A lot of the problems that people have when they are trying to lose weight are just a matter of habits.
Over the years, we set up a lot of bad habits around food. An example would be eating candy or cookies while watching TV. We're probably not hungry and don't need food at that time. It's just a habit.
If you find that you are still snacking when you are not hungry, take a moment to write down exactly when that tends to happen. Identify the habit that causes you to eat.
Where are you when this happens? At home, at work, in the car?
What are you often doing? Watching TV is a common one but there are many others. How about unpacking food after a visit to the store, working hard, or putting off a difficult task?
Are there emotional triggers? Anger, frustration, fear, grief, boredom, tiredness, even joy ...
When you have identified your food-related bad habits, think about how you can set up an alternative. In most cases, it's not enough just to replace one type of food with another. It's better to find something to do that does not involve eating.
For example, you could sip water while watching TV. You could take a couple of minutes to walk around the office when you need a short break from your work. You could have somebody else unpack the groceries. You could split that difficult task into easier chunks.
Altering these habits will make a huge difference in your ability to lose weight and keep it off.
So next time you find yourself reaching for the fridge when you are not hungry, take a look at the habit that lies behind that, and find a way to change it.
