Help!!

I'm going for a family buffet tomorrow, please give me some advice on how to not binge/ know when to stop.

Thank you.


ANSWER

The best thing you can do is to shift your focus.

Instead of worrying about the food that will be available... focus on your family and the time you will have to visit and catch up.

Allow yourself to enjoy the company that you will have. No food will ever replace a loving, healthy family bond.

Sometimes we get caught up in believing that food equals fun or happiness. But it doesn't. Its our attitude, the company, time, etc... that creates true happiness.

Breaking the connection between food meaning fun and pleasure will help.

Just remember that it won't be an overnight thing. It will take some time to build a healthy relationship with food and be able to turn down the extra food without feeling deprived. Eventually it will feel better to eat healthy and only indulge in a treat now and then.

In regards to knowing when to stop eating....
If you have practiced intuitive eating at all;
you'll know the difference between physical hunger and emotional hunger (or 'this tastes good' hunger).

If not; a good guideline is to eat slowly and take time in between bites to engage in conversation. After about 20 minutes your body will be able to send you 'full' signals. You can read up more on how to do this here.

Enjoy the company that you will be in tomorrow and enjoy whatever foods you won't feel guilty about later.


All my Best,

Stefanie