Is the way you eat causing your weight?
Comments(4)For millions of American’s its not just what they eat but how they eat that causes weight issues. One the average it takes 30 minutes for the message to travel to your brain that you are full and you should stop consuming food. So, with the average person only have 30 minutes to eat and the lack of family dinner times it has caused some poor habits on our part.
How can we change our habits or are they programmed too far into our heads? It is SIMPLE! Just follow these easy steps.
1. Chew! I know your parents at one point or another told you to chew your food, but maybe we all should have listened. If you properly chew all your food it makes it easier for you to digest. Plus, it takes longer to eat so you have more time to realize how much you have consumed.
2. Turn off the T.V.! If you eat in front of the television you are more likely to eat faster and forget how much you ahve actually eaten.
3. Control your portions. This is the easiest step! The best way to do this is take what you would normally take as your portion and then immediately put half of that in a box for later. That way you dont have as MUCH to consume and you have a meal for later. This works when dinning out as well. Just ask for a to-go box when you order and immediately put half of it in there. Also, be aware of the serving sizes and calories of all your foods if possible.
4. Eat foods that actually fill you. Some foods are high in calories but do not contain the proper nutrients to make you feel full. Vegetables and fruits are the best foods to make you feel full. Dark leafy greens are a great source of nutrients and very filling. You can eat 1 cup of bagged salad (which is surpisingly a lot of food) and it is usually only 20 calories!
5. Snacking is okay within reason. If you are starving you will eat faster and consume much much more then necessary. So, it is okay to snack between meals. However, snack smart. They make numerous 100 calorie options on the market prepackaged and ready to eat. There are also other smarter options such as fruits and veggies. They are generally under 100 calories a serving and much more filling.
6. Take breaks. It is better when eating to take breaks either between mouth fulls or just time to give yourself a moment to digest. Don’t just keep packing it in. Give yourself a few seconds between bites. It will allow you more time to digest and get it all down.
So, don’t fall into the wide-open trap. Chew and give yourself some time to eat. You might just notice the pounds just falling off you!
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