Can't Stop Eating? Try This.

Want to lose weight without giving up the things you love to eat? I’ve got one little trick that might make a world of difference.

What’s the one food that you can’t get enough of...that thing that, once you start, it’s so dang hard to stop? For me it’s dark chocolate-covered cashews. How can you possibly just have a few?

Well, have I got a story for you. It’s a story about the woes of actually trying to take care of yourself, while the rest of the wo

rld carries on. After talking about this situation with a few clients, I know it will resonate with you.

I am all about the specialty chocolate stores, and their delicious, high-end chocolate. I prefer to respond to my craving, spend a bit more, but only get what I need. And for the most part, this has been working, and it leaves me more satisfied than pigging out on cheap chocolate.

There was a time when I even tried just saying no to sweets. I started making the healthy version of stuff like brownies, with protein powder, almond flour…the whole 9 yards. All it ended up doing was make me eat more snacks because it never tasted like the real thing. Have you ever done this?

Now back to the story. Neil, my husband, comes home with a Big Turk- one of the few ‘cheap’ chocolates I enjoy. But I was on a

diet…no eating past 7, no night-time snacking, no junk. So, he eats one bite and puts it in the cupboard. I spend the whole night trying not to eat the chocolate. I also spend the whole night MAD…sooooo mad. How could he eat one bite and put it away?!

Regardless of whether I was dieting or not, I couldn’t do it.

The silent treatment ensued, even though now I realize I was actually just mad at myself. Like what does he have that I don’t that makes him capable of taking just one bite?

The next day, I was still peeved, so I asked him about it, and of course he looked at me like I had 3 heads. And his snarky response: “Cause I can come back and have another bite whenever the F I want Cindy.”

I was so busy avoiding these foods that I was just making myself miserable. When I was in dieting mode, I would praise myself for having so much willpower, but in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about all these off-limits foods. Cheat meals turned into cheat days, and Neil’s comment grated on my nerves.

Eventually, I realized he was right.

It’s all about the First Bite.

When I started thinking about it more, I realized we often eat things because they’re convenient, or they fill a void. We also feel guilty about wasting food, and finish everything on our plates because many of us have grown up with the expectation that you finish your dinner.

When you’re out with family or friends, there is always way too much food. Being Portuguese, all family functions are 5 course meals, and if your mother is like mine, the way to show her your love is to eat more.

When I started listening to my body and asking myself if the second bite tasted as good as the first, I realized that I could be just as satisfied with a little bit of chocolate as opposed to the whole bag.

If food is meant to be enjoyed, shouldn’t we enjoy every first bite?

So here’s how it works.

Eat slowly (think of how many calories you would save just by doing that).

Then make that first bite an experience. Ask yourself “Is this even good?” If you have a second bite, ask yourself if it was as good as the first. Can you imagine how many calories this little trick could save you?

This has been such a game changer for me, and I’m certain it’s because I’m not saying no to that piece of cake. I’m just eating a bit of it. We are saying YES to those foods, but also tuning in to how they feel in our bodies- making us feel more in control of things.

Many people diet, and just avoid “junk food.” Well, speaking from my own experience, it doesn’t work. BUT, and this is a big but…intuitive eating is hard. Between your emotions, your mind and your physical body, our signals are all outta whack. It takes time, and the desire to change, to actually implement this strategy.

Try this little change if you’ve lost weight in the past, but when you stop your strict protocol, it all comes back. You can also apply this strategy to sips- if you are a wine drinker, beer drinker or even a pop drinker.

Following the law of first bites causes you to eat/drink slowly, and actually think about what you’re eating, thereby increasing pleasure and inadvertently promoting portion control.

By using the law of first bites (and sips), you can tune into your pleasure centers, and completely eliminate that deprived feeling that often comes with portion control and calorie counting.

Try it for a week. Let me know how it goes.