At times, we all have a tendency to overeat! I know I do! Food can just look so good… smell so good… you just want more! Women’s hormone imbalances make us crave the most fattening food at times! The holidays will be here before you know it, so I want to help get you in the best position you can be to beat the holiday bulge! We don’t have time for that, right ladies?? There’s no use letting the holidays ruin all the hard work we put in the rest of the year.
When Do You Eat?
Think about it… do you usually eat because you’re hungry? Or are there other reasons driving your eating habits? It’s common to eat and crave food when we’re stressed, bored, tired, and especially when we’re with our friends! Parties and events where food is readily available at all times can feel like a trap! It’s too easy to just keep going back for more!!
If you’re mostly a stress eater (this is me!!), find another way to manage the stress in your life. Use your exercise time for that! Channel all the negativity into your workout and let food be for fueling your body, not comforting it. Maybe you eat when you get bored… this is also me, so I can relate. I like having something to munch on. I know lots of other people like this, too! It’s just nice to have snacks throughout the day, and I get it! But it leads to overeating and that’s what we want to avoid. If you’re bored and have time, pick up a hobby! Meet up with friends! If food merely satisfies the need to be doing something with your hands during a mundane workday, keep a pen in your hand… or even bring a tennis ball and leave it at your desk! Have something to fiddle around with while you’re working that isn’t food.
When you’re out with friends or in a place with lots of food available and easily accessible, create mental boundaries! Eat a healthy snack before you go so you’re not ravenous when you arrive. Think about your goals before you ever walk inside the room. Do you want to be eating all night? Do you think you need three different desserts? Well… are you going to regret it when you do a Lauren Fox on Demand workout tomorrow?? Take a moment to find your resolve and recognize that you don’t NEED to eat beyond the point of being satiated.
As women, our hormones can drive us crazy sometimes! There are certain days I would kill for chocolate. Ricky keeps me on dark chocolate… 86 percent or higher cacao is the goal! It’s better to have the “better” chocolate at home to grab so you don’t stop at a store and get a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, which is something I have done many times!! Outsmart yourself and keep the “better” chocolate on hand for those moments when you’re desperately craving it.
Tips to Avoid Overeating
It’s way too easy to eat more than our bodies need, so here are a few things you can try if you’re having a problem stopping!
1) Don’t forbid yourself from ALL your guilty pleasures. That’s right… I said it! It’s actually better if you allow yourself to eat one or two of those sneaky treats you love. The total deprivation of all the good stuff can lead to binge eating, which is just as much of a problem! Knowing that something unhealthy isn’t completely forbidden and off limits will actually help you create healthy boundaries.
2) Avoid eating from the containers your food comes in. Set aside a single serving and just eat that, not more. We can mindlessly overeat when reaching for chip after chip from a large bag. It’s better to serve some out in a bowl or on a plate so you know when to stop.
3) Eat foods that are high in fiber! They will help you stay full for longer, and you’re less likely to keep eating when you feel full. Some fiber-rich foods are beans, vegetables, fruits, and oats.
4) Drink water instead of soda! Coke, even Diet coke, can eat a through rust, imagine what it’s doing to your insides! Studies have shown potential links between sugary beverages and overeating. Also, Aspartame, (the sweetener in diet sodas), has been shown to make people crave sugar! Try water with a little lemon juice and stevia for flavor. Plus, water is better for you anyway!
5) Try eating slowly. When we eat fast, the feeling of fullness that comes after a meal often comes too late. We’ve already eaten more than we need because we ate too fast! Put your fork down between each bite, chew thoroughly, then after you swallow, pick up your fork again. If you slow down the pace, your body is better able to alert you when it’s getting full. This is a powerful tool when it comes to avoiding overeating!
I know y’all can do this!! I am doing it with you! Let’s get ready to beat that holiday bulge! As always, be sure to check out the videos in my library… I’m always adding new workouts that you can do anytime, anywhere!
Lauren
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