Weight Loss - 3 Tips to Trick Your Body

As any dieter knows, hunger and habits can cause failure to the best of plans. A few minor changes in eating habits can have big payoffs.

1.Use helpful beverages. Next time you feel hungry and it's not meal time or snack time, use filling non-caloric drinks like a hot herbal tea, a cold sugar free green or white tea, or a calorie free carbonated water. You can also drink a small glass of tomato juice with a dash of Tabasco sauce. All of these items give you a temporary sensation of being full, and usually help you hold out until meal time.

2.Make friends with your hunger. Most of us live stressful lives. Instinctively we are driven to reach for food anytime we feel hungry. Since we don't have to hunt or gather our next meal, we gain weight if we respond to every impulse. Next time you feel a bit of hunger take a few deep breaths. Too often people use food like a sedative. We feel hungry and reach for food when we may just be anxious. If you feel hungry and it's not meal time close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Many times your hunger will disappear. If you still feel hungry after a few deep breaths and you're eating enough calories for safe weight loss, remind yourself you're not going to die. Allow your hunger to exist. A slight discomfort can be good for us. Reflect on how marvelous it is to have a body that is so amazing.

3.Observe, and then avoid trigger foods. I love ice cream! Most people, including dieticians tell me it's ok to have a small portion of ice cream once in awhile. However, if I have a small portion of ice cream on Sunday, I'll want one on Monday, then Tuesday. By Wednesday I'll want a bigger bowl. In the long run it's easiest if I just avoid foods that create cravings. Some people have found that caffeine can cause them to crave dairy or more carbohydrates. Other people have found red meat causes them to crave sweets. Next time you find yourself overeating look at what you are eating and think about what you've eating in the past 24 hours. Begin to look for patterns. Once you know the foods that "trigger" over eating avoid them. Don't tell yourself you can never have them again, but rather remind yourself that "If I eat it today, I'll want it tomorrow and the day after that". It's easiest just to avoid that food today.

By incorporating these changes into your lifestyle you may find you lose weight without dieting.