The reasons for overeating are not always obvious, and the advice, “Just control yourself” cannot always help you deal with the problem. In general, it’s necessary to stand guard over your health and learn 4 the most common causes of a complex relationship with food.
1. You perceive food as a reward
You should perceive food primarily as fuel to maintain strength and energy. However, in case you make a kind of reward out of food, do not be surprised that your state of health will leave much to be desired. Have you ever faced such a situation: you think that if your project is successful, you will return home and celebrate it with a big pizza or buy a big cheesecake? Few people will manage to restrain themselves from overeating in such a case. After all, food is your reward, and you want to enjoy it to the fullest.
2. You eat very fast
Fast eating deceives your body: it simply does not have time to figure things out and give a signal when it is already enough. You can eat but not feel full. It takes an average of 15–20 minutes for the stomach to send information about saturation to the brain. This means that you stop only when you have already eaten a lot of extra, and you feel that you have overeaten. In general, try to chew thoroughly if possible, take your time. In addition, it will allow food to be absorbed faster and more efficiently.
3. You eat in the evening
It is easier to control yourself at work, that is, in the morning, but it becomes harder to control yourself after lunch, especially after coming home. It happens because the refrigerator is often full with all sorts of food and drinks. Secondly, after a hard day’s work, you want to relax and allow yourself to eat everything you want.
Only a few people consider the fact that metabolism is getting worse in the evening, so evening gluttony is the most difficult period for our body. Overeating in the evening can turn into drowsiness and lethargy in the morning, as well as bring you problems with digestion, skin condition and sleep.
In general, not to feel bad, try not to overdo it with food in the evenings. This does not mean that you should starve. Dinner can and should be a full-fledged, but at the same time, it should be light, so as not to overload the body.
4. You eat your feelings
It happens that you make a strong-willed decision to establish a relationship with food, and the first half of the day goes very well. However, the second half can become more difficult: you have an unpleasant conversation with a boss, your girlfriend starts a quarrel, or you get the bad news. Of course, in such a situation, you need to pull yourself together and solve problems, and not to start eating your feelings. But most likely, you will think about that already halfway to the store for donuts.
If you have really faced such (or similar) situation, then the first thing you should learn is that such a reaction to stress isn't normal. This is another bad habit, along with smoking or drinking alcohol.
To start keeping your stomach under control, think twice before you eat something: are you hungry or have you had a difficult day?