How to Stay in Control of Your Hunger

There are obviously 2 main aspects that determine whether your weight goes up, remains stable or comes down - the amount of kilojoules entering your body and the amount you burn.

If you can gain better control of your appetite to reduce the kilojoules going into your body, then you've largely won the battle.

Controlling hunger isn't just determined by how much you eat, but by the content and quality of what you eat, as well as other factors. Here are some key points:

1. Protein Staves Off Hunger.

Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates. The satiating effects of protein are primarily physiological (through influences on, among other things, hormones in your digestive tract that signal fullness) but there are sensory influences – the taste and texture of protein-rich foods tend to promote a feeling of fullness, too.

2.Fill Up with Fibre.

Fibre helps with appetite control in a number of ways. First, fibre makes foods more bulky: high-fibre foods, like vegetables and fruits, take up a fair amount of room in your stomach so they fill you up, but at a relatively low calorie cost. Fibre also takes a while to digest, so it slows the rate at which foods leave your stomach. And, soluble fibres (found in foods like apples, barley, beans and oats) thicken up once they hit your stomach – and that can also contribute to a feeling of fullness.

3. Healthy Snacks to Keep Your Metabolism Revving

Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are the times when you are most likely to feel hungry and maybe experience a temporary energy drop. Don't ignore the hunger. Just have a healthy snack like a piece of fruit or a protein snack, not a chocolate bar or some other unhealthy option from the vending machine. This will ensure your metabolism doesn't slow.

4. Water - Don't Mistake Thirst for Hunger

Not having sufficient water can fool your body into thinking that you're hungry, when you're actually thirsty. 8 glasses a day is generally recommended. Coffee doesn't count as water and can actually have the reverse effect, so you may need to have additional water to compensate. When you start to feel a bit hungry, have a large glass of water and see how you feel.

Related Herbalife Products

Herbalife Weight Loss Programmes incorporate these factors to assist you to lose weight effectively. Find out more on our Weight Loss Programmes page.