3 Ways to Stop Binge Eating
By Paul Rothbart
In order to maintain a healthy weight and fight illness, it's important to eat well. This often involves counting calories. Meal planning and sticking with that plan can work wonders. But temptation is always lurking. There are those times when you are getting through the day, sticking to the plan. Then it hits. A binge. It may happen while watching television or finishing up work. You want a snack. Then another. Those leftovers from three nights ago look good. You can blow a whole day of careful eating in less than an hour. Here are three tips to stop binge eating.
Keep the Right Mindset
How you think about sticking to your meal plan each day can have an impact on whether or not you binge. Thinking in a restrictive manner can cause you to subconsciously want to rebel. This would involve believing you cannot stray a single calorie away from the plan. Thinking ahead to a vacation where you will be eating more than usual can cause you to feel you really have to rein it in today. The thoughts can be subtle. These thoughts can feel like they bind you. You may react by eating whatever you want in a binge. Replace those thoughts with more healthy ones such as thinking about how you can stay balanced. Another good thought is how can I give my body the nourishment it needs right now. Changing your thinking can change your behavior.
Eat Satisfying Meals
Counting calories doesn't mean you can't feel satisfied. The key is in choosing foods that fill you up but provide nutrition with fewer calories. If you eat too little food at meals, you are going to crave more. This can lead to binges where you eat way more calories than planned. It is asking way too much of anyone to deal with hunger pangs all day long.
Why You Are Eating
Always ask yourself, "Why am I eating?" If the answer is because you're hungry and need nutrition, that's a good reason to eat. But many times, you could be experiencing anxiety and food is a way to comfort yourself. Stress is a major cause of binge eating. Another mistake people make is using food as a reward. If you get all of your chores done you get some cookies. It's chasing the carrot on the stick, but it may not be a carrot or very healthy.,
Good nutrition and eating the right amount of food are vital to good health. Binge eating works against that strategy. Use these three tips to avoid bingeing and stick to the plan.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Plantation, Fla.