Daily Fit Tip: Stop overeating

Goodness knows I've done it. I'm a terrible emotional eater and, if I don't stop to think, I can easily find myself digging in the cupboard for food. Not to satisfy hunger, but in a futile effort to stuff down some other emotion. (I'm not proud, but there's the truth.) Even if you don't emotionally eat, it's easy to overeat when sitting down to watch a movie and the over-sized bucket of popcorn is right in front of you.

To stop overeating, you have to understand your triggers. AOL Body has some great tips about overeating. Some of the causes:

• Environment. Restaurants invite you to relax, enjoy the environment, and usually order more. Fast food joints super-size your quick meals. Buffets let you eat all you can. Don't succumb to the environment and eat more than you normally would.
  
• Eating by association. You turn on the TV and it's time to snack, right? No! You're supposed to eat when you're hungry, not because your activity dictates it.
  
• Portion distortion. Our eyes play a big role in what we eat. If your plate is over-sized, don't be fooled into thinking the whole plate needs to be filled.

For more causes of overeating and tips on how to stop, check out the AOL Body slideshow.