Better eating ... easy as 1, 2, 3

By: Matt Hodkinson

I'm sure you have noticed that there are people out there who
seem to be able to eat what they like, as often as they want,
and never seem to put any great amount of weight on. These
people have energy by the bag-load, rarely display any signs of
sickness, and portray an image of confidence in everything they
do. By the same token, there are many people who starve
themselves at every given opportunity, have tried every diet
from Atkins to South Beach, yet still manage to pile on the
pounds. These people often suffer from frequent illness, almost
non-existent levels of energy, and an inherent lack of
self-esteem.

The roots of people's eating behaviour can often be attributed
to their upbringing, and the system of eating taught to them by
their parents and family members. Wasn't it often the case that
you were told to finish all the food on your plate, as it was
rude to leave those morsels, lovingly prepared over a hot stove?
This way of thinking has caused many people to follow a path in
their eating habits, which has a detrimental effect on the way
their body handles food. We all know deep down that the portions
served in many restaurants and cafe's are way too much, but we
still do our level best to finish every last bit.

The only way out of this cycle is to re-train your body and mind
in they way they handle hunger and satisfaction. There are 3
simple steps you can take to improve your eating habits forever;
each will have its own benefits on your body, but when used
together, they can form the system for substantial weight loss
and increased levels of energy and self-esteem.

Step 1 - Eat when you're hungry

Your body is a finely tuned machine. It has benefited from many
centuries of evolution in dealing with the functions and rigors
of daily life. Your body will tell you when it needs fuel.
Firstly, learn to recognise when your body is telling you to
eat. Do not mistake this for other messages; sometimes,
dehydration can cause a feeling of hunger, so take a glass of
water whenever you feel those pangs, and wait half an hour. If
you're still hungry after those 30 minutes have passed, then
eat. This doesn't have to conform to your preconceptions of
mealtime. If it happens in mid-afternoon, then satisfy that
hunger. Even a small snack will often satisfy that craving.

Step 2 - Don't drink when eating

Drinking with meals has a confusing effect on the body. Alcohol,
whilst containing many hundreds of calories in itself, also
blurs your judgement. All of a sudden, those desserts look
great, and you couldn't possibly go without one. No amount of
regret will make up for those kinds of slip-ups. Only hard
exercise will rid you of your guilt! If you feel thirsty at
mealtimes, sip water. Don't fill up on liquids, as your hunger
will return sooner than it should.

Step 3 - When you're full, stop!

Eat slower. As well as increasing the metabolic rate of your
body, and its ability to digest food and burn as energy, this
also allows the satisfaction messages from your stomach to reach
your brain. Between mouthfuls, put your hands down to the sides
of your plate. Don't be tempted to put any more food on your
fork until you've slowly chewed and swallowed what you already
have. Don't rush to finish what's on your plate; when you're
full, you're body will have these pauses in eating to tell you
when it is so. As a by-product, you'll gain an improved sense of
taste, which will give you a better appreciation of food, and
reduce your desire for fatty and salty meals. You may even find
that some of your "favourite" foods, or guilty pleasure, begin
to taste bad. You shouldn't feel sorrow at this. Your body is
steering you to those foods which provide it witht he most
energy and wellness ingredients.

Try it today. In just a few weeks, you'll feel more energy, will
see improvement in your complexion and body shape. All this will
bring new levels of self-confidence your way. Good luck!



About the author:
Matt Hodkinson is a beneficiary of the nutrition advice he has
accumulated in 5 years of study. Check out more weight loss
articles at his site: www.showmetheweightloss.com