Three ways of thinking that make you gain weight!

Think about the frequency at which you eat food that you don’t need: the free cookie included with your sandwich, the second spaghetti serving that you accept to be polite, the fat-free ice cream that you keep eating every night because you don’t want to waste it. The problem with this kind of reasoning is that it can be the cause of your extra pounds. With an extra 600 calories per day, you can easily gain 5 pounds in one month if you do not exercise more.

Here are a few examples of ”dietary logic” that need to be excluded from our lives in order to better control our weight and maintain a better health.

It’s free!
The logic: ”If it’s free, I have to take it!”

Be careful with free food, such as the cookies that are included with your lunch or the croissants at the morning office meetings. These ”small” additional treats can contain up to 300 to 500 calories, and chances are that you will not reduce the total quantity of food you will eat throughout the rest of the day. So even if your wallet doesn’t pay the price, your hips will!

A better way to think : The next time you are offered food, ask yourself: ”If this were not free, you I stop by to buy it? ” If the answer is no, abstain.

Good manners first!
The logic: ”I have to finish my plate.”

The typical remark that can be heard in many homes is: ”You cannot leave food on your plate while children are starving elsewhere.” Do not feel guilty. Think of it this way: when you eat more than your body needs, you are still wasting. Instead of being stored in the garbage, this extra food will be stored in your fat cells… and it will not be used!

A better way to think: Use smaller plates and get a second serving if you are still hungry. Take your time to eat. If there are leftovers, make a lunch for tomorrow or use them as a side dish.

I deserve it!
The logic: ”Considering the day I just had, I deserve a chocolate sundae!”

Whether it is as a reward, or as a way to cope with sadness or even boredom, some people resort to food. The act of eating food in order to fulfil an emotional need is not a problem in itself, but the chosen food is. We rarely treat ourselves with broccoli or water!

You might deserve the sundae, but do you also deserve the bad fats and the sugar that will clog your body? Think about it!

A better way to think : Make a list of the things and activities that you like, other than food, and choose one when the occasion arises. All you need is to think of something else. Here are a few examples: call a friend, brush your teeth, take a walk, site somewhere else with a good book, meet with your lover…!

By Karine Larose

Three ways of thinking that make you gain weight! is a post from Nautilus Plus. The Nautilus Plus blog aims to help people in their journey to fitness through articles on training, nutrition, motivation, exercise and healthy recipes.
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