How to Prevent Overeating

Monday, 01 March 2010 16:43

Overeating is a problem that many weight loss surgery patients face before and after bariatric surgery. Often, overeating is what has caused them to become obese and they find it hard to deal with the urge to overeat even after they have had weight loss surgery like gastric bypass or LAP-BAND. Learning about overeating, including why a patient may eat more than they should and tactics to avoid feeling the aftereffects, is the best way to prevent it from happening on a regular basis.

Cause

For many people, overeating is an emotional issue. Whatever the reasons why a person is attached to certain foods, they must learn how to separate emotions from what they are eating in order to prevent overeating. Many people equate food to happiness, and therefore feel a strong desire to eat when they are both happy and sad. Others may have come from a family that always finished their entire plate before leaving the table, leading to feelings of guilt if they do not finish their entire meal portion. No matter what relationship with a food a person may have, becoming aware of the problem and taking steps in advance to prevent it from happening the best way to target overeating.

Prevention

Many weight loss surgery patients may find it difficult to not overeat in social situations, such as parties and meals at a restaurant. Taking a few minutes before attending a social event to concentrate on an eating plan is the best way to prevent eating too much. When going to a restaurant, look up the menu online and try to find any bariatric-friendly courses that can be ordered. If none seem to be available, ask the server if you can order a kid's portion or just a few side items, such as an order of steamed vegetables and a cup of soup. If the server seems unwilling not to accommodate your needs, simply say you are on a special diet that prevents you from eating large portions of food. No need to explain that you've had weight loss surgery, especially if you are with people who you may not want to know about your procedure. Splitting an entree with a friend or saving half for the next day is also another great alternative.

In situations beyond a restaurant, such as cocktail parties, bring a bariatric-friendly dish that you can eat but others will also be welcome to. They'll never guess that you brought it just to stay on track and prevent yourself from overeating.

Recognize Fullness

Finally, while eating, concentrate on each bite, chew it as many times as possible, and take time in between each bite to assess your fullness level and whether or not your are full. Many times, the stomach may not recognize that it is full until you have already overate. Eating slowly can help prevent this.