I’m pudgy. We are all aware of that by now, right? And as a pudgy individual, I am constantly on the look out for things that will make me less pudgy and appease my wicked doctor, who insists that two double cheeseburgers is not a good breakfast.

And with a fall season that, based on the weather as of late, is sure to be packed with days that are suitable for nothing more than staying in and packing on more pudge. I am really trying to find some answers and motivations to help me get healthy or at least not become so overweight that I can’t fit through my doorway.

So, I come across this article from reader’s digest on the internet entitled “8 Weight Loss Secrets From Around the World.” There are actually some tips that really didn’t occur to me that I may consider, or at least alter to adequately suit my needs as an aspiring non-pudgy person.

One, the article suggests, “when you’re eating, just eat.” It makes interesting points about how eating isn’t an errand and that in other cultures like Japan and France, to be eating and doing something else is actually rude. You should also focus on your meals because, while multi-tasking, people tend to overeat without even realizing it. So, focus on my food. That I can do.

Two—and my doctor will love this one—“stop eating before you’re full.” This is an obvious goal because overeating simply stretches the stomach and makes it harder to feel satisfied at future meals. So, the article suggests eating until you feel about 80% full. My main issue with that is if I order a 20-piece McNuggets and only eat 16, what’s to become of those other four orphan McNuggets? I won’t break up a family that way.

Three, “chow down only when you’re hungry.” The article states that most Americans do a lot of eating for many other reasons than hunger. Everything from stress to the boredom of tonight’s episode of The Office being a rerun is an excuse for us to slam some buffalo wings. But, since I’m always hungry, if the article says I eat only when hungry…will do.

And the last point of interest to me from the article was “dine with others.” And the reasoning here is that dining with others makes you want to exercise some restraint, so you eat less. (No need for everyone to know I can put an entire chicken in my mouth.) For me, eating with others has another effect that is slimming: the gross factor. I never want to eat again when I see one of my friends tearing through a green salad and getting enough spinach in their teeth to start a garden or watching the carnage of my sister ripping through a pile of crablegs. Two minutes of witnessing either of those occurrences at a meal, and I am well on my way to dieting.

The fight to achieve good health is one that I’m likely to lose, but, the fact that I read such an article in its entirety is an indication that I’m still trying. Maybe enough of these good habit suggestions will sink in before the pudge completely wins the battle.