The thought of a low-carb diet makes me cringe. If you really want to torture me, tell me I’m not allowed to eat carbs ever again.

You could say that I am carb-obsessed because that’s the first thing that comes into my head when I’m hungry.

99% of what I eat includes at least one carb. I just can’t live without it.

But is there such a thing as eating too many carbs?

I knew the answer to my own question. C’mon, there has to be some form of self-control.

Up through my college years, I proudly flaunted that I could eat whatever I want and as much as I want.

This was because I was gifted with a high metabolism. My body burned energy from food at a faster rate than others.

I think this was partially due to good genes, but most of it was probably because I was so active as a kid.

I loved riding my bike all around town, playing tennis, swimming and dancing. You would rarely find me vegging out on the couch.

Sadly, now that I am older, my metabolism isn’t what it used to be. Neither is my activity level.

Nowadays, I’m the complete opposite.

You’ll find me driving everywhere, working a desk job and binge-watching TV shows at home.

Even though I have a pretty sedentary lifestyle, I’m still eating as if I have that high metabolism.

You can probably guess what that means.

Since graduating college, my weight has increased by about 25%. I’ve tried a few different types of diet and exercise regimens that have helped me shed some of the extra pounds.

But in the end, I pretty much went back to my old ways of eating whatever I felt like and worked out minimally.

My clothes no longer fit, but they’re still tucked away in a storage bin. At one point, I even bought clothes in a smaller size because I convinced myself that they will fit… one day.

But within the last couple of years, I’ve learned to accept the changes to my body, especially after having a child, and aim to just be healthy.

I’ve started working out about 2-3 times a week. I’ve also cut down on the “junk food” and reduced my daily carb intake.

I knew that if I kept going down the road I was previously on, it wouldn’t lead to a great ending.

Shortly after implementing these small changes, not only do I have more energy, but I’m happier.

I still give myself some slack but now I have a set of rules that I try to stick to.

I don’t always follow these but if I can do at least a couple of them each day, it’s a win for me.

How to eat less carbs

Here are some things that I do to help break my carb addiction and stop binging on them.

1.  Start your meal with soup

Growing up, soup was always served with lunch and dinner. It was a staple of our family meals.

I used to wonder why my grandma was so insistent that we drink the soup first BEFORE touching any of the other dishes.

Now it makes sense. Liquids help fill your stomach up.

Imagine you just came home after a long day. You’re starving and ready to devour anything edible in your sight.

A bowl of soup will help curb your appetite and prevent you from overeating.

It doesn’t have to be anything hearty. Clear soups will do the trick too.

2.  Eat meat and vegetables first

Did you know that during a typical Chinese banquet dinner, you’re served an average of 8-12 family-style dishes?

That’s a lot of food to cram into your stomach! But there’s a method to the madness.

They always serve a variety of meat, fish and vegetable dishes first. Then end with rice and/or noodle dishes, before presenting the dessert finale.

Whenever I attend one of these dinners, I find myself so full by the 6th or 7th course that I barely have enough room for anything else.

If you find yourself ravenous, try loading up on proteins and veggies BEFORE you chow down on carbs.

I know… food tastes better if you add some carbs in between each bite. But trust me, this really helps.

I’ve tried to embrace this style of eating but I admit that it is a hard one to stick to.

3.  Wait to eat dessert

At the end of the meal, your server always asks if you want to see the dessert menu.

This isn’t because they’re being kind. They know a majority of people have a sweet tooth.

Desserts are delicious and hard to say no to. I’m just suggesting to wait about 15-20 minutes before succumbing to those sweet indulgences.

There have been times that I was so tempted to order a slice of cake or grab a cookie from the pantry. But after letting myself digest a bit, I realized that I no longer craved the sugar.

4.  Beware of liquid carbs

I like my fair share of beer and wine (and mixed drinks on occasion). But these can add up quickly.

I was shocked to learn how many carbs are in common alcoholic drinks.

• A can of beer contains on average 12 grams of carbs.
• A glass of white wine contains about 3-4 grams of carbs.
• A glass of sangria can contain as much as 27 grams of carbs (depending on the ingredients).
• A piña colada contains about 32 grams of carbs.

Even non-alcoholic drinks can be deceptive.

• A cup of black coffee contains 0 carbs (thank goodness).
• A glass of milk contains about 11 grams of carbs.
• A glass of orange juice contains about 26 grams of carbs.
• A can of Coke contains about 39 grams of carbs.
• A Frappucino can contain up to a whopping 80 grams of carbs!

It may take some willpower but try to keep your tasty beverage intake to one glass or less a day.

I find that adding lemon to my water has helped stop me from craving these things. But when there’s social pressure, I totally cave in.

Using a cool tumbler cup and adding a straw really helps you drink more water too.

5.  Limit your snacking

The kitchen can be a dangerous place for grazers like me.

It’s very tempting and easy to grab a bag of chips or a couple of cookies to munch on, especially when you’re stuck at home.

Most of the time, your brain thinks it wants food because you’re actually dehydrated. 

Try drinking a glass of water and wait 15 minutes. If your body is craving water, the urge to eat will probably go away by then.

The other most common reason for snacking is boredom.

Find things to distract yourself. Go for a walk, read a book, clean out your closet — whatever you need to do to keep yourself from thinking about food.

6.  Get more sleep

I know I’m not getting enough sleep because I feel like a walking zombie in the morning.

I only sleep about 5-6 hours every night — sometimes less if my kid wakes up screaming from a nightmare.

I don’t sleep as much as I should because I end up staying up way too late. I’m either going down a YouTube rabbit hole or binge-watching my favorite TV shows until I can barely keep my eyes open.

Ugh, why do they have to make the storylines SO GOOD that you immediately want to play the next episode???

Lack of sleep sends hunger signals to your brain. When you’re tired, starchy comfort foods become very appealing.

Most adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep. This means that sleep should be a priority because a good amount of people don’t get this much.

In an effort to start a good habit, I set a daily alarm for 10 pm as a reminder to get ready for bed.

Now, whether I choose to ignore that alarm or not is a totally different story.

It’s especially hard when you feel like nighttime is the only me-time you have. Fellow moms out there know what I’m talking about.

Nobody’s perfect

Adhering to all of these rules is a big feat. Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t following them every day.

For me, I picked a couple that I know I can easily establish as a good habit (like waiting for dessert and limiting my snacks). The others are more of a reminder to do.

Hopefully these tips will help you avoid overloading on carbs.

Which tip have you already established as a habit?