How Can You Avoid Overeating?

We've all done it: You get finished with a meal, make it to the couch or recliner, and spend the next hour groaning and waiting for the feeling that you're about to explode to go away. It's called overeating, or overindulgence, and it's preventable.

Overeating is not just bad for your waistline; it can also be bad for your heart. Two years ago, the Centers for Disease Control did a study on heavy eaters and discovered that after a big meal, the blood pressure of the study subjects skyrocketed. The exact reason is unknown, although it may have something to do with the distended stomach pressing on the blood vessels. However, the link has now been established between the fat guy gorging on pizza and then dropping from a massive coronary an hour later.

If you'd like to avoid such an unpleasant conclusion, try some of these tips:

Water: A half-hour before you eat, drink a large glass of water. Not only will this help you digest your food better, it will help you feel full. You can even trick your palate into thinking you've had something more substantial by adding a sugar-free flavoring such as Crystal Light.
Slow down: It takes your stomach a good twenty minutes to get the message through to your brain that it's full. Think about how many times you've eaten a meal and been done before 20 minutes passed. At the very least, you've usually got the first serving done and headed well along into the next one before that magic number.
Salad: Anytime it's available, eat your salad before you start in on the main meal. Enjoy it, don't just wolf it down. Get your dressing on the side and dip your fork in it before you spear each bite. You'll get less dressing and still get all the flavors. If you're at a salad bar, be sure and get plenty of variety in, like broccoli and carrots. Avoid fat- and calorie-rich extras like bacon bits, boiled eggs and nuts.
Portion control: Lack of portion control is an immense problem in the American diet. Restaurant portions are huge, and we translate that to our own dinner tables. One way to help is cook smaller amounts. If there are only two of you dining, only cook two chicken breasts. If you like to cook extra to have leftovers, be sure and pack up the extras immediately, even before you eat yourself. That way, the food will be in the refrigerator and away from hungry eyes.

These are just a few suggestions. Your own common sense will help you come up with others ... and your waist line will thank you!

All Article Text on this site is copyrighted© 2006-2007 weightcontrolroom.com All rights reserved. Do not copy.
The info on this site is for informational purposes only and not medical info in any way, see disclaimer.