4 Bad Habits that Sabotage Good Diets
By Sandy Schroeder
Losing weight can be a frustrating experience when you are being so good and the scale simply won’t move. Looking closer to see what you are eating, and how, when and where you eat, could make a difference, according to Ashley Welch of CBS News.
Here are four bad habits to avoid.
Meal skipping - What seems like a shortcut may actually slow down metabolism and lead to more bad choices later. Many of us skip at least one meal per day, according to Lori Rosenthal, a dietitian at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. When we do eat, we are so hungry we eat a lot of food very quickly, which often results in more belly fat.
Eating on the run - Eating while walking or shopping leads to mindless eating with little regard for the amount or type of food eaten, according to psychologists who study eating. Sitting down to a meal with friends helps to refocus the experience. If you are eating alone, turn off the TV or computer and move to a pleasant spot where you can enjoy each bite.
Eating at odd hours - Eating between meals or late at night may be a response to boredom, upset emotions or mindless habits. Before you grab that snack or order a pizza, ask yourself if you are really hungry and have some cold water or a sugar-free drink. Sometimes the body confuses hunger and thirst.
Holding your eating to an 8- to 12-hour period may also help you lower cholesterol and avoid obesity and diabetes, according to researchers at Salk Institute. Also, heartburn happens more frequently when individuals eat closer than two to three hours before bedtime.
Eating quickly - Mindless eating can easily become fast eating. When you are late for work, on your way to a meeting, or hurrying to do something else, food can disappear quickly, often winding up as a big lump in the stomach that never gets completely digested. Make an effort to take one bite at a time and chew it completely to a watery grassy consistency. This helps you really taste the food and pre-digest it so that the body benefits from all of the nutrients.
If your diet is not working, changing these habits may help. Eat slower, eat at regular hours, avoid eating on the run, and don’t skip meals.
If you are still not making progress, you may want to check with your doctor to consider additional issues.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Schaumburg, Ill.