Overeating: Why You Can’t Stop At One Nacho
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 ...
by Erika Nicole Kendall
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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11 Responses to “Overeating: Why You Can’t Stop At One Nacho”
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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?
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.
Hi Natasha, to add to Erika’s comment- being busy is a good thing. that means you are too busy to eat out of boredom, frustration, stress and all of the other triggers. Be pro-ACTIVE in your approach. Carry your water with you like an American Express Card- don’t leave home without it. Keep healthy snacks in your purse so that you are constantly eating and will never get ravenous by the time you sit down to eat. Read this blog everyday. Erika has some amazing tips and her words are in my head…good luck.
What does eating mostly fruits and veggies in a day look like? I can’t put my mind around it.
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!
Hello Erika,
I so love this site, i’m on it everyday, there is just so much information here. I’ve been reading your blog for about a week now, and have learned so much, a lot that i already new but didn’t seem to really “get it” I was at a party this Saturday with some soul food out of this world…a big bowl of chips were sitting there and calling my name, well i’ve been eating clean and healthy since Nov 1st 2010 i mean making very good progress, in the gym about 4 days a week, and these dang chips were like “hey baby don’t you want some of me?” i kept what you said about trying to get that “fix” and it’s really by habit, i remembered and heard your voice (tripping right?) say “are you feeding your hunger? Or are you just trying to get a fix?” Gurrrl i never got a chip and i drank water and had a few drinks, my husband and myself were very strong and grew as a unit that night. Came home happy and proud of us. So with that said, i’ll be seeing ya around!!
Since, no much more than a year ago, a friend of mine suggested me a slight change in my breakfast (i.e. a less caloric, though equally nutritive option) I started to check the matter of calorie counting (Which I had not done before) and the revelation I got was shockingly eye-wide-opening! Yes, my average calorie intake left little doubt as to why I had been gaining weight over teh years “without being able to avoid it” … Darn, it was clear that I could have avoided it pretty well, ahem!
When you take notice that a bag of chips which is far more caloric that a nice salad with chicken breast (and realize that the salad leaves you satisfied, while the bag of chips does not) you start being more attentive at what you eat, indeed.
As my uncle would say: You took n told them! LOL
I recently lost over 90 lbs on a mostly clean diet ( natural foods). Good nutrition is based on making the right choices for better health. I believe that starts with breaking junk food addictions.
What is your take on oatmeal? I’m a big breakfast eater, I’ve cut back a lot on eating a full breakfast but I’m trying to wean myself off of eating a full plate do you think oatmeal is a good option to use to work towards my goal?
I’m totally #teamoatmeal. Just not instant oatmeal. Gotta do it the hard way!