5 Tips to Prevent You From Having Cheat Meals
Are you someone who is good with your dieting until you’re not? Here are 5 tips for you to help keep the cheat meals few and far between.
Close to 38% of Americans are obese, and a shocking 70% of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight.
If you’re trying to lose weight, of course, it’s crucial to develop and stick to an exercise routine. However, your diet is just as important, if not more so, when it comes to shedding pounds and keeping the weight off.
The problem?
So many of us have trouble staying consistent with our diet. The reality is that for lots of people, eating is an emotional experience. We eat when we’re stressed, sad, or even when we want to reward ourselves.
These Cheat Meals can wreck havoc on your diet and undo your progress.
No matter the reason for your binge eating, we want to help you stay on track.
In this post, we’re telling you 5 ways to resist the temptation of Cheat Meals.
1. Try A Doctor-Supervised Weight Loss Program
Let’s be honest about one thing: losing weight is hard. It’s both a physical and a mental challenge. Sometimes, you just need an extra push to help you stick to your goals and to avoid the temptation of cheat meals.
Meeting with a doctor throughout the weight loss process also allows you to get any additional questions you may have answered. It’s also important that you have someone to hold you accountable.
When you know you’ll have to ‘fess up to your doctor about that late-night chocolate cake incident, you’ll be a lot less likely to give into cheat meals.
Your doctor can also offer you advice related to your specific BMI and weight loss goals. Remember that, when it comes to weight loss, what works for someone else might not work for you.
Finally, working with a doctor ensures that you’re getting the nutrition that you need. They can recommend meals and foods that will keep you fuller for longer, so you’ll be much less likely to reach for the junk.
2. Take A Dietary Supplement
Even if you’re eating healthy, it can be tough to keep your energy levels where they need to be.
This is especially true if you’re doing a strenuous workout program that may leave you feeling tired and weak.
Often, when we’re feeling sluggish, we rely on sweets or other fatty, nutritionally empty foods to keep us going.
Look for a supplement that contains natural and safe ingredients designed to curb your appetite to prevent giving into your cheat meals. These supplements will often help you to give you more natural energy, so you won’t have to rely on unhealthy foods that will ultimately end up making you crash later due to high fat and sugar contents.
Supplements are a great addition to a healthy diet and will help to give you the nutrients and vitamins your body needs to fight off cravings. Always look for products that are certified by the FDA.
3. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Many people think that consuming as few calories as possible is the best way to lose weight.
In reality, skipping meals means that you’ll be much more likely to binge on high-calorie foods later. Additionally, skipping meals can really mess with your metabolism – which can ultimately make it harder to lose weight.
To ensure that you don’t end up indulging in cheat meals, we suggest always eating a protein-packed and high-fiber breakfast. Think things like oatmeal, eggs, and even toast with an avocado spread.
When you’re eating, try to take the time to really chew your food. We recommend cutting out any distractions that may take your mind off of eating or cause you to eat faster.
We know you’re busy, but it’s important to set aside at least 20 minutes for every meal. Avoid watching television, reading the newspaper, or anything other than eating during these meals.
Aim to chew your food at least 15 times a bite. We know it seems like a lot, but it will help you to stay fuller for longer and will beat cravings!
4. Don’t Torture Yourself
No matter how much we try to resist, and how “good” we try to be, sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to stop thinking about how much you want some ice cream.
These cravings are common, especially if your body is used to consuming a higher amount of sugar and fatty foods. Sometimes, especially at the start of your diet, you can even experience what feels a lot like withdrawal.
The reality?
Constantly denying yourself these foods will only lead to a bigger binge later on.
If you’re faced with a craving that you just can’t seem to beat, it’s ok to indulge – just in moderation. In fact, doing so can help you to beat the craving, and even prevent them from coming back as frequently.
So, if you’re dying for vanilla ice cream, limit yourself to just one scoop. Make sure you eat it mindfully, as we mentioned above.
5. Plan Your Meals
We get it: when you come home from the end of a long work day, the last thing in the world you feel like doing is cooking.
It’s easy to reach for your favorite takeout menu if you don’t plan ahead.
Dedicate a few nights a week – especially Sunday – to cooking a large supply of meals for the coming week. We even suggest creating a meal plan for your week, so you’ll be less likely to cheat.
Make preparing your meals fun. Use this as an opportunity to try out new recipes, and even invite your friends over for a meal so you don’t feel like you’re on your own.
Don’t Give In To Cheat Meals!
We hope this article has shown you that, when it comes to beating cravings and refusing to give into the temptation of diet-wrecking cheat meals, you’re stronger than you think!
Put these tips into practice to stick with your diet.
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