Tip #20 Listen to Your Body

Today you need to be very conscientious eater. Easier said than done, right? Because once you get into your daily routine, a momentum takes over that's hard to stop. So commit right now. Pay close attention to when and why you feel hungry, how you feel while you eat, and how you feel after you eat. Take these steps to help you learn to listen to your body:

1. Make sure you are actually hungry before you eat. You could be bored stressed, depressed, happy, or eating simply because there is food in front of you!
2. Eat only until you are satisfied today. Let's make sure we're on the same page: "satisfied" does not mean "full," "stuffed," or "sick because I ate to much"; it means you are simply no longer hungry.
3. Always try the water trick. Enjoy a tall glass of water before, after or during a meal to make sure your feeling of hunger are due to hunger and not thirst.

Credit: Melanie Douglass