Why Weight

5 Ways How To Stop Eating Junk Food

By Stefan Aschan


Junk food. Don’t eat this and don’t eat that. We all have heard this in the media. Even your friends tell you: “Oh you can’t have that”, when you pull out your chips or you eat your french fries. Doesn’t it feel like you are surrounded by the food police? Obviously, we don’t really have a food police, because if we did, the obesity rate in this country would be much lower. But maybe it would be nice if we each had a personal food policeman to advise us on what to eat, to guide us, and to stop us when violating the principals of a healthy diet. Let me play that role for you, though I don’t want to tell you what you can’t have, or what you can’t do, but rather give you advice about what you can do to stop eating junk food.

Identify what is junk food

What the hell is junk food? Some of us say it is bad to eat certain fruits because they are high in sugar but then go eat potatoes chips. It is all relative. First, really learn what junk food is by educating yourself. Why not pick up a book that covers the basics of carbohydrates, fats, protein, minerals and vitamins? No, I did not say a diet book. Educate yourself and make informed decisions.

The urge

It is 3:00 pm in the afternoon and your energy level drops. Off you go on a hunt for a candy bar or other packaged snack food that makes your insulin levels shoot up and drop after 20 minutes, which is damaging to any form of weight loss program. When you feel the urge to pick up energy, first try to identify why you are tired. Not enough sleep? Stressed? Working too hard?

There can be many reasons for fatigue. As your first line of attack against eating junk food as a quick fix to fatigue, address the route problems as much as possible. When the urge to binge on junk food still hits you, in spite of your best efforts, try drinking sparkling water with lemon juice instead, to stimulate your taste buds and your overall system.

Happiness

Isn’t it interesting to know that many of us are eating junk food self-destructively? Yes, some of us eat because we feel bad about something we have done, or about something that has happened to us over which we have no control. Resorting to junk food is a comforting habit.

Alright, if this is the case it is time to dig a little bit deeper. Why don’t you speak with a friend or a professional about it what is going on? Get it out. It is better said then kept inside which is eating you alive. Confront the situation and see what will happen.

Trick yourself

The texture and taste of food can be addictive. Some like it crunchy, salty, sweet etc. Look for healthy food substitutes with textures and tastes similar to the junk food you have come to crave. Fortunately, we live at a time where many healthy products exist that are even tastier versions than the junk food. For example, besides fried chips you can buy baked chips. Items that are sweetened with corn syrup or evaporated cane juice can be found sweetened with fruit juice. So make better decisions towards processed and non processed foods.

Challenge yourself by competing with others

Just have a bet with friends and colleagues. Yes, why not. Just challenge them that they can’t stop eating sugar, caffeine and white flour, white rice and white pasta for 5 days. We all like to win and why not win a food competition? Have a prize awarded to the winner. No, not a chocolate cake or a party at Dunking Donuts. How about money? It can be as little at $50 dollars.

Many of my clients come and confess how bad they have behaved over the weekend or on vacation. There is nothing wrong with it if you do this only time-to-time. But hey, not all the time. Ninety percent of what you eat should be great, healthy food. If you manage this, it is okay to leave 10% for foods that are not on the list of beneficial foods for the body that come as close as possible from the earth.

Stefan Aschan is the owner and founder of http://www.stefanaschan.com providing nutrition, exercise and lifestyle programs in New York City.

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 12:41 PM