There are so many ways to change poor habits that lead to weight gain and poor health.

The first step is by understanding why you do what you do. As far as overeating goes, believe it or not, many of us don't even realize we're eating half the time. We can be eating emotionally, mindlessly, socially or binge eating. We can even be eating in between events as a way to fill extra time. The first step is awareness.

Once we see what we're doing, we need to come up with a strategy. For example, many of us mindlessly eat when passing food to others, preparing meals, walking by someone's desk, etc. One strategy is to visualize. Picture on a plate every bite and morsel snacked and grabbed throughout the day. How does that plate look, is it overflowing?

Another trick is to find something to do that's incompatible to eating. For example, polish your nails, put on a tooth whitening strip, put on kitchen gloves, chew gum, etc. (I actually had a client lose a stubborn 30 pounds from putting on a strip of tooth whitener every day before her children's school bus pulled up because that was her binge time!)

You can also make a rule that's non negotiable, such as deciding that you won't eat anything standing up. Every bite, grab, etc. must be eaten sitting down.

Sometimes, a mantra may help. Here's one to consider: "It looks better in the garbage than on me!"

It is completely reasonable and possible to stop mindlessly eating. As usual, the first step in the right direction is awareness. What will you try? I'd love to know, comment and share!