by Molly Carter

Created on: August 19, 2007

"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Yep, we've all been there, but when you are trying to lost weight, it's hard to be disciplined when your stomach is growling and that box of cookies looks oh so inviting. The best way to keep on a diet is to prevent yourself from getting ravenous when we tend to throw caution to the wind and eat whatever is in front of us, and more of it.

First rule of thumb, whenever you feel a hunger pang coming on, drink a glass of water. It will take the edge off while you try and put together sensible meal option.

Second, get rid of all that junk in your cupboards. Don't buy junk food. Don't even walk down that aisle in the grocery store if you are going to be tempted. If you know you need a fix once in a while, buy a snack size bag of chips, or a pack of mini candy bars. Donate all those sugary cereals, fattening meal mixes, and boxes of cookies to a homeless shelter. Tell your family and friends to please respect your new dieting choices and don't bring candy and cookies into your house. If you outlaw temptation, all of a sudden that nectarine will look rather tasty next time you get hungry.

Third, start looking at the fiber content in what you are eating. Fiber that is insoluble fills you up, and passes right through you without your body hanging on to extra fat and calories. Make a goal to reach the 100% daily recommended dose of fiber. Snack on a bag of light popcorn or an apple to keep you going strong till your next meal. At dinner, use whole wheat pasta. A 2 oz serving has 20% of the daily recommended serving of fiber as opposed to regular noodles which have only a quarter of that. Add a spoon full of a fiber supplement to your morning coffee.

Eat complex carbohydrates and lean proteins. Lean proteins are low in calories and fill you up. Have a chicken breast on your salad, or scramble eggs for dinner. Remove the yolk of just one of the eggs in your egg salad sandwich and you take away 5 grams of fat. Forget about sugary boxed foods with high sugar content. They may satisfy you for the moment, but when the sugar buzz wears off you are left hungry again.

Stock your fridge with fresh fruits and vegetables. A good idea is to clean all your produce right when you get home. Cut the vegetables up so when you are in a hurry or starving after a long day they are accessible and easy to eat. Buy almonds and dried fruit for a snack. Try a low fat protein shake and add fiber to it for in between meals.

Losing weight can be exhausting, but it's all about lifestyle choices and changes. If you like cookies, try substituting half sugar and half splenda into the recipe. Mix in whole wheat flour instead of white. Use half butter and half apple sauce to reduce fat content. Experiment with fruit smoothies, or buy a juicer and zap up some smoothies with fresh veggies in the kitchen.

Dieting can be an adventure in the kitchen so find what works for you and what tastes good. As long as you are satisfying your palette, you can and will maintain your diet. If you feel like you are depriving yourself, you'll star to fall off the wagon. So, have fun!

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