The Brunette Diaries

Tricks to stop night snacking

Most weight watchers have this problem of late night food indulgences that they cannot control. It throws diet out the window and leaves them feeling guilty about their diet plans which they strictly kept up to until the late night splurge. Here are a few tricks and tips to stay away from late night snacking and keep the diet in control:

Distract yourself

Thinking about food alone can induce hunger pangs. To beat this unhealthy late night snacking habit, you will have to begin by replacing your food thoughts with other thoughts. Distract yourself by reading a book or playing some video games until you fall asleep. You could also try calling a friend or taking a warm bath, which will help you sleep better.

Delay dinner

Delaying dinner will help you stay full for longer time and won’t allow you to binge on more food later in the night. Early dinner may make you feel hungry by bedtime and you may end up binging on the wrong type of food when you are hungry that late.

Brush your teeth

Not only will brushing your teeth keep your teeth healthy but it will also keep you from eating anything more. It is the ‘clean mouth’ feeling that will keep you from succumbing to your cravings for junk food.

Include fibre and protein to your dinner

Having fibre and protein in your dinner will help you feel satiated for a longer period of time. This will help you eliminate the habit of late night binging.

If you still have these late night cravings, then go in for a low calorie alternative that you will not feel guilty about.

Tips To Resist Junk Food

That constant struggle between fitness and fatness can get you really frustrated! The war of junk food cravings over health is one that almost everybody fights. If you do have certain fitness goals to achieve, it is important to abstain from, or reduce the intake of junk food, but at times the cravings seem too strong. Here’s how you can resist it.

(Also read – Super foods that help you lose weight)

Determine your weakness

A particular food may be your weakness. Figure out what it may be. For instance, I have a weakness for two-minute noodles. Figure out what is your junk food favourite and it will be easier to abstain from it.

(Also read – How to resist the urge of eating junk food)

Find your triggers

It is important to figure out what triggers you to indulge into junk food. The triggers may range from depression, boredom to medical conditions. Try to list down what exactly is your trigger, and if needed consult a doctor. You can also stay away from these triggers by keeping yourself busy.

Find replacements

If you frequently have a craving for a particular food, consider replacing that food with a healthier alternative that is quite similar. For example, if you love sweets, try indulging in mango, which is a healthier alternative and may be equally tasty.

(Also read – Food that influences your weight)

Eat regularly

Another way to stay away from junk food is by eating healthy regularly. By doing this, you don’t leave space for unnecessary binging, which involves junk food, usually. Plan smaller meals, probably 5-6 a day, instead of the usual 3 meals a day.

Half size your portion if you indulge

If you do indulge, try making the portions of your junk food lesser. Only take a few bites of your dessert, or share your dessert or meal with a friend or partner. You can even try eating it slowly so that the brain is satiated.

(Also read – Are you obsessive about healthy food?)

Exercise

Exercising will make you feel guilty to indulge in junk food. This is because you are putting in effort to lose weight. Exercise can balance blood sugar levels and ease your digestion as well.

Eat smart for easy weight loss

To lose those extra kilos, you do not have to starve yourself! Choose your food smartly and you will succeed. Here’s how you eat smart for easy weight loss.

Eat only because you are hungry

For everyone in this world, devouring a yummy chocolate is a sure-shot way of feeling good and overcoming that occasional gloom. But in that process, you tend to gather a lot of unwanted calories. Similarly, munching on chips or cheesy butter popcorn while watching a movie, also adds on to those tyres and baggy limbs. Thus, there is a difference between craving and feeling genuinely hungry. No, we’re not saying don’t give in to temptations. All that we are saying is, control your portions when it comes to craving. How? Have not more than a bite or two; and make these ‘bites’ last longer by eating extremely slowly and allowing your brain to register the taste and feel satiated.

Give in to your cravings, but control the portions

Downsize!

Downsize the shape and size of the plates you eat your food in. This will ensure a control in the portions you take. Keep a check on the number of meals you eat in a day. Break your daily intake over five-six small meals in a day rather than the usual three large meals.

Don’t overload your plate… and your tummy

Eating out

If you are dining out, opt for a smaller portion. Sharing or taking the food back home is a better idea, if you can’t avoid taking a small portion. Another way could be beginning your dinner with a non-creamy soup. Soups are delicious and filling, and will help you feel full sooner during the calorie-loaded main course. Buffets and unlimited thalis (repeat of dishes) are a complete no-no, as you tend to gorge on food to make full use of the money paid for it.

Don’t let the abundant spread at a buffet ruin your diet plan

Eat smart!

Watching what you eat is the easiest way to get rid of your dreaded muffin top. Avoiding oily stuff is the biggest key to weight loss. Ditto potatoes. If rice is the staple food in your household, then boil it and completely drain out the starchy water; this method of cooking rice is healthier than cooking it in a pressure cooker. Eating burgers and sandwiches sans butter and cheese also helps in avoiding extra calories. Pizzas and pastas should be strictly avoided. Your day should start with eating a healthy breakfast under 350 calories. Try and consume fat-burning food as they keep a check on your appetite, keep you from feeling famished and work on lowering the fat count in your body. Whenever you feel hungry between meals, munch on dry fruits and nuts as they make you feel full and also strengthen your muscles. Avoid the yellow and use only the whites in eggs. Use honey as sweetener in lieu of sugar. Guzzle down a mug of warm water before your lunch and dinner, as this will help you feel full faster.

Avoid oily food like these… and of course, potato!

All these are smart choices that can help you stay fit even when you are on-the-go. We wish you happy shedding of those last few extra kilos. All the best!