Tips on How to Stop Snacking
by Trevor Johnson
Most all of us snack (or "graze") at some time or other. It's
almost as though it's expected of us. There are snacks and nibbles available
almost everywhere.
Once upon a time, we'd have nibbled on a biscuit with our morning tea or coffee.
Nowadays it seems we're almost always eating. So how can you stop snacking?
* Keep to set meal times. Three meals a day is a good way to go (some people
advise five, smaller, meals a day and that's OK if it works for you). If you
follow this kind of regime, you're unlikely to feel hungry between meals and
that's the first step to stopping snacking.
* Allow yourself the occasional (small) snack. It's far better to give yourself
an allowance of snacks that you can eat occasionally during the week than it is
to forbid them altogether. It's human nature to want what we can't have, so
allow yourself to have a snack every now and then and it's likely your snack
cravings will reduce.
* Wean yourself onto healthier snacks. Sure, chocolate is nice to eat and
doesn't deserve to be banned forever. But try to include some other healthier
snacks in your daily life. Beware the hidden sugars in things like fruit juice
and smoothies - it's far better to eat real fruit than it is to slurp down
pre-processed juices.
* Make a shopping list and stick to it. You'll find this easier to do if you
shop after you've eaten as the temptation to buy extra items that aren't on your
list is less on a full stomach.
* Treat yourself occasionally. Obviously not on a whole chocolate cake. But
reward yourself with the occasional small indulgence when you've kept off the
snacks for a set amount of time.
* Figure out when you're most in danger of snacking. Maybe you use snacks as
comfort foods. Maybe you snack when you're nervous. Maybe your snack attacks are
in the form of refrigerator raids in the middle of the night. Whenever you are
most at risk of snacking, figure out what is triggering the desire to snack.
Then set about changing your habits - hypnosis can be a good way to do this as
it works deep within your mind.
* Wear an elastic band round your wrist. These are less conspicuous nowadays as
so many people wear bands to show their support for good causes. Then, each time
you find yourself about to snack, snap the elastic band. This short shock will
gradually train you to reduce your snacking.
* Procrastinate! Normally, procrastination is viewed as a bad thing. But if you
procrastinate about whether or not you should eat that snack, you may manage to
put off the moment of snacking for minutes or even hours.
* Take 5 minutes when you feel the urge to snack. Distract yourself and if the
urge to snack is still there in five minutes time, go for it.
* Snack smaller. If you find you're having difficulty stopping snacking, at
least cut down on the portion size. In fact, portion controlling your snacks is
another good way to help reduce your snacking.
Get more helpful tips on how to stop snacking and find out how hypnosis can help
you to stop snacking quickly, easily and effortlessly at
http://hypnosisabc.com/2008/08/18/stop-snacking/