Stay Well Hydrated to Manage Hunger Pangs

If you are trying to lose weight, managing your appetite often starts with a review of your eating habits. Even simple things like going to bed on time can prevent appetite spikes suggesting you need to eat again before a later bedtime. A spike in appetite may not be due to hunger at all. When you are feeling stressed or bored, one of the first responses is to stare blindly into the refrigerator or pantry even though your body doesn’t really need extra fuel.

For most people, it easy for their appetite to cause them to eat more than is required to satisfy their hunger, and with today’s larger portion sizes, both can be detrimental to losing weight. When you opt for water-filled fiber-rich foods, it can fill you up with fewer calories consumed. Your appetite is always there whether you are actually hungry, thirsty, or just bored. Drinking enough water during the day and planning for a healthy snack can allow you to control how much you eat.

Being conscious of your food intake each day can help you maintain your goal weight by keeping you aware of how much you have eaten. Try these proven tips for better weight control:

• Eat Regular Meals – Experts say ghrelin hormone rises around the time your body is expecting you to eat. Eating regular meals packed with balanced nutrients can stabilize hormone production and release. Healthy snacks during the day can help you manage emotional cravings.
• Stay Well Hydrated – Water keeps you hydrated and is one of the best fluids to consume to flush out toxins that may have taken up residence in your system. It can help you manage appetite and hunger sensations.
• Pick Healthy Snacks – Snacking is a must when you’re trying to shed pounds and keep them off. A healthy snack with hunger-fighting ingredients can get you from one meal to the next without a grumbling stomach.
• Be a Smart Shopper – Creating a grocery list before you go to the store can help you avoid reaching for something that will result in weight gain. So, avoid certain sections and stick to your shopping list.
• Stop Eating When Full – Since it is often difficult to distinguish hunger from thirst, it is important that you learn how to recognize real hunger signals. Eat slowly and stop eating when you first notice signs of feeling full. This is crucial to avoid rebound overeating after losing weight.

Unless you drink plenty of water and optimize your meals by adding protein and fiber, you are likely going to find yourself in a losing battle with your appetite. Even when you are not really hunger, your appetite can cause you to crave more food. The hard truth is that many attempts to lose weight and keep it off will fail. This doesn’t mean you are a failure. To find what works for you, takes a commitment to understanding the countless ways that didn’t work.

Keeping extra weight off takes effort and commitment, just as losing the weight in the first place did. Permanent weight loss goals can be reached by implementing a combination of changes in dietary intake, eating habits, and exercise. It is important to remember that just because you’re losing weight it doesn’t mean you are eating a balanced and nutritious diet. For long-term weight management, contact a weight loss specialist at Metabolic Research Center for a sustainable menu plan.