6 Ways to STOP Overeating for Good

Food is pleasure. There’s no question that enjoying a beautifully prepared meal is an integral part of a well-lived life. But in looking beyond food as enjoyment and going back to our biology, we are truly designed to eat until we are nutritionally satisfied. Food, like water and breathing, is a part of survival. But if that’s true, then why do so many of us struggle with overeating? For some, eating is less of a “need” and more of a “want” reflex, which brings emotions into the mix. For others, choosing the wrong types of foods leads to the bottomless portion pit. But as we all know, for all of the complexities involved in weight loss, one simple truth remains: calories in versus calories out. So if you’re serious about losing weight, it’s time to put the brakes on and stop overeating for good. 

Eat the real thing: Throw out anything that is sugar free or fat free. Sugar-free, non-fat, low-fat and imitation foods are NOT satiating, meaning you actually have to eat more of them to feel full. Also, because many low or no fat foods are high in calories but essentially devoid of nutrition, your body metabolizes them simply as sugar, which leads to overeating and subsequent weight gain.  

Avoid foods that contain table salt: Ever notice how you can eat an entire bag of potato chips? Table salt is a processed, stripped version of sea salt (which contains over 40 vital nutrients). And because we are designed to eat until we are nutritionally satisfied, nutrient-devoid table salt makes us eat and eat and eat without ever feeling like we’ve had enough. 

Drink water 15 minutes before a meal but never during: You can be eating the healthiest food on the planet, but if your digestion isn’t working properly, you won’t absorb or metabolize these foods optimally. And if you can’t absorb your food, the chances are pretty high that your body will tell you to eat more! Drinking water during a meal interrupts the body’s production of hydrochloric acid and wreaks havoc on your digestion.  And when you do drink water, make sure it’s room temperature. Cold water sits in your stomach until its warm enough to be released for absorption, also slowing down the digestive process.

Check in: If mindless snacking is your problem, tag the emotion that brought you to the cabinet or refrigerator. Picture a TV announcer if you have to: “This calorie consumption has been brought to you by”…your anxiety, depression or even boredom. Tag the feeling before the snacking. If you’re stressed, take a walk or write down what’s stressing you. Can’t take a walk? Maybe this site will help: http://www.calm.com/ The idea here is to give your feelings a place to go that doesn’t involve food. By breaking the stressed – eat food – feel worse chain, you’ll break your mind’s association with food as the “cure” for those feelings.  


Figure out your metabolic type: You might be eating right according to your wife’s Metabolic Type, but there are nine different Metabolic Types, which means that the chances are pretty high that your body’s ideal ratio of proteins to carbs to fats is off. Finding out what’s ideal for YOUR body is the fastest way to eat foods that will keep your unique bio-chemistry in balance (keeping you from overeating both at meals and in between).

Add some healthy fat: I love this coconut milk yogurt as a high in healthy fat snack or dessert replacement. In addition to tasting great, it’s also highly reparative for your gut, helping to maintain a healthy gut balance without dairy.  I also love to add this roasted walnut oil to my salads or even drizzled over meats for an extra kick of healthy fat and anti-inflammatory omega-3s. It adds a unique flavor to more common foods and is incredibly satiating.