We all make this mistake sometimes…our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, and we end up eating much more than we should have. With aching bellies we wonder what we were thinking to eat all of that food!? Did we really need to eat those last two pieces of pizza? Of course we didn’t…but we keep on making the same mistake.
I’m a big fan of win-win situations, and this healthier eating tip is one of those. The trouble that we often run into when we overeat is that we eat faster than are stomachs can signal our brains that we are full. There’s a bit of a lag time, around 10-15 minutes before the signal reaches our brains to stop and by that time it is too late. When you reach the point that you are starting to feel the least bit full, stop eating and wait about 10-15 minutes before eating any more. Tell yourself that you CAN STILL eat those last two pieces of pizza if you want to after waiting for those 10-15 minutes. Chances are, you won’t want to after waiting…but if you do, go ahead and eat whatever it is. I was going to say that this is one way to have your cake and eat it too, but I’m not going to.
This works really well for portion sizes of foods with which you are familiar. For example, I used to eat an entire 12″ Subway…and always regret if afterwards. I knew it was too much for me to eat, but I was never full while I was eating it. After hearing about this strategy somewhere, I started using it for the sandwich. Now, I only eat the 6″ portion of the sandwich, but I tell myself that I can have the other half after waiting 10-15 minutes. And you know what? I never have taken myself up on that offer.