Who hasn’t tried to battle hunger pangs and lost?
It’s the biggest reason that dieters give up and get off track, losing the will power to achieve their weight loss and fitness goal. If you’re hungry between meals and only have unhealthy snacks to turn to, it’s almost impossible to resist giving in. Constant hunger is extremely difficult to live with, and it’s not something that you should ever feel you should have to do!
How can you conquer those hunger pangs and win your weight loss battle?
Add more lean protein to your meals!
Protein is essential for repairing and building muscle as well as strengthening your immune system. If you become ill, you won’t be able to work out, which means that ultimate fitness goal has just gotten even further away.
Not only have many successful dieters already discovered this, but research backs it up: eating lean protein at each meal is one of the best ways to keep you feeling fuller longer which helps you to avoid those unwanted temptations. Eating carb-based meals often has the opposite effect. The more you eat, the more you want, leading to a never-ending damaging cycle.
Protein is also important for sustaining high energy levels so that you can take care of your responsibilities and still have energy left for working out. The body digests protein slower than carbs, giving it a continuous supply of energy. It also helps to increase your metabolism by preserving lean muscle as it takes more energy to digest protein as compared to carbs, boosting calorie burning even further.
Of course, you don’t want to get your protein by going to the nearest fast food joint and picking up a burger.
Some of the best choices for healthy high protein foods include:
Nuts and seeds. Most any seeds and nuts when raw and unsalted, such as almonds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds, are a great way to keep that metabolism burning at its max and conquer those hunger pangs between meals. Sprinkle some walnuts onto your oatmeal or yogurt in the morning to help keep you satisfied and energized longer. Keep in mind that nuts and seeds are also high in calories, so limit the amount you eat to just a handful that fits in the palm of your hand.
Fish. Salmon is packed with protein; just five ounces contains about 38 grams. Other good sources are tuna, with one cup offering 39 grams; six ounces of cod contains 40 grams and five ounces of halibut has over 40 grams.
Chicken breast. A chicken breast contains lean, white meat. Three ounces has less than 150 calories but provides 27 grams of protein.
Quinoa. Quinoa is one of the best sources of protein as it’s packed full with each of the essential amino acids and it’s also very simple to prepare. Just place one cup of quinoa into two cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
Eating protein after a workout is also important. Because the muscles experience microscopic trauma during a workout, consuming protein within an hour after the activity helps to repair your muscles and improve strength. Stronger muscles equal a faster metabolism too!
Please share your comments below and let me know if you have any “tricks” for fighting off hunger pangs.
Yours in health,
Danette May
