How to Avoid Overeating by Practicing Mindfulness

Do you feel like you have intense shame over the food you eat on a regular basis? You workout and eat well to feel good, but going out for happy hour and indulging in one to many martinis and too many tapas plates, or having weekly dinner parties where the wine flows endlessly and so does the dessert, makes for a lot of guilt the next day, and the day after that, and all the days until you feel like you've punished yourself enough with food deprivation and countless hours at the gym. But I don't think I have to say anymore for you to know that type of behavior is downright unhealthy. And overindulging is just has bad as deprivation. There's a reason so many nutritionists, fitness experts and wellbeing aficionados swear by living a balanced lifestyle, from what you eat to how much you work out. So the question is: how do you get there? How do you stop yourself from overeating and still enjoy that feeling of fun whether it be at the gym or at the bar? Here are three things to keep in mind the next time you're feeling shameful of your eating habits. 1. Eat foods that make you feel good from the inside out. Eating something you know you'll feel guilty about is a surefire way to promote negativity. So before you go ahead and take a bite, instead of shrugging your shoulders and hoping you don't feel that moment of post-consumption shame, instead, ask yourself some questions. Does this food support my intentions for my body? If not, will I feel guilty about it later? Even though this food doesn't support my intentions, will it add to my experience in some significant way? 2. Use the first bite rule. When you first take a bite of something you love, say that fresh out of the oven cookie, you may do a food dance and make little murmurs of appreciation for that sweet treat swirling around in your mouth. But remember, the second, third and fourth bite should provide the same effect as the first. Ask yourself questions like, is it still amazing? Am I still really tasting this, or just eating it because it’s there? 3. Make sure you're not punishing yourself, but promoting mindfulness. Eating isn't supposed to make you question your life and your decisions in its entirety. But being mindful of what you eat and how it makes you feel will ensure you promote positivity in conjunction with what you put in your mouth. What other tips help you to stay on track? Source: Greatist