Effective Ways to Stop Binge Eating
Occasionally, when we’re tired, hungry, and haven’t enjoyed a food we particularly enjoy eating for a long while, a bit of a blow out does us some good. A cheat meal, or a treat meal as we would rather call it, can do wonders for the mind and can help keep you on track when it comes to your diet and healthy-eating regime during the week. The thing to remember however, is that a treat meal is not an excuse to binge eat and stuff your face with as much junk food as possible, just because you haven’t eaten it for a long time. Binge-eating is a dangerous habit that can lead to weight gain, as well as mental health issues and issues with self-control. We’ve all been guilty of binge-eating now and then, but if your binge-eating habits are negatively impacting your health, and your life in general, you will need to find a way to address them. To help you out, here’s a look at a few effective ways to stop binge-eating.
Stop dieting – Yes, you did read that right, and yes we really mean it. If you want to stop binge-eating you need to stop dieting. One of the most common causes of binge-eating is dieting. You see, when people diet, they often deprive themselves of calories and wind up consuming far less energy than needed for maintenance. Needless to say, they feel tired and hungry. A lot of people also eat foods they don’t really enjoy eating. When dieting they are constantly craving foods they know they can’t have and the second they quit the diet, or allow themselves a night off, they binge-eat, consume far too many calories, and find themselves yo-yoing. Instead of dieting, change your lifestyle and consume healthy foods you enjoy eating.
Be mindful – Mindfulness is a hot topic in the world of health and fitness and when it comes to binge-eating, it can prove highly beneficial. You see, the technique basically requires you to listen to your mind and body in times of hunger and to recognise how you are feeling in the present moment in time. Are you angry, sad, tired, energized, and truly hungry or just bored? Mindfulness can help you to recognize when you are actually full up and no longer hungry, which will enable you to improve your eating patterns and eating behaviours. If for example, anger triggers hunger, find ways of dealing with your anger in a more productive manner.
Drink plenty of water – Water is essential when it comes to our health and well-being, so make sure you’re drinking enough of the stuff. Water not only hydrates your body, it can also improve satiety and keep hunger at bay. Drinking water will help fill your stomach up and keep you feeling full for longer, plus it will also help to curb cravings for sugar, fat, salt, and other unhealthy ingredients, which in turn will help to prevent binge-eating.