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Say, HALT! And Put Mindless Eating Under Arrest! 4 Simple Questions To Stop Over Eating So You Can Lose Weight Faster!  It’s okay to eat when you are hungry, but do you ever find yourself eating out of stress? Do you find yourself hungry a few minutes after a meal or you can’t seem to get full even after eating a large quantity of food? You may be lead to eat due to 4 things that can be expressed in an acronym called, HALT. HALT, an acronym for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired, is a popular slogan in recovery communities like Alcoholics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous. It’s a powerful technique that can also work to short-circuit food cravings. The idea is that each of these four conditions, if not taken care of, can lead to binge eating or eating out of emotions vs. true hunger. Here’s how to use HALT! Before your first BITE…. Stop yourself by saying the word, “HALT!” Then ask yourself the following questions:  1. “Am I physically hungry?” True hunger is natural. It comes on gradually, grows more intense the longer you go without food, and goes away when you eat. If you are hungry, eat a healthy snack to tide you over until your next meal. If you’re not hungry, continue with the questions - they’ll help you find a calorie-free way to meet your emotional need.  2. “Am I angry?” Eating an entire sleeve of Oreos because you’re mad at your mother, your partner, or your boss may mask your anger, but it won’t get rid of it. Besides, you know you’ll feel guilty and furious with yourself later on. Why put yourself through that? Choose a healthy way to blow off steam; take a brisk walk if possible or let it all out in your journal.  3. “Am I lonely?” No matter how delicious it is, food is no substitute for human companionship. To get the true connection you seek, call a friend or relative, or better yet, make plans to get together for a (healthy) dinner, a movie, or to simply hang out.  4. “Am I tired?” You can’t make smart choices about food if you’re nodding off. Catch a twenty-minute catnap, take a quick shower, or - if it’s nighttime - head to bed. Yes, it really is that simple. You can’t eat if you’re sleeping!  What can you do instead of chowing down?
Instead of eating out of habit, make it a NEW habit to use HALT as a way to STOP yourself from eating out of non-hunger. For more suggestions on how to break the cycle of over eating or binge eating, read my new book titled, Binge Proof Your Life, How To Stop Binge Eating Forever!  Order Yours Today!
xoxo Kamille Dawn Tirzah MS., CPT., NSC., Life Coach and Medical Weight Loss Specialist
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