Suppressing your appetite: Some tips

One of the main hurdles of losing weight is one's own appetite. Skipping meals is a big no-no, but it is those in-between snacks that should be avoided. How can you avoid getting cravings in between your meals? Become Gorgeous lists some tips on how to suppress your appetite withour compromising your health:

1. Your body needs food in order to function properly so in no case you should avoid eating. One should eat 5 times a day; 3 regular meals and 2 snacks but if you feel that this routine doesn't really work for you, try to eat more often but eat smaller portions. Your body doesn't need big portions of food, so try a medium serving size, similar to the potions served in most restaurants. 
2. Do not skip breakfast or lunch or dinner as each of these meals are important for your body. Make sure you eat healthy foods, rich in vitamins and nutrients. Eat your vegetables and don't neglect your protein, healthy fats as well as fibers as your body needs the all in certain proportions. 
3. Drink water whenever you are feeling hungry between meals. It is recommended you drink at least 8 glasses of water every single day so try to progressively increase your daily water intake until you reach the recommended daily intake. Water is highly beneficial for the body as it helps maintain the body hydrated, it helps maintain the skins elasticity, helps flush out the toxins in the body as well as helps with the fat burning process. Water has 0 calories so you can drink as much water as you wish. 
4. Try to keep yourself occupied by doing something you love. It's usually when you have nothing to do that the sensation of hunger (even if you just ate) takes over. If you do something you love, your mind will concentrate on the thing you are doing, thus the sensation of hunger will go away. The more you think about how hungry you're getting the more hungry you'll feel, so try to control yourself. 
5. Eat foods which help suppress hunger naturally, leaving you with a sensation of fullness. These foods are apples, fish, eggs, etc. They are not foods with a high calorie content so you will be able to have that sensation of fullness without adding too many calories. 
6. Eat slowly and use small plates to "trick" your body and mind that you are actually eating more. Chew your food well so that your stomach doesn't have to do too much work in breaking down what you're eating, this way helping speed u your metabolism and the absorption of food. 

Source: Become Gorgeous

Healthy eating during the holidays

Healthy eating during the holidays

MANILA, Philippines - The holiday season is a time of celebrations, and when there is celebration, there is also food.

The food items served during Christmas parties, noche buena, and media noche are truly delectable but also, most of them, unhealthy. Most of these are fried, cream based, with cheese, oily, sweet and salty, and with processed meat, not to mention the alcoholic beverages that you are going to pair them with. In other words, they are heavily laden with fat and calories.

It's a given that these food items are irresistible, that is why weight-conscious individuals and those on the heavy side can't help sighing at those extra pounds gained after all the cheers. However, what is uglier than those bloated bellies are the health problems that may arise from your overindulgence. So it is important to monitor everything you eat if you want to stay merry long after the last of the fireworks has exploded.

Here are some tips on how to eat without the guilt during the holidays.

• Always eat a heavy but healthy breakfast. This way, you will stay filled up the whole morning and you won't be tempted to try yummy Christmas goodies before lunch.
• If you are hosting a party or preparing dinner at home on Christmas eve, make sure that you are serving a balanced meal. This includes vegetable and fruits, healthy salads, low-fat dairy products, and low-fat meat.
• In preparing your veggies, do not overcook them. Try to keep them as close to raw as possible. Do not fry them, as they are going to be soaked in oil. Boiling them will make them lose their nutrients. Steaming is the best way to cook veggies. If you want your vegetables to be tastier, instead of salt, add flavor using pepper or fresh herbs.
• For your meat, instead of serving pork, you prepare turkey and white chicken meat (breast). They are both low in fat, good for those watching their weight. However, this is not to say that dark chicken meat does not have its own health benefits. Serving fish at Christmas dinner is also recommended.
• Dairy products are not totally forbidden. You just have to make sure that you are using low-fat varieties in cooking. Examples of low-fat dairy products are Greek-style yoghurt and fromage frais. Also use less cream.

Season's Greetings!

Get more free recipes for the Holiday season.

  

 When you are attending parties and other gathering, here are some  healthy tricks.

• Do not go to a party very hungry. The hungrier you feel, the more you eat.
• Always use a small plate. This way, you will feel not guilty when you fill it up.
• If you want to try all the dishes served, eat small portions.
• Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Opt for alcoholic beverages with fewer calories such as Cosmopolitan, Bloody Mary, and Mojito.
• Drink more water/fruit juice than alcohol.
• For desserts, eat less chocolate, cheesecake, and other sweet treats. Go for fresh fruits or salads.
• Eat slowly. And when you are already full, simply stop eating.

(Sources: HealthCastle.com, Handbag.com)