Overeating: Why You Can’t Stop At One Nacho

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

by Erika

I’ve been saying this for a while now… but when it becomes innocent you against people who stand to make lots of money off of you, you don’t stand a chance.

Taken from Women’s Health magazine:

Here’s how this deviousness works: Human beings have what food-industry insiders call a “bliss point,” a nirvana of the taste buds triggered by particular amounts of salt, sugar, and fat. Menu scientists (yes, that’s a job!) at popular restaurant chains and packaged-food corporations use their knowledge of the bliss point to manipulate your appetite, adding salt, sugar, and fat to their products in combinations that are designed to create hedonism on a plate—a taste experience so intense that it kicks the brain’s pleasure system into overdrive. It’s like a drug. And like any drug, it leads you to obsess about that moment of pleasure so much that you’ll do almost anything to prolong or relive it. The result: a bigger bottom line for them—and a bigger waistline for you.

It’s just the way it is.

So, now you have one more piece of information telling you the chips – literally – are stacked against you. What do you do? Do you give in knowing that it will result in a bigger booty (and no, not in a good way) or do you start limiting and minimizing your fast food/restaurant food intake? These are things to think about!

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Keywords

bliss point, Fast Food, overeating, restaurants

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4 Comments

Mar 10, 2010

Natasha Aiken

I’m trying to lose about 50 pounds. I have a Wii Fit and Phentermine.I am married with four kids. The youngest is two. I’m in school and trying to find time to get this weight off. Any suggestions?
- Mar 10, 2010
  
  Erika
  
  For starters, Natasha, I wouldn’t take the phentermine! You can do this without the help of medications, trust me.
  
  Give yourself a slow start. Start with shrinking your portion sizes and taking evening walks with your youngest little ones. They’ll appreciate the fresh air and you’ll get the physical benefits of the walk.
  
  From there, give yourself time to grow and change. Keep reading through the site, because I’ve discussed my own struggles and how I’ve gotten past them. If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
Apr 19, 2010

Angelina

What does eating mostly fruits and veggies in a day look like? I can’t put my mind around it.
- Apr 19, 2010
  
  Erika
  
  For breakfast: A grapefruit
  For lunch: A wheat wrap with spinach, mushroom, alfalfa sprouts and mustard
  for snacks: strawberries, bananas, grapes, etc
  For dinner: Vegetable stir-fry.
  
  Ta da!

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