The holidays are over. Your weight has probably increased over this celebratory period. Perhaps you are aware of this and are thinking about doing something about it going into this New Year. This article is about the mental and physical health component of responsible eating and taking control of what you put into your mouth. “You are what you eat!”

Do you sometimes, or often, struggle to take a healthy control of your eating? Eat too much? Binge? Eat the “wrong” foods? Obsess over your weight? Bulimic or anorexic? Resigned to being fat? What might be some of the psychological reasons that you are challenged in such an essential part of your daily existence?

Susan Biali, M.D., states that she “was obsessed with dieting and calorie-counting, which turned into compulsive eating and a powerful addiction to sugary fatty goods in my 20s and 30s – even though I had both a medical degree and a degree in dietetics (human nutrition). It takes more than knowledge to develop a healthy approach to eating.” Since then Dr. Biali has studied “the roots of compulsive eating patterns.” She lists “five reasons why you can’t control your eating.” Any of these fit you, Respected Reader?

YOU CAN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUNGER AND APPETITE: Before you eat, do you ask yourself if you are really hungry? Where is the urge to eat coming from — your stomach or your mind? Can you tell the difference? Will something healthy suffice?

YOU LET YOUR MOOD PUSH YOU TOWARD FOOD:  The next time you reach for something too sweet, salty or fatty, ask yourself what you are feeling. Are you sad, bored, or stressed?

AT THE SUPERMARKET, YOU LET YOURSELF BUY THINGS THAT SABOTAGE YOU: Make a pact with yourself not to buy problem foods when you are out shopping for groceries.

YOU DON’T PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU HIT FULL: Eat slowly and continue to monitor yourself to see if you are getting full. Then quit!

YOU DON’T GET ENOUGH SLEEP: If you get less than seven hours sleep a night your brain actually starts producing appetite-stimulating hormones, and you’ll feel hungrier throughout the day. Lack of sleep also affects your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and can make you susceptible to diabetes.

OK, now that you have gotten tips on you to control your eating habits, let’s turn to learning how to eat healthily. It is one thing to not eat the “wrong” things or eat too much. It is another challenge to eat the “right” things that help you to be maximally healthy — physically, emotionally and mentally.   Personally, besides my wife who does a great job of managing our diet, I am particularly inspired, motivated, and directed toward healthy eating by a person who is very special to me. She is a certified fitness instructor and certified lifestyle and weight management consultant.  She also is a expert health and food blogger. The special person is our daughter, Brittany, whose website of inspiration and knowledge is  AHEALTHYSLICEOFLIFE.COM. Brittany has thousands of people reading her blog because it is filled with information, humor and pictures to motivate healthy eating. I invite you to take a daily peek at her web site and see if you can benefit from such a daily dose.  Many people in my practice have begun to do so and report positive results in their eating and overall life style habits. May you also benefit!

Bon appétit!

Dr. Stathas can be reached at 706-473-1780. Email:Stathas@plantationcable.net.  Web site articles: drstathas.googlepages.com. Blog: drstathas.com