We don’t always eat only to satisfy hunger. We also turn to food for comfort, stress relief, or as a reward. Eating too much every once in a while is normal. So is eating for emotional reasons. But sometimes, there are certain habits that cause us to overeat without even realizing it.
Check out these fives habits that may be making you gain those unwanted fats:
1. You eat too quickly.
Our stomach takes 20 minutes to tell our brain that we're full. Every meal should take you at least 20 minutes to finish. Try and chew your food 20 times in each bite and pace yourself.
2. You take big bites.
Cut your food into smaller pieces, use a smaller fork or spoon. You increase enjoyment and take longer to eat, which increases your satisfaction. Studies have found that people who took large bites of food consumed 52% more calories in one sitting than those who took small bites and chewed longer!
3. You watch TV while you eat.
When you watch television, you’re not fully concentrating on anything else that you’re doing, and this includes eating. Statistics have shown that you eat 5-10 times more when you eat while watching TV.
4. You avoid the scale.
In weight loss, a scale will help keep you on track. Stepping on a scale every other day keeps your goals and accomplishments fresh in your mind. It's also a good indicator whether you've been overeating or not.
5. You skip meals.
A lot of dieters make the mistake of skipping meals. The problem is, skipping meals actually heightens your odds of obesity, especially when it comes to breakfast. Skipping meals slows your metabolism and boosts your hunger. This puts your body in prime fat-storage mode and boosts your chances of overeating at the next meal.
If you see yourself in any of these fives habits that make you fat, the best time to start changing them is right now. For every bad habit, there's a good habit. So start shedding your unhealthy habits, and you'll be shedding pounds soon enough.
Check out these fives habits that may be making you gain those unwanted fats:
1. You eat too quickly.
Our stomach takes 20 minutes to tell our brain that we're full. Every meal should take you at least 20 minutes to finish. Try and chew your food 20 times in each bite and pace yourself.
2. You take big bites.
Cut your food into smaller pieces, use a smaller fork or spoon. You increase enjoyment and take longer to eat, which increases your satisfaction. Studies have found that people who took large bites of food consumed 52% more calories in one sitting than those who took small bites and chewed longer!
3. You watch TV while you eat.
When you watch television, you’re not fully concentrating on anything else that you’re doing, and this includes eating. Statistics have shown that you eat 5-10 times more when you eat while watching TV.
4. You avoid the scale.
In weight loss, a scale will help keep you on track. Stepping on a scale every other day keeps your goals and accomplishments fresh in your mind. It's also a good indicator whether you've been overeating or not.
5. You skip meals.
A lot of dieters make the mistake of skipping meals. The problem is, skipping meals actually heightens your odds of obesity, especially when it comes to breakfast. Skipping meals slows your metabolism and boosts your hunger. This puts your body in prime fat-storage mode and boosts your chances of overeating at the next meal.
If you see yourself in any of these fives habits that make you fat, the best time to start changing them is right now. For every bad habit, there's a good habit. So start shedding your unhealthy habits, and you'll be shedding pounds soon enough.