Many of the reasons people have more weight on their bodies than they want, has to do with the habitual behaviors they developed as they were growing up. Other reasons relate to the routine choices they learned to create when they were young adults, maybe at college or in the military services.
Often, those habits, even though might have been perfect for the time we learned them, are not helping us a lot now. And if you are overweight to the degree that you are on the web to learn about ways to reduce your body weight, then it is probably due, in part at least, to the habits you already have.
It’s time for something new.
First rule of thumb is to stop listening to people who say that habits are difficult to break. Eating too much to the point of gaining excess weight is not in the same category as being dependent on cocaine. It is possible that for a very few people, food is an addiction in their lives. But in truth, that is not very many people.
Most times, it is a matter of understanding how to make some new habits.
Habit Change #1
Give up eating while watching TV. And no, do not even eat where there is a TV in the room. Go someplace else in your house where there is no TV set. If you have a television in every room in your house, that could be a different issue, and if that is the situation, just keep it turned off.
Second part to habit change number 1. Do not use the internet while you are eating your meal. Not the laptop, not the desktop, not your phone, tablet, or anything. If anything, the internet is more addicting than the television. As a matter of fact, if you are reading this article while you are eating, start with that. Go away until you are finished eating and then return to read the rest of this article.
The thing is to pay attention to what and how you are eating. And it is extremely hard to pay attention to your meal while your mind is far away in the television or in a funny cat video. The television will be there when you’re done and so will the world wide web. They are not going anywhere. And if you pay attention to what you are eating, you will eat less of it.
Part of the reason is that you will be paying attention when your stomach says it is full. And that is a great time to quit eating. It is quite amazing how much less you’ll eat when you eat meals this way. Just eat, don’t do anything else.
You are important and your wellbeing is important, and your weight is important. And being attentive counts a lot.
Habit Change #2
Stop drinking your calories.
Opt for water as your beverage with your meals. Do not choose diet drinks or energy drinks or even milk. Simply drink water or maybe a cup of tea with nothing in it. There are countless delicious teas in the world. And choosing one of those to drink with your meal is a calorie free way to add some extra enjoyment to your life at mealtime.
Artificially sweetened drinks are never thirst satisfying and are often seen as a punishment. The thought is something like you really would like a soda, but since you are on this lousy diet at least you can have a diet soda. Don’t do it. Just drink water.
These habit changes can make a giant difference in the quantity of calories you consume during the course of a day. And by simply making these small changes in your habits, you will feel better and look better and your body will appreciate it.
