How To Lose Weight While Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Hunger And Snacking

We’ve all been there.  There comes a time with most of us when we need to lose weight.  I’ve been there and back over a number of dieting methods, and seen friends and clients come and go with different fads which vary from moderately healthy to downright irresponsible and a threat to well being.  When it comes down to it, we want to lose weight, but we’d rather do it in a healthy way, with a good diet and nutrition that will help us get fit and ultimately look better.  It would also be nice if we could have our cake and eat it and avoid hunger!

The truth is, just as it says in our free “7-Secrets to Getting Fit and Losing Weight – Fast!” report , in order to lose weight you need to be in calorie deficit.  Fine, in theory. There are a number of techniques to use to help you get there.  Exercise, smaller more regular meals, good nutritional choices, the list goes on.  We know all that, but there is no getting away from the fact that if you are running in calorie deficit, from time to time, you’re going to be hungry.  And I know personally, when I get hungry and the opportunity presents itself, I will eat.  And eat, and eat.

Plan For Being Hungry

People often say that you shouldn’t go shopping when you are hungry, and when you are dieting, it is also true to say that when you are hungry, it is not the best time to make decisions about what you eat.  Now that might sound a bit daft, but it underlines the point that a diet plan will do a great deal for your chances of success when you are trying to lose weight, or even when you are looking to maintain your weight.  Meal plans are all well and good, but if you are honest you will know that that is not enough.  There will be times when you need to snack.

Putting me in front of the TV is like putting a cow in a grassy field – gotta graze!

Putting me in front of the TV is like putting a cow in a grassy field – gotta graze!

There are 2 approaches I think are useful when tackling the problem of snacking.  First of all, ask yourself when it is you are most likely to snack.  For me, it’s after dinner when I sit down with my wife to relax and watch a little TV.  Putting me in front of the TV is like putting a cow in a grassy field – gotta graze.  This is a danger zone.  If there is chocolate, cake or pie to hand, it’s going to disappear.  If you know this is part of your routine, make sure you have some healthy snacks ready – your favourite berries, a handful of almonds, or some toasted whole meal pitta to dip in some tomato salsa.

The other approach to take is that if there is an activity (or lack of activity) you do that makes you want to eat, don’t do it.  Sounds a bit simple, but when you are have a habit that you follow daily, it can be difficult to break.  Instead of sitting in front of the telly, do some stretching or a little yoga.  Go and have a soak in the tub.  Not only will these things help you recover from your fitness program, they take your mind and body away from the larder and into something else more useful instead.  If you can stay busy in the evening like this, it will allow you to go to bed slightly hungry (you don’t want to be starving), which is an ideal condition for weight loss while you sleep.

And In The Morning Burn Some More Calories!

When I wake up, I have found an early run before breakfast to be very useful when I am trying to lose weight.  The exertion before eating allows the body to burn stored fat rather than fuel you have eaten.  I also find that I am less hungry immediately after exercise, which leads to a smaller breakfast, and gets the day off to a good dietary start.  Keep the effort low to moderate, though – pushing yourself hard on an empty stomach could lead to a catabolic state where you are burning muscle rather than fat.  And don’t be tempted to skip breakfast as that is a sure-fire way to slow down your metabolism, and we don’t want that.

So there it is.  Snacking is inevitable, so make sure you make good choices before hunger strikes.  And identify areas where your will power might be at its lowest, and keep busy, after all, the devil makes work for idle hands!