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You really can break those bad eating habits

Posted on Oct 9th 2007 9:30AM by Bethany Sanders

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Bad habits aren't broken, they're replaced. Even the worst bad eating habit can be substituted with a healthier, but still satisfying version that will help you improve your nutrition and health, as well as help you to lose weight if that's your goal. You just have to get creative!

Real Simple has some great ideas for building better habits. For instance, if you eat too fast, you might be setting yourself up for tummy troubles and weight gain. Instead, choose foods that force you to eat with utensils. Take frequent breaks to set your fork or spoon down, look around, and take a sip of water. After a few more bites, take another break. Eventually, you'll get used to the slower pace and you'll notice yourself actually feeling like you're full sooner than before. See? Habit successfully replaced!

What's your worst eating habit? Can you think of an easy way to replace it with a better one?

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Tags: bad eating habits, BadEatingHabits, dieting tips, DietingTips, good eating habits, GoodEatingHabits, weight loss, WeightLoss

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

top weight loss site 10-09-2007 @ 1:18PM

This is absolutely correct as eliminating foods can cause you to fail but replacing with healthier choices is everything. Too many people make too big of changes that they cannot hold and go back to their old eating habits. Replacing foods with healthier choices that you enjoy is the change that is needed.

Jared Wash
http://www.top-weightloss-site.com

falloutboy503897 10-14-2007 @ 10:29PM

Be a vegan, that's all I have to say! I am emo, nevertheless, they are more healthier! And I am NOT Fallout Boy by the way! :(

SPLynch077 10-15-2007 @ 12:08AM

I always feel a little embarrassed when I find I'm the last one to take a bite, but quite honestly-taking the time to chew and enjoy the taste of your food is very enlightening. You'll discover that you feel full sooner. I also heard foods with fiber help too because it takes longer to digest therefore you feel full longer.

HOWEVER! Any one have any tips for a sweet tooth? I've tried replacing the cravings with rice, celery...I keep eating because I haven't tasted the sugar and I'm not satisfied. Is there a way to enjoy strawberry cheesecake and snack on Kit Kat bars without consequences????

-SweetTooth

D. Russell 10-15-2007 @ 1:22AM

I have several bad eating habits that I just can't seem to get around. 1) I am a volume eater - doesn't matter if I'm fast or slow, I will still eat as much as I can. 2) I do not like most veggies – cooked or raw (can’t stand even the smell of some cooked); I do like most fruits - can’t stand even the smell of cantaloupes or melons. 3) I am a dessert sponge - cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, pastries, etc., but I do not like candies. 4) I do not like meats unless they are absolutely totally without skin or fat and cooked almost to cremation. 5) I love breads, pastas, cheeses. 6) I will eat a 2 lb Mac cheese dinner with a 12 oz pkg of peas in a single sitting; I will eat a 1 lb can of baked beans in a single sitting; I will eat 2 or 3 frozen dinners; a package of Fig Newtons will last an evening; a pie in a day, 1/2 gallon of ice cream in 2 bowls on the same day; a pound of grapes in a day. The problem is I can't put the fork & spoon down until I am full after shoveling it in, drinking a pint to a quart of water, holding a conversation, and looking around - usually about 10 minutes.

By the way, I am 61 and about 45 lbs overweight; exercise vigorously regularly (3 days a week for an hour each day); I have a gut that is hard as nails, but can’t lose the inches; I belong to Weight Watchers, but can't seem to lose the weight; I have tried several diet plans and philosophies and can't seem to break the food hold under any of them – such as trying to drink a pint or more of water before a meal, preparing only a weighted amount of food, trying to stay on a single 9” plate, stopping eating at 7pm (I’m starving at 10pm then as I am frequently up from 6 am to about 1 the next morning), finding healthier food substitutes that I like (I like very few foods that are considered healthy and then when I do eat it, it will be a volume meal). I am constantly reading nutrition labels on foods that I like to see if I can get healthier alternatives. I constantly try to stay away from sugars (I never put sugar on any cereal), salts (I salt only one thing – a hard boiled egg and request that salt be withheld from being added to any food in a restaurant), cholesterol, fats, etc, and try to get as much as I can of fiber, Omega 3, etc. I take vitamin supplements to assist in ensuring that I do get enough of the nutrients my body requires. My weight will fluctuate as much as 4 or 5 lbs, 2 or 3 times in a single day. Setting my mind to it works until I am hungry, again. When I do get hungry, I get nauseated if I do not get to eat something soon. I do not snack, but do eat 3 - 5 meals a day depending on how long I am up. I drink water all day long. Meals are never on a schedule but happen whenever I get hungry (stomach growls, get nauseated) – which is now.

Any ideas would be welcome.

margaret 10-15-2007 @ 1:38AM

D. Russel, you sound pretty frustrated. i'm sure all the bad food you crave is the cause of the weight, but like you said, it is sooo hard to get away from that. i would strongly suggest a specialist. they do have those for food! they will help you make the transition because it is so difficult. everybody wants to eat what tastes good, but i read a study the other day that we can trick our taste buds and tummys! so please, ask your doctor about a diet specialist. don't give up!!!