Mindful Eating Allows You to Enjoy Food

The belief that you have to be hungry to lose weight is self-defeating and this approach causes you to be pre-occupied by feelings of hunger and weight gain is the more likely outcome of believing in such a misplaced strategy. When you are confronted with physical or emotional stress, you brain signals your body to shut down appetite to preserve your resources, but as cortisol hormone is released hunger will begin to increase and starts to rise as chronic stress sets in. If you let your appetite get carried away, there is a tendency to wolf down the food. Unfortunately, when you eat too fast, your body doesn’t have enough time to signal the brain to release fullness hormones and you are left feeling painfully full. Feeling hungry when it is time to eat and eating your food slowly will allow your meal to be much more satisfying. Always remind yourself to slow down and appreciate every bite of the food you are consuming.

Not all foods satisfy hunger equally. Craving carbs is often a creation of appetite and not true hunger. Both protein and healthy sources of fats tend to keep you feeling full for longer. Try applying the eating tips discussed below:

• Mindful Eating – It is easy to fall into the habit of rushing through your meals or constantly eating on the go, but mindful eating means you should make it a practice to sit down and take time for meals. That way you enjoy the foods you eat.
• Eat at Mealtime – Saying you don’t eat breakfast because you aren’t hungry may not be true. Dietitians suspect people train their body to not release hunger signals only to overeat at other meals because they feel famished.
• Add Good Fats – Fat is an important part of a healthy diet. Rather than adopting a no-fat diet, focus on eating more good fats and limiting or eliminating harmful fats. You will feel a lot more satisfied.
• Don’t Ignore Cravings – When you are losing weight, it is important to understand that you are going to be hungry, especially as mealtime approaches. Drink a glass of water before eating a craved food to satisfy your appetite.
• Drink More Fluids – Studies have shown that starting your day with a big glass of water can actually help to prevent hunger to help you manage your overall calorie consumption throughout the day.

Losing weight is difficult for many people but it can be even more challenging to keep the weight off over time. A major drop in daily calories can trigger the body to slow metabolism making it more difficult to maintain weight loss going forward. When your body adjusts to a lower rate of burning calories, it can make it easier to regain the weight you lost once you start eating normally. That’s why it is important to adopt a menu plan that is sustainable and avoid quick weight loss.

You know that starving yourself is not the answer to losing weight and keeping it off. That’s why crash dieting has a negative effect on nutrition intake and may cause you to lose more muscle than unwanted fat deposits. If you are experiencing unbearable hunger, weight regain is inevitable. Before you start your weight loss journey, contact the specialists at Metabolic Research Center to learn more about a personalized menu plan designed specifically for your body.