Could blindfolding yourself be the answer to binge eating or compulsive eating?
In a Twitter post sent out Wednesday morning, radio host John Tesh suggested that people should try eating while blindfolded. Could this be the answer to binge eating or compulsive eating? Sort of.
According to Tesh, this method should essentially help people stop eating when they’re full—and fundamentally help them eat even less as there’d be no visual cues:
Try eating while blindfolded. W/out tempting visual cues (extra food on plate), we’re likelier to stop when we’re full & eat LESS. @Slimfast
— John Tesh (@JohnTesh) 6 April 2016
How to Avoid Binge Eating
So is John Tesh right—can blindfolding yourself help stop you from snacking on delicious treats? Perhaps. But if you follow the tips listed below, you should eventually be able to control your binge eating and be on your way toward a healthy lifestyle. A few ways to avoid compulsive eating include:
- Eat smaller, healthier snacks throughout the day: This will help prevent you from binge eating later in the day.
- Keep a food journal: Jot down how much food you eat, and the number of times you eat throughout the day. How were you feeling when you ate a specific meal or when you binged on junk food? Were you bored and decided to munch on something to pass the time, or were you celebrating with friends and family while chowing down on junk food? By recognizing your eating patterns you’ll be able to change them for the better.
- Change your eating habits: If you’re a fast eater, try chewing your food more thoroughly. Savor it. Make sure you have swallowed one mouthful before taking the next bite. To avoid compulsive eating, try planning what type of food you’ll eat in advance.
- Get medical help: Binge eating is characterized by compulsive eating, so it might be difficult to stop on your own (especially if there is an emotional connection to your eating). Speak to a counsellor if this is the case to discover emotional eating triggers that may be the cause of your binge eating.
Sources:
John Tesh Twitter, 8:58 a.m. – 6 Apr 2016.
https://twitter.com/JohnTesh/status/717743193173860353.
“Eating habits and behaviors,” nlm.nih.gov; https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000349.htm, last accessed April 7, 2016.
