Harmless Habits Derailing Your Diet

Listening to music
Soft, appealing sounds encourage you to dine longer and order more food. Loud, fast music speeds eating, meaning you scarf what’s on your plate before you realize that you’re full.
Instead… Turn off the music at home and focus on each bite. You’ll enjoy your food more, and your company!

Standing while eating
Standing makes the meal feel more like a snack, which you probably consider less satisfying.
Instead… Eat at a proper place setting, even if you are just having a light lunch. It will feel more like a meal and keep you from overeating at the next meal.

Eating a little bit of everything
People given 24 flavors of jelly beans ate twice as many as those given only 6 flavors, according to the Journal of Consumer Research. An assortment of foods appears more interesting and encourages you to sample extra.
Instead… When at a buffet, take a look at all the food options before you dive in. Decide which foods look the most appealing, and stick with those few foods as you work your way down the line.

Having a few drinks with dinner
Liquid calories—especially in alcoholic beverages—can have more than 500 calories. What’s worse is that liquid calories don’t curb hunger, so you aren’t going to eat less after having a high-calorie drink.
Instead… Try reserving those drinks for certain days of the week (like the weekends) or special occasions. Or switch to virgin drinks (like club soda with lime) so you can still have the fun without the calories.

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