit, and limited sweets and fats. This helps negate cravings because you are feeding yourself nutritious, filling foods with the vitamins and minerals needed for good health.
And make sure you’re focusing on overall balance in your meals. Avoid eating too much out of one food group without addressing the others. Keep a mental checklist of what you’ve eaten for the day to guide you.
To increase your sense of wellbeing even more, consider an organic fulvic acid supplement like Mimi’s Miracle Minerals. This will ensure you’re getting all of the vitamins and minerals your system needs to fight cravings.
#3 Listen to Your Body
When you rush through a meal or eat while distracted all the time, you lose touch with your own body’s wisdom—but it is still there. Once you learn to listen again, your body will tell you when you’re satisfied.
Before each meal, take deep breaths and listen closely to your own hunger and fullness signals. And don’t be hard on yourself if you have trouble at first. It can take some time to tune into yourself. A great way to speed up the process is by eating slowly.
Take smaller bites and pay attention to each one. Allow yourself to full enjoy every bite. This will help you realize when each bite starts to get less and less satisfying.
When you’re able to notice your eating habits and patterns and then make a change in them for the better, you’ll notice your health—and weight—respond positively to your new eating awareness. Start today, and use these tips to guide you.
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