Many people find that they overeat in certain situations, and are trying to move away from those bad habits. Whether you find yourself overeating on vacation, when you’re alone at home, or when you’re eating out, it is important to know how to take better care of your body. Here are a few ways to know how to listen to your body as you eat so you don’t do damage to your health by overeating.

Eat Until You’re Full

Overeating is something that happens really easily if you’re really hungry or rushed. If you are eating a big meal after being very hungry or in a limited amount of time, try not to listen to your body. As you are eating, try to pay attention to how you are feeling. If you start to feel satisfied and the impulse to eat more starts to diminish, you’re probably getting close to being full. Don’t rush ahead and stuff yourself with as much food as possible as fast as you can because that will result in feeling overfull. Slow down and pay attention to how your body feels. According to Alissa Rumsey, you’ll then feel comfortably full and satisfied at the end of your meal.

Avoid Foods That Don’t Agree with You

It is natural for different people to have certain foods that don’t agree with them, making them feel bloated or causing heartburn or stomach aches. For example, according to Granite Peaks Gastroenterology, some spicy and acidic foods can cause heartburn. Citric fruits and sour or bitter drinks might also have a similar effect. It is important to listen to your body when trying different foods so you can identify which foods may cause you any discomfort.

Designate Meals

If you’re really busy and often eating on the go, your body might not actually register that you’ve eaten a real meal. For example, if you’re eating a bagel as you drive to work for breakfast, or chowing down on chips for lunch while working on the computer, your body will likely not treat that consumption of food as a meal. According to Elise Museles, it is important to actually sit down with a plate and take the time to eat your food like a meal, even if you only have ten minutes to do so. This will allow your body to recognize the food as a designated meal and to be more satisfied and nourished once you’ve finished.

As you are learning to take better care of your body by listening to it as you eat, be patient with yourself. It will be a process to learn how to take care of yourself, and you’ll likely still have days where you feel bloated and overfull. If you keep putting forth effort and paying attention to how you feel when you eat, you’ll figure out an eating system of foods and meal times that will help you feel the best.

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