Tips on How to Manage Hunger

I don't know about you all, but the minute I tell myself I am going to eat healthier my mind starts playing tricks on me. One prime example of this was the first day I started the Ultimate Reset Cleanse. It was like every commercial that came on television I was craving whatever it was they were selling. I wanted dorito tacos, candy bars, cheesy fries....everything and all at once. I am writing this post to provide you with some useful tips that keeps YOU in charge and not the mind games. 

Tip #1- Don't Skip Meals!

Back in the day I use to think that skipping meals was actually helping me lose weight....WRONG! Skipping meals is not good! It can actually really affect your weight loss progress. When you eat a meal, your metabolism works hard to break down what you ate. I am sure you have all heard people say to a skinny person, "You must have a fast metabolism" ? If you haven't keep your ears open I'm sure you will eventually. Those people are right! Your metabolism is involved in a very complex set of physical and chemical reactions that regulate food usage and storage. Having a fast metabolism refers to turning food into fuel optimally. So basically this means you don't want a slow metabolism when you are trying to maintain or lose weight. Skipping meals slows down your metabolism because with no food to break down it has nothing to do! Not to mention when you skip a meal you will just get more and more hungry which will ultimately cause you to make rash unhealthy decisions because you are in a "hangry" state. 

Tip #2- Drink Water!

You should be drinking AT LEAST half of your body weight in ounces of water per day. Know that feeling you get in your stomach when you are hungry? Did you know that it could be due to thirst? Often times we mistake thirst for hunger. Next time you have that feeling in your stomach go and drink an 8 ounce glass of water. Then wait 10-15 minutes. If you are still feeling hungry then you really are, but most likely you will have lost that feeling. 

Tip #3- Have a Plan!

Stay ahead of the hunger game and have a plan in place. If you have all of your meals for the day planned and ready to go, you will never be caught in a "hangry" situation. When you aren't prepared it is easy to get stuck in a situation where you are forced to make bad, unhealthy choices. I schedule time frames for when I will eat each meal so I always know when the next one is coming up. I eat 5-6 times a day and usually eat every 2-3 hours. This is how I make sure that I never find myself hangry. Want to know what a days worth of meals looks like for me? Click here. Worst case scenario, hide protein bars, or nuts in your purse or car for those times when you are really stuck. 

Tip #4- Enjoy Your Food!

Before you dive into your meal take a deep breath and remind yourself to take one bite at a time, eat slowly and enjoy your meal. Doing this will not only help you enjoy the taste of the food you are eating, but it also gives your stomach time to catch up with your brain. Many of us eat with our eyes...I am a culprit of this. We continue to eat because something looks good, and ignore the fact that our stomach is telling us we are no longer hungry. Pay attention to what your body is telling you, and recognize when you are full. If you are out to dinner or with guests try focusing on the conversation and take bites in between. 

Hope these tips help to manage your hunger! If you find that you need some accountability and support to help you with your health and fitness journey, message me at Messina1892@gmail.com to join one of my upcoming challenge groups! If you are looking for some clean eating recipe ideas to add to your plan, check out my recipe page.