Hungry All the Time

If you are on a weight loss plan or are working towards specific weight loss goals, you may experience a strong temptation to snack. It can be difficult to resist snacks if you are feeling hungry, but in order to reach your goals, you have to stay in control and stay on track.

When you first begin to feel hungry, ask yourself a few questions.

1. Is this genuine hunger, or are you craving junk food or that mid-afternoon candy bar?
2. Are you drinking enough water?
3. Have you had enough sleep? Sometimes lack of sleep or water can disguise itself as hunger pangs.
4. Do you just want to eat from sheer boredom, or from social pressure?
5. If you do decide to eat, pay careful attention to how much you eat, and only eat until you are satisfied (not full).

By asking yourself these questions, you are taking the time to analyze your situation and determine whether you're really hungry. Hopefully the answers to these questions will help you to decide not to have that extra snack, or at least to make it a healthy snack. Learn what it feels like to be genuinely satisfied instead of stuffed. Learn to listen to your body and what it really needs versus what you want.

Sometimes, it may be that you are experiencing legitimate hunger. You may be following your plan exactly yet feel hungry. There are low calorie snacks available that you can eat without completely derailing your weight loss plan. Below are 20 snacks to choose from.

• 1 small soft pretzel (50 calories)
• 1/4 cup hummus, 3 carrot sticks (80 calories)
• 1 Light Swiss Original wedge, 3 pieces (85 calories)
• 1 bag Baked Cheetos 100 Calorie Mini Bites (100 calories)
• 1 cup unshelled edamame (120 calories)
• 50 Vegetable Chips (130 calories)
• One 1-oz package of almonds (130 calories)
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds in shell (143 calories)
• 2 pieces (30 grams) prosciutto, 4 dried figs (154 calories)
• 1 mini bag of 94% Fat Free Kettle Korn (100 calories)
• 1 package Fruit Crisps (50 calories)
• 1 packet Mocha cookies (90 calories)
• 1 Jelly Belly 100-calorie pack (100 calories)
• One 100-calorie pack Graham Cookies (100 calories)
• One 100-calorie Balance Bar (100 calories)
• 1 Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino bar (120 calories)
• 1/2 banana with 1 tbsp peanut butter (130 calories)
• 2 tbsp Peanut Butter, 4 stalks celery (124 calories)
• 1/4 cup of raisins (130 calories)
• 1 cup Greek Total 2% fat yogurt, 2 tsp honey (173 calories)

The Weight Loss Plans website offers diet tips and tricks as well as reviews of some leading weight loss programs. Check it out at www.weightlossplans.net!