Bad Habits Which May Hinder Weight Loss

We all have bad habits which not only hinder weight loss but also contribute to weight gain.  It's useful to be aware of these and take action to break our bad habits.

Eating quickly makes it easier to eat more than the body needs.   If you eat fast food regularly, you are very likely consuming more fat and excessive calories without the necessary nutrition. 

Eating without paying close attention to what you’re eating  may mean you eat more.  When you’re eating on the run, for example, in the car while you’re on your way somewhere, your mind is on other things and not on how much you’re eating, so it's very easy to eat more than you need. 

 Eating large portions giving the body more food than the body needs is another bad habit.    In order to control portion sizes,  plan ahead.  Think how much food will be enough, serve yourself on a small plate and sit down at the table to eat.

Skipping meals should be avoided at all costs.  When you don’t eat regularly, your hunger increases and you will compensate for this by excessive snacking or by eating larger meals later in the evening.  Be sure to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

Two of the most common bad habits we all have are eating as we watch television and eating late at night.    It's so easy to snack by eating biscuits or crisps when the box is sitting beside you as you watch television.  To combat this, avoid eating foods right out of the bag or box.  Decide ahead of time how many cookies you will eat by setting them on a plate so you can put the box away before you sit down.

Boredom is another factor which leads to late night eating.  To avoid this scenario, you could find interesting things to do to take away the boredom, possibly take up a fun hobby, a good book, go for a walk or maybe even do an exercise DVD.

Lack of sleep may leave you craving sweets and foods high in carbohydrates like chips during the day.  When you’re tired, your body will need quick energy boosts, hence the cravings for sweets and junk food.  Making sure that you get at least 7 hours sleep on a regular basis can help you overcome your cravings for junk food.