How to Control Food Cravings and Suppress Appetite Safely

Although exercise is important in keeping your body fit and your heart healthy, it may not be the best way to help you lose weight fast. If you want to see the numbers on a weighing scale go down fast, you better start lessening the number of calories that you eat.

Since cravings for unhealthy foods such as pastries, chocolate bars and tons of ice cream are heard to fight, you better find a way to curb or control your appetite if you want to eat less. Fortunately for dieters like you, there are various ways of keeping your appetite and food cravings under control naturally. Here are some of them:

Plan Ahead

Planning goes a long way, not only when it comes to your work, but also with regard to eating less. If you have no idea what you will be eating for lunch or dinner, there is a big chance that you will act on your desires when the time comes for you to choose what you are going to eat. It is quite difficult to resist the call of fried chicken if your stomach is growling for food and your mind is still at a loss on what to pick for dinner. In order to prevent situations wherein you give in to your gluttonous desires, you have to know exactly what you have to eat and where you are going to get that food. In fact, it would be better if you prepare them in advance.

Let There Be Light

Another way to prevent yourself from wolfing down a whole piece of cake or 10 slices of pizza is to eat in a well-lighted room. If you can see what you are eating, you will be more conscious of how much food you are shoving up your mouth. However, in the dark, you can do anything without the guilt. Nobody knows, not even you, that you have already finished the whole turkey in one sitting if you eat in the dark.

Fiber Up

You may already know that fiber is important in helping to clean up the colon and get rid of wastes and toxins inside the gut. However, another reason why you need to eat a lot of fiber is that it is good in absorbing water. Thus, fiber helps expand your stomach, making you think that you are already full.

Go Protein

Aside from helping bulk up your muscles, eating more protein than carbohydrates and fat can help control your appetite a bit. Protein is generally harder to digest, so you will feel full longer. However, be sure to pick good sources of protein, such as fish, chicken, nuts and other fresh produce.

Hit The Sack

Numerous studies have shown that there is a direct link between sleep and appetite. Sleep deprivation usually creates an imbalance in two types of hormones. One is leptin, a hormone that is responsible for lessening appetite. And the other is ghrelin, a hormone that is responsible for boosting appetite. People who usually skip sleep end up having more food cravings than people who have the right amount of sleep. This may also be the reason why people who are unable to sleep restfully have increased risk of being overweight or obese and having type-2 or adult-onset diabetes.

Trick Your Mind

Another way to successfully lessen your appetite is by playing mind games. Since studies show that the color blue curbs the appetite, you may want to paint your dining room blue. You can also use plates or placemats that are blue. Using smaller plates can also make you think that you have eaten a lot even if you just had a few servings. Lastly, light up a candle or wear a perfume before you eat so that your mind will get distracted from the smell of food.

Although all of the above steps are helpful, the easiest and fastest way to control your appetite is by taking a natural-based appetite suppressant. One product you might want to consider is Phenocal, which not only helps curb appetite but boosts metabolism as well. For more information about how Phenocal can help you lose weight, simply log on to http://www.phenocal.com/.