9 Tips For Dealing With Hunger When Dieting

The largest reason that most people cheat on their diets (or give up on the diets completely) is that, quite simply put, they feel hungry! Constantly feeling hungry is annoying when it only lasts for a day. When it lasts for several weeks, however, it can feel like torture—which is why many people give in and cheat on their diets. Of course, there are some things you can do to keep those hunger pains at bay. Here are a few tips to keep from feeling hungry all the time while you are dieting:

1. Don't skip breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of your day and if you skip it, you'll be swimming in cravings and mood swings by the middle of your morning. If you eat a breakfast with complex carbohydrates and low fat proteins, you will be less likely to feel a "snack attack."

2. Plan ahead. If you know that you can't resist having a snack or two during the day, make sure that you keep some snacks with you! Keep these snacks low in calories and have plenty of water on hand all day long to keep you feeling full.

3. Include some fat. Yes, that's right. Your body actually does need to consume a little bit of fat each day to stay healthy. The trick is to choose healthy fats like the fats contained in olive oil. People who live in the Mediterranean cook with olive oil most of the time and they are famous for their low rates of heart disease and obesity.

4. Pay attention. Learn when you feel the most hungry during the day and plan your snacks and your meals around those times. If, for example, you know that you are likely to cave in to your hunger in the late afternoon, schedule a small snack for that time and drink plenty of water to help you feel full.

5. Don't Fast. When you drastically cut your calories, your body goes into preservation mode and slows down your metabolism. When your metabolism is slow, it takes longer to process the foods you eat, making it harder to lose weight.

6. Several Small Meals are Better than a Few Large Ones. Experts have proven that eating small amounts frequently throughout the day is actually healthier than forcing yourself to only eat a few large meals. Even better, this can go a long way to keeping you on your diet. Eat a few servings of low calorie foods throughout your day like salads and other vegetable snacks (broccoli or cauliflower for example)!

7. Limit Your Simple Carbohydrates. The complex carbohydrates contained in things like bread and pasta are good for you and give you energy. The simple carbohydrates contained in foods like cakes, donuts and most junk foods only raise your blood sugar levels, which have a tendency to crash quickly. This can lead to mood swings, jittery feelings and an insatiable need for a real snack.

8. Get Enough Protein. There are scientific studies that prove protein helps people feel full for longer periods of time than carbohydrates do (but don’t cut out the complex carbs).

9. Complex Carbs are Important. Complex carbohydrates are important because they provide your body with energy. Eating some complex carbohydrates between thirty and sixty minutes before you work out can help you keep your energy levels high enough for a proper workout routine.