How to beat the feeling of hunger while trying to lose weight.

Hunger can be a reality on a weight loss program and the regulation of hunger is a complicated process. It involves interaction hormones that are produced in different areas of your body, like the stomach and fat cells, which send signals to your brain and tell you to eat. If not managed effectively, it can lead to cravings, uncontrollable food intake and an increase on the scale.

When dealing with your hunger, it is important to make the distinction between physiological hunger and psychological hunger. Physiologically, hunger can be the result of fluctuating blood sugar levels or an increase in stress. Another cause might be eating foods that don’t sit in your stomach long enough. Psychologically, it can be due to boredom or feeling down or depressed. When figuring out how to deal with your hunger, it is important to understand that people eat for all sorts of reasons. Dealing with hunger can involve modifying your behaviour as well as the types of food you eat.

Here are 4 simple ways to deal with your hunger on the U Weight Loss program:

1. Increase your protein intake

There are numerous studies done to support the fact that protein helps to decrease hunger. In addition, high intakes of protein can help to regulate your blood sugar levels and fluctuating blood sugar levels are also implicated in increased hunger.

2. Increase your fiber intake

Stretching of the stomach is one of many signals that tell your brain how much food has been eaten. When your stomach is stretched, your brain thinks you’re full. High-fiber / high-volume foods accomplish that most effectively. Fiber also slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach. By keeping foods in the stomach longer, high-fiber foods make you fuller and more satisfied after a meal. An easy way to accomplish this is eating Freedom Foods with your meals or between meals.
*Ask your U Weight Loss Health Coach for a complete list of Freedom Foods that you can enjoy.

3. Increase water intake

There’s no doubt that liquids in the stomach make you feel full and water is no exception. Staying hydrated has many benefits, but one important thing about drinking water is that it offers zero calories. Drinking in between meals can help ward off your hunger – at least temporarily – until your next meal.

4. Eat more frequently

A big trigger for hunger is low blood sugar levels. Eating more frequently can help keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day. If you find that you’re hungry, eating every 3 hours may make a difference. This can involve splitting your snack, lunch or dinner into two, or eating Freedom Foods between meals.