A Simple Way to Stop Snacking

One of the biggest obstacles to losing weight is snacking. Maybe you're feeling depressed and you eat for comfort. Or maybe you're bored and you eat for something to do.

Whatever the cause is, you get the "munchies" and end up eating way more than you should. And, unfortunately, our English language helps us to justify our behavior. "It was just a snack," you say.

Snack. The word is so short and clean and crisp. It sounds like a word for "just a little bit." Yet it can mean "a whole, whole lot."

I believe you can lose weight much more quickly if you can stop some of your snacking. Some people will tell you to eat throughout the day. And I think that's good advice as long as you can control how much you eat.

But if you lack control, you first need to gain control. And if you can stop snacking, you will have taken a huge leap forward in your ability to control yourself.

So here's my simple technique to help you stop snacking: Brush your teeth immediately following a meal.

I find that doing this prevents me from snacking between meals for three reasons. One, whatever I eat after brushing my teeth will most likely taste bad. Two, I don't want to go to the trouble of brushing my teeth again. And three, I don't want to mess up that fresh feeling in my mouth by eating junk food.

If you can't (or won't) brush your teeth after a meal, then try chewing a stick of gum instead. I find this works almost as well. When you have the opportunity to eat something you shouldn't, just say, "No, I can't eat that. I'm chewing gum."

These ideas are deceptively simple, but exceedingly powerful. When you get the chance, let me know if either of them works for you.

Comments

[Stephanie]

That's a great idea! Another thing that keeps me from snacking in the evening is to take a bath instead. It's relaxing, and the snack is generally something I grab for comfort & relaxation anyway. Nice blog. :-)

[Ryan Healy]

Thanks for the compliment, Stephanie. And nice tip about taking a bath.

[Aisha]

Snacking is the biggest vice that I have towards weight loss as well. Do you ever try the famed "don't eat after 8pm" advice? It's so hard to do, but when I do it, I notice I feel so much better in the morning primarily because most of my heavy eating is at night.

[Nessie]

Brushing my teeth really works for me too! :)

Because I used to snack all the time, I found
another 19 methods to stop snacking.

[ellen]

if there was something you could put in your mouth and wear comfortably, and still go about your daily business, would you try it to help curb your snacking. it would probably make you think before you put something in your mouth.

[Marianna]

Great blog! I have only recently noticed that I have snacks when I'm alnoe or bored. But now I've started to brush my teeth after meals and chewing gum whem bored:)

[Marianna]

Great blog! I have only recently noticed that I have snacks when I'm alnoe or bored. But now I've started to brush my teeth after meals and chewing gum whem bored:)