Keep Your Appetite in Check

Courtesy of TheBestLife.com
One of the toughest obstacles people face when trying to lose weight is learning how to control their appetite. The great thing about the Best Life Diet is that many of the healthy habits you'll adopt on the plan offer the extra benefit of helping to keep a lid on hunger. Check out the appetite-quelling effects of these moves:

Getting moving. Activity, like eating, helps produce pleasure-inducing brain chemicals called endorphins. So, you can get the same mood-lifting effect from exercise as you would from eating.

Avoiding junk food. Some experts suspect that foods packed with sugar or fat can disrupt the signals that help regulate your appetite. Loading up on fruit, veggies, whole grains and lean protein sources instead will help balance your body's hunger-satiety network.

Filling up on fiber. Fiber can't be digested by the body, so it stays with you longer, helping you feel full. Research also shows that fiber helps slow digestion so your blood sugar level stays elevated. This may help delay the release of some of the hormones that tell your body to eat again. Women should be aiming for 25 grams of fiber per day; men should consume 38 grams.

Getting enough water. Eating water-rich foods, such as veggies and broth-based soups, can help you feel fuller on fewer calories, according to research from Pennsylvania State University in University Park. In fact, studies suggest that water drinkers consume 200 fewer calories per day than those who skip sipping.

Eating regularly. Having three meals and a snack or two each day prevents drops in blood sugar, which can lead to you feeling overly hungry and making poor food decisions. Skimping on meals--or skipping them altogether--does nothing to help your appetite.

Dealing with emotional issues. If you address the emotional issues that can trigger eating (like stress or loneliness), you'll find that you just don't have the need to turn to food anymore.

Logging enough shut-eye. Several studies have revealed a link between sleep and obesity. Experts say getting enough sleep can help prevent any disruption...

To read on and get more great weight-loss advice, join Bob Greene's The Best Life Diet. You'll get access to our interactive food and activity log, meal plans, hundreds of recipes, and much more.