A hungry, rumbling tummy can happen at the worst possible time, leaving us to run to foods that may not always be healthy. Why do some people seem hungry more often than others? It’s possible there are nutrition gaps in your daily diet. Feeling famished can also be enhanced by stress, bad habits and fatigue. There are many things you can do to tame the hunger and eat food for energy, and not just fill your stomach to barely get yourself by nutritionally.
Hydrate
Many times our bodies are not really hungry, but dehydrated. When hunger pains begin, drink an 8 ounce glass of water and wait about 10-15 minutes. If hunger pains persist, have a small snack with a bit more water. The key is that when the body is hydrated, it performs better, burns calories better and you will feel less hungry as often.
Take a Nap
Human bodies do not metabolize very well after a poor nights rest. Lack of good sleep also can disrupt our hormone levels, which can cause us to eat more than we should and cause cravings for junk food. Be sure that you are getting enough rest at night, and if you need a nap, take one!
Plan Meals Around Workouts
Ever get that killer hunger pain after a good workout? Don’t sabotage that workout with bad food, especially right after a bout on the treadmill. Instead, plan a meal an hour before your workout that is high in protein and energy foods. The result will be a good work out that gives you an energy boost as will as producing adrenaline to keep the hunger pains in check!
Eat Breakfast and Eat Protein
It’s absolutely true that the best thing you can do on any diet is to eat a good breakfast. Eating a bit of protein in the morning, which takes longer to digest, will stave off the hunger until lunch. Getting a good start on the day diet wise will keep you from making bad choices throughout the day and keeps the hunger hormone ghrelin at bay.
Tame Those Emotions
We all know the toll that stress and fatigue can take on a body. Boredom and loneliness can also trigger cravings for an instant treat. These emotions can lead to overeating and emotional eating, both which are saboteurs of eating healthy. It’s important to stay active, not just physically, but mentally as well. Family and friends, hobbies and rest and relaxation time are important elements in the quest for keeping hunger, and the stress that causes it away.
Eat Regularly
Keeping a regular meal schedule is an obvious way to keep the hunger pains away. Three healthy meals a day will easily keep us satisfied and in shape, but it’s not always easy to get them all in in one day. Keeping on a regular schedule helps the body to metabolize properly and provide the energy from food we need.
Being self aware and knowing when hunger affects you more often is important. Keep track throughout the day to see when you are hungry outside of regular meal times, and note any possible triggers for that hunger. Knowing when hunger will come and how to stave it off is a great weapon to have on the way to eating healthy!
