HOW TO CONTROL EATING

Eating is voluntary, isn't it? Shouldn't we be able to stop ourselves when we've had enough? If only it were that easy. Unfortunately, when that dessert cart rolls around, "no" isn't on the list of options. So what can we do to trick our minds that we're full and don't need to eat more? Read on...

1. Drink a lot of Water. When the Stomach is full of water, it stops sending signal to the brain that it wants food. Water does the trick, it will give that filling sensation with absolute zero calories. Although Water passes through the digestive system very quickly, it still helps to decrease ones appetite. We often mistake thirst for hunger, especially when that mid-afternoon cravings hits. It is also true that water drinkers lose more weight and keep it off. Hmm.. that's a lot of work there.

2. Get some rest. Losing weight by sleeping sounds like a miracle right? But recent research says there are definite connections. Two hormones, leptin and ghrelin, are controlled by sleep; those hormones help control appetite. So don't feel guilty about squeezing in that nap -- you're just curbing your hunger!

3. Sniff. Yeah, you got that right, sniff! Suppressing your appetite is all about tricking your Brain and using your Nose is a very good way. In recent study, it showed that people who inhale peppermint at regular intervals consume 2,700 calories less than normal per week-which is almost a one-pound loss. Shocking, isn't it? Let's get sniffing!

4. Eat slowly. This is the task that many of us will find very easy. When you eat, you should be eating, not multitasking. Eat slowly to concentrate on your food and taste all the flavors. Eating slowly gives time for the hormonal and digestive processes to take place and the Brain, time to process the chemicals sent from your stomach, saying you are indeed, satisfied. To prolong the process, chew slowly, take less forkfuls, put fork down between bites. You can do it!

5. Work out. So you probably already know that exercising burns calories -- but did you also know that it helps you consume fewer of them throughout the day? The American Journal of Physiology says that one hour of high-intensity cardio may keep you away from the kitchen for a couple hours afterward. The hormones that tell your body you're hungry are suppressed by aerobic exercise. To pile on the benefits, get into interval training -- do short bursts of intense workouts with short bursts of rest in between. I'm sure you can work it out!