When we’re trying to lose weight, we usually get told to start off with a calorie deficit diet. However, this tends to make us feel hungry. Here are steps you can take to feel less hungry when cutting calories.

Increase Protein

Protein makes us feel fuller for longer, by increasing our protein intake we aim to eat less but feel more full.

Protein makes you feel full by lowering your hunger hormone, being a great addition to any weight loss diet. However keep in mind that too much protein requires more energy to burn and can make your kidneys work harder.

Drink more water

Drinking more water seems so simple, yet many of us don’t drink as much as we should. Aim for 2 litres a day purely for basic hydration, then consider how much exercise you will be doing. On top of this you should add some more when you feel hungry.

Water suppresses appetite, and can help prevent you over-eating. A glass of water prior to a meal is a good way to manage your calorie intake.

Remember, keep it slow paced, too much water at one time can lead to water intoxication.

Track your foods

Keeping a diary and meal plan can allow you to track your calories and meals efficiently.

You need to be able to identify the proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other contents in the foods you eat. Some foods make us feel fuller for longer, while others, even if they have less calories, could be doing more harm than good.

By tracking what’s inside what we eat, we can create meal plans that help us combat hunger during calorie deficits. It also allows us to understand the way time works between meals and how many snacks our body requires, allowing us to divide the calorie intake accordingly.

It might even be as simple as giving us a nice meal to look forward too such as dinner when we feel hungry during the day.

Get an expert involved

It can be harmful reducing calories on your own, especially if you don’t have the right strategy and meal plan. Working with a dietician or nutritionist can allow you to create a calorie deficit meal plan that works appropriately with your body to help combat excess weight.

You need to consider how much you are burning and how your body works, as well as how many calories you were consuming prior to the new plan. Remember, we are all different, how many calories one person reduces for weight loss may not be the correct amount that works for you. An expert will give you accurate calorie requirements and the right foods you should be eating to avoid feeling hungry when reducing your daily intake.