10 Reasons You Eat When You're Not Really Hungry

Do any of you do this? Want to know why or how to stop? Then read on! Reason #1: To cope - emotional eating is a big one out there for many people. Happy? Eat to celebrate? Sad? Eat chocolate to make you feel better?  It has been shown to be helpful to track your eating habits by writing them down -  noting your emotional state when you headed for that snack. Writing it down may help you make a connection you hadn't seen before, like the fact that you eat when you're lonely or angry. Then you'll know for the future to look for a different outlet, such as calling a friend or turning to that punching bag when you're mad or stressed out. Reason #2: Boredom - do you eat when you have nothing better to do? Cook and bake when you are not really hungry to keep yourself busy? Eating won't sound as appealing if you have a fun alternative to occupy your mind and your body. Try a new exercise class - a new bodyrock workout, read a new book, go for a walk.  Reason #3: Other People Are Eating - When you're out enjoying a dinner with family or friends, it can be easy to eat when you're past the point of fullness—especially if you're enthralled in conversation and not paying attention to your satiation level. Perhaps more common, it's easy to indulge when others around you are indulging as well. Before you go out - eat a small salad or a small bowl of soup so you are not starving when you get to the party or to the restaurant. Drink a large glass of water before your meal as well so you feel full faster. Reason #4: Because the Food is Simply There - Is there a candy jar at the office that keeps calling your name? Do you feel powerless to pass up food at a party, even if you've already eaten? When food is in plain sight, it can be so easy to grab -  It looks good. You like it. It's right in front of you. What's the harm? Any food that is nearby, visible and easily accessible is hard for anyone to turn down. You might need to move the snacks out of sight. DON'T keep your weakness foods in the house! However, when you keep lots of other healthy foods in sight, like a bowl of fruit on the table, you're more likely to eat them instead. Reason #5: It's A Special Occasion - If you work in a big office or have a big family, it can seem like every day is someone's birthday, anniversary, or shower. And if those celebrations often involve cake or alcohol, it might seem that every party is a calorie explosion. Remember: Celebrations are about the people, not the food. You do NOT need to eat a piece of cake at every event - especially if you go to a lot of them. Or you can try this - New research shows that just imagining yourself eating a treat can decrease your desire to eat the real thing. Give it a try! Reason #6: Because You Are Tired - the dreaded afternoon energy lull can drive even the most disciplined of us to food—especially sugary treats. But that sugar rush might be followed by an even worse crash. Instead, try taking a walk around the office, head outside for some rejuvenating natural light, or drink a cup of coffee or tea, or even a tall glass of ice cold water. A change of scenery might be just the ticket to battle the afternoon lull. Reason #7: Because the Clock Says So  - Do you eat lunch when the clock strikes noon, just because it's time for lunch? Or head to the kitchen at 6 p.m. just because that's your usual dinnertime? Don't just eat when the clock tells you to - eat because you are hungry. Are you actually hungry? If so, whip up that healthy meal. If not, wait until your body tells you to eat, and ignore the clock. Reason #8: Because It's Free (Or Cheap) - Everyone loves to get a good deal. But don't eat up just because something is free (think free samples at the grocery store - this one gets me every time!) or super cheap (buy-one-get-one-free sodas or all-you-can-eat buffets). Always check in with your body's hunger level before you automatically fill your plate with a freebie. Reason #9: Because You Can't Say No - If you're a people pleaser, it can be hard to say no thanks, especially when friends or family offer you delicious food. Not to mention that sometimes people who push food don't take no for an answer. Just try being honest. "I'm not hungry" works well, as does "I'm trying to lose weight." If you end up with a piece of cake (or even food to take home) despite your best efforts, remember that you ARE actually in control (it's rare that people will try to force feed you). You can always set the fork down or share the cake with neighbors or co-workers, or simply eat just a small portion. Reason #10: Because You Suffer from Clean Plate Syndrome - This is another one that gets me! Most of us grew up hearing, "There are starving kids who would love to eat that" to get us to clean our plates as kiddos. And for many of us, the well-meaning notion to prevent kids from wasting food and encourage them to eat their broccoli has stayed with us into adulthood. Do you still feel obligated to clean your plate, even when you're not hungry enough to comfortably finish it all—especially at a restaurant where you're paying a premium for a meal? Fortunately, most of us live with modern amenities like refrigerators and microwaves that make stowing away almost any meal for another time easy. To prevent overeating, take stock throughout your meal to gauge how hungry you are; you might find that you don't need those last few bites after all. If that doesn't work, use smaller plates at home to eat less! And lastly, get over your fear of leftovers. I've met countless people who say they simply don't eat them. Why not? Many foods taste better the next day or two, and most things can be refrigerated and eaten without sacrificing flavor or texture. So how many of these reasons do you guys fall prey to? Do you have any tricks to prevent eating when you are not actually hungry? Reposted From: http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1660 Feel free to follow me on my Facebook page or check out more from me on my blog at www.zuzanaorbodyrockaddict.blogspot.com