Tips For Overeaters

Overeating can lead to rapid weight gain and other serious medical problems. Overheating is a hard habit to kick. For some people the problem can be an addiction just like drugs or alcohol. If you are a frequent binge eater, it is important to take positive steps to change your life and your eating habits.

Skip the Fad Diets

• Fad diets are a quick fix, not a permanent solution. If you try to live off an abnormally tiny amount of calories or cut out certain foods completely, you will probably only succeed for a few days. You may find yourself overeating again. Instead of looking for instant success, take slow and steady steps to eat less. Try eating several meals a day, but make the meals much smaller in size than the meals you are currently eating. Also, even though it is important to eat healthy, don't deprive yourself all of the time. Allow yourself to have a portion-sized piece of cake or other treat at birthday parties and other occasions. Sweets are a part of life; avoiding them 100 percent of the time is unrealistic.

Find Other Outlets for Your Emotions

• If you are binge eating to cover up other problems in your life, face your issues head on and find other positive activities to replace your overeating. If you are eating because you are lonely, join a social group or take a class at an enrichment class at a community college to make more friends. If you are unhappy with your career and eat to hide the pain, start a side business online and follow your dreams.

Therapy

• Find a therapist. The process of getting healthy can be difficult all on its own, especially if you have been overeating for a long time. A therapist will provide you with a confidential place to vent and talk about your struggles. It can be helpful to work with a therapist if you know that your overeating habits began after a traumatic event such as a divorce, death in the family or rape. A trained mental health professional can help you find ways to heal these wounds without food.

Get Active

• People of all sizes and shapes need to stay healthy and active. Even if you are overweight due to long-term binge eating, you need to start moving. If you are totally out of shape, don't be afraid to start small. Take a five-minute walk around the block each day and gradually progress to longer walks. Regular exercise will put you in a better mood and help you to burn calories. If you begin to become happy with your weight loss, the uplifted mood will deter you from future overeating because you will not want to ruin your progress.