1. You’re Gaining Weight Slow And Steady
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The most unmistakable indicator of excessive eating is consistent weight gain. If you observe a gradual yet steady increase in your weight, it’s a clear signal that you’re consuming more daily calories than your body requires to maintain your current weight. It’s probable that you’re serving yourself larger portions if the weighing scale’s readings are accurate!
2. You Are Distracted When Eating
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Your daily meals should be enjoyed while sitting down, preferably with your family. If you’re browsing the internet or engaged in a text conversation with a friend, you might not be fully aware of what you’re eating or how much you’re consuming. Are you unknowingly serving yourself an extra spoonful of mashed potatoes because you’re distracted by an online chat?
3. You Constantly Think About Food
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If thoughts of food constantly occupy your mind, and you frequently find yourself lingering near the pantry and refrigerator, it’s unlikely that extreme hunger is the sole cause. There might be underlying emotions or issues in your life that you’re attempting to suppress through eating.
4. You Use Food As A Coping Mechanism
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Certain individuals may find it difficult to eat when stressed, while others seek solace in food during times of sadness. Food can be an emotional pathway, often evoking childhood memories, and as such, it becomes a means of managing and processing emotions. Recognizing that you’re overeating can lead to feelings of guilt, which, in turn, can perpetuate the cycle of excessive eating.
5. You Polish Off Your Food Before Everyone Else
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No matter how delicious your meal is, you might have the habit of quickly consuming a substantial portion without savoring the flavors. Seeing others at the table still enjoying their food, you may go for a second helping, believing you’re still hungry. However, it’s important to remember that it takes 15-20 minutes for your stomach to send a signal to your brain, indicating that you’re full and should stop eating.
6. Your Jeans Feel Tight Around The Waist
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After enjoying a hearty meal, many people mistakenly believe that feeling bloated or having a ‘food baby’ is the norm. However, this is not true; it’s a classic sign of overeating. While it’s natural for your stomach to protrude slightly after any meal, if you find yourself having to undo that top button, it’s a clear indication that you’ve gone overboard.
7. You Never Feel Fully Satisfied
Image source GQ IndiaHave you ever considered that the sensation of feeling full and feeling truly satisfied are not the same thing? A large salad can certainly make you feel full, but some individuals may not find it the most satisfying, leading them to consume another meal or indulge in a multitude of snacks like chips and chocolate. Does this scenario resonate with you?
8. You Experience Acid Reflux
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Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter fails to prevent stomach acid from entering the esophagus. Consuming large meals can be a contributing factor to acid reflux, so if you experience this condition, it may be linked to your dietary choices.
9. You Restrict Yourself With Certain Foods
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One might assume that eliminating specific food groups from their diet would lead to weight loss, but it can actually have the opposite effect. If you find yourself craving the foods you’ve sworn off, you may end up overindulging and overeating, giving in to those forbidden treats.
10. Your Heart Races
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The science is quite straightforward: the more food you consume, the more demanding the task becomes for your digestive system to break it down. Increased digestive activity results in greater blood flow, which can make your heart work harder, leading to a racing heart and a flushed face.
11. You Make A Habit Of Having Seconds And Thirds
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It’s highly likely that your initial full plate of food already contained more than the average portion size. If your stomach is still audibly growling for more, consider refilling it, but opt for items like vegetables. If your second and even third servings match the size of your original plate, it’s a clear sign that you’ve overindulged.
12. Difficulty Sleeping At Night
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Consuming a particularly large evening meal, especially after 8 pm, can lead to difficulty sleeping. This is because your body is actively engaged in breaking down the food, causing discomfort that can interfere with your ability to fall asleep. The more you’ve eaten, the longer it will take before you can comfortably drift off into slumber.
13. You Crave Sugary Foods
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If you find yourself overeating, you might be reaching for cookies or indulging in some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream after a substantial meal. These sugary carbohydrates trigger your brain to release dopamine, a pleasure hormone. The more sugar you consume, the more dopamine is released, which is why you experience stronger and more frequent cravings for more sugary treats.
14. You Struggle With Acne
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Overindulging in a diet high in refined sugar and unhealthy fats can have detrimental effects on your internal health, and your skin may reflect this. It could manifest as acne, often linked to the consumption of high glycemic foods entering your body through your diet.
15. You Get More Cavities
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If your daily eating habits consist of frequent snacks like cookies, candies, and sugary drinks between meals, you may find yourself making more trips to the dentist than you’d like. These so-called treats can have a detrimental impact on your teeth and gums, potentially leading to the development of cavities.
16. Dining Out More Than Eating In
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Who doesn’t enjoy dining out? Whether it’s for a special occasion or simply a midweek escape to try the latest restaurant in town, it’s a source of joy. However, if you realize that you’re dining out more often than eating at home, indulging in multiple courses with hidden calories, it’s likely that overeating has become a recurring pattern in your life.
17. You Feel Depressed
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Indulging in a substantial meal, along with a generous dessert, might leave you feeling content initially. However, about an hour later, you could find yourself snacking or having a few extra spoonfuls of leftover pudding. If these treats are laden with sugar and hidden sugar substitutes, it won’t be long before you experience a sugar crash, which is the opposite of the initial sugar rush. This crash may even lead to feelings of depression.
18. You’re Too Full To Breathe!
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When you find yourself utterly stuffed after a meal, it’s a clear indicator that you’ve overindulged. You’ve moved beyond the point of feeling merely satisfied, as you might even struggle to transition from your dining chair to the sofa. This excessive fullness can lead to your digestive system working in overdrive, making it challenging to breathe comfortably and relax. You may even find yourself huffing and puffing due to the discomfort.
19. You Avoid Social Food Situations
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If you often find yourself feeling ashamed or guilty about overeating in the presence of others, even close friends, it can lead to a habit of eating excessively in secret. You might be concerned about the judgment of others regarding the quantity or type of food you consume, and this anxiety can make you withdraw from social situations, potentially turning you antisocial.