Many women will tell you that watching what they eat (and how much) is a daily task on the old to-do list. Whether it's for weight management or simply to adhere to a healthy eating regime, preventing yourself from overeating needn't be obsessive but it can be beneficial in your quest to control what goes into your body.
Experts say that portion control is the key to avoiding overeating. But what do real women do? We asked them and here is what they had to say:
"I use the 'cheat day' system. This means that at the end of the week I can indulge in whatever I please for two hours as long as I've been healthy and controlled for the last seven days. It's a reward system that has helped me lose a lot of weight -- 70 pounds! If I feel myself wavering within those seven days, I have a mantra: 'Nothing tastes better than pants that fit. Nothing tastes better than pants that fit.' It might sound silly but it works!"
"I'll be honest: I'm not very good at stopping myself from overeating. I'm always caught in a cycle of eating as much as I want (not bingeing, but stuffing myself) or avoiding foods and cutting back to smaller portions. This may sound wacky but I think that tiny portions are healthier for the body. It's probably quite stressful on your organs to process huge quantities of food all the time, so really I should try to limit how much I eat."
"Planned portions are the key for me! I use smaller sized dishes to make my plate look full and never bring the big pot of spaghetti to the table to prevent the craving for second helpings. Another huge help has been when I plan out meals and snacks in advance. It requires a little bit of prep work, but if you know exactly what you're going to eat and when, you're less tempted to hit the vending machine when the 3 o'clock munchie monster strikes."
Page 1 of 2 - more great tips on page 2.
