Eat Less Without Being Hungry

There is one thumb rule for losing weight fast; eat a little less than you can and exercise a little more than you want to. However, the trouble is that none of us like to eat less. We all admit that we have to eat less to lose weight but we don't get down to doing it. Hunger is often more emotional than actual requirement for food.

For example, if a bowl of boiled bitter gourd is placed in front of you, you would eat less and still feel full. But when you see a bowl full of French fries, your hunger becomes insatiable. So when we tell you to eat less to lose weight, it is not so that you can starve. Instead, you must learn to control your emotional hunger.

When you go on a diet you have to eat less in terms of portions and more number of times. Your total calories intake needs to come down to lose weight and thus you must eat less. When you 'feel' that you have eaten less, you experience hunger pangs. To satisfy your hunger pangs you often end up overcompensating by eating all the wrong things.

Here are some easy ways to eat less and still control those terrible hunger pangs.

Drink Water

Drink Water

Drink 2 glasses of water just 10 minutes before your meal. You can also drink water whenever you feel hungry. Water fills your belly, and thus cools the fires of hunger.

Take Power Naps

Take Power Naps

Often hunger makes you anxious and restless. You can control your racking nerves and then take short 5 to 10 minute power naps.

Eat Fresh Veggies

Eat Fresh Veggies

Eat fresh food. Fresh vegetables contain lots of water in them. More fluid content means that fresh food are always more filling and lower in calories.

Don't Skip Breakfast

Don't Skip Breakfast

Rule of eating less does not apply to your breakfast. You must have a healthy breakfast that allows you to eat less for the rest of the day.

Eat Slowly

Eat Slowly

When you eat slowly, it gives you the feeling of being full quickly. So even if you are having small portions of food for a long time, it will help avoid hunger pangs.

Increase Fibre Intake

Increase Fibre Intake

If you want to lose weight, your goal is to cut out on carbs and fats but not go hungry. Then have foods rich in fibre that fill your stomach but don't add to the calories.

Chew Gum

Chew Gum

Cows often keep chewing even after they finish eating. This is called masticating and it has the psychological advantage of making you feel full. Humans can take this tip from cows and chew gum in between meals.

Don't Have Sweets

Don't Have Sweets

Many people swallow sugar cubes to satiate hunger. But sugar and sweets only satiate you for a short while. After the initial 'high' is gone, your body craves for more sugar.

Snack On Eggs

Snack On Eggs

If you want the most perfect snack ever, then it would have to be eggs. Eggs are low on calories, high on proteins and nutrients. Most importantly, eggs are delicious and filling too.

Be Busy

Be Busy

Sometimes when we are engrossed in work, we even forget to drink water. So when you divert your mind towards work, then you will not feel hunger pangs or cravings.

Eat Small Meals Frequently

Eat Small Meals Frequently

Even when you are eating less, you can break down your meals into smaller portions. If you take 2 bites from an apple every 15 minutes, you will obviously feel full in an hour.

Chuck Caffeine And Nicotine

Chuck Caffeine And Nicotine

Many people drink coffee and smoke cigarettes to kill hunger. But both these chemicals are bad for health. They dehydrate your body and eventually you end up overeating once the effect of the nicotine or caffeine wears off.

Story first published: Friday, April 5, 2013, 19:33 [IST]
Read more about: weight loss diet health