5 Steps to Enjoy Your Favorite Foods Without Over Eating

Are you constantly feeling guilty because you had a “bad” day food wise?

Do you feel bad physically and emotionally after eating a donut, carrot cake and/or chocolate?

Do you question why you continue to do this? You have a great day and then you feel so restricted and go off track the next day?

I’m going to let you in on a secret, we all do this! You are not alone! Society has us thinking that we always need to be on a diet to be healthy, lose weight, and that we need to be skinnier. That right there will bring you down a rabbit whole you can never get out of, it leads to frustration and disappointment. Why? Because we are expecting perfection. When you expect perfection you can expect failure.

Let’s be realistic, during the work week it is easier to have a routine and plan your meals because you have structure. On the weekends there isn’t as much structure, not much planning going on with foods and you want to enjoy your time with friends and family. So, during these times I have one tip to focus on.

Focus on eating until you are eighty percent full.

Don’t under eat, where you are still hungry or restricting yourself, instead eat until you are satisfied.

You may ask, how do I do this?

Follow these steps:

1.) Eat half of what is on your plate

2.) Put your fork down.

3.) Drink some water.

4.) Wait 3-5 minutes.

5.) Ask yourself, “Am I still hungry?” If yes, eat another 1/4 on your plate and repeat 1-3.

If you follow these steps you will not overeat.

Don’t want you to look at your day as a bad food day. Instead look at it as giving yourself permission to enjoy these foods.

When you go to eat the donut, cake, chocolate work on making the conscious decision to allow yourself to have this food. Enjoy it, savor it, and let it go.

When give yourself permission to have those foods, and really sit down to savor every bite, you’ll enjoy it and tend to not want these foods as often.

Looking at food as bad, restricting, or you “can’t” have it, will make you want it more and the diet mentality will get the best of you.

Next time you go for your comfort food, ALLOW yourself to enjoy it, savor it, eat until you are satisfied (80% full) and let it go!

Once you master the art of letting go of being on a diet the weight will come off and you will keep it off!!