Unless other health problems complicate your weight loss journey, cutting calories down to a suitable deficit is one of the best ways to lose pounds at a reasonable rate. Unfortunately, cutting calories also tends to feel like torture unless you change other aspects of your diet and habits too. Luckily, you can take the following measures to mitigate the stomach grumbling and cravings that come with reduced caloric intake.
Increase Fluid Intake
If you fill up your stomach with water or other no calorie drinks, your belly will not feel so empty between meals. Drinking water also helps your body let go over the water weight that often accumulates in response to slight dehydration. As a result, you may see the pounds melt off even faster than before. As an added benefit, staying hydrated can improve the look of your skin and increase energy levels considerably. Keep a full 32 ounce jug of water near you at all times throughout the day to make the transition feel natural. Consume between 64 to 128 ounces of water a day for the best results.
Ramp Up Fiber
Eating foods full of fiber will make meals feel more satisfying and keep your belly full for much longer than less dense ingredients. Vegetables provide the most fiber for the least calories. Try to incorporate broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens and Brussels sprouts into every meal. You can eat the vegetables raw, steamed, boiled or baked. If you do not love the taste of vegetables, increase their taste profile by topping them with your favorite seasoning, mustard or dressing. For example, spicy mustard goes really well with a cup or two of fresh broccoli.
Decrease Sugar
Eating sugar makes you crave more sugar, even after eating a full meal. Although cookies, cakes and candy are the worst offenders, sugar in the form of carbohydrates can have the same effect. If you notice that your sugar cravings are out of control, cut carbs out of your diet for a week or two. You may notice that the lack of carbs makes it way easier to stick to your daily calorie limit without feeling deprived. Watch out for hidden sugar or carbs in sauces, wheat products and root vegetables as well.
Track Meals Ahead of Time
If you sit down each morning and input your meals for the day, you may find your diet easier to stick to throughout the day. By planning your meals and snacks, you can avoid grabbing too many servings or the wrong types of food. You can also incorporate exercise into your daily plan and eat 1/2 of the calories burned if you feel famished that day.
Getting The Most Out Of Your Diet
Changing your mindset and eating habits will help you stick to a weight loss plan for life. Even after reaching your goal weight, you need to maintain healthy eating habits to keep the pounds off. Otherwise, you will quickly balloon back up to your starting weight, negating all of the hard work that went into losing the pounds in the first place.
