Controlling appetite is an essential component of weight loss. Many fitness experts regularly say you can’t exercise away from a bad diet. If you’re eating too many calories, losing weight and meeting your fitness goals is extremely difficult. 

People with a long history of unhealthy eating struggle to cut down on how much they eat. Slapping on a sudden calorie restriction will leave you feeling intense hunger pangs. Your body is essentially screaming out for the calories it is accustomed to. 

You must prepare to feel hungry and deal with those cravings to lose weight. However, losing weight doesn’t mean you must suffer. There are things you can do to prevent feeling miserable. Decreasing feelings of hunger are possible through diet, exercise, and other healthy living habits.

Here are five ways to stop being hungry while trying to lose weight. 

Eat More Protein!

Protein makes you feel full for longer, so you’re less likely to have cravings and hunger pangs. If you’re trying to lose weight, you can cut your calories, but you should also focus on eating more protein.

Protein prompts lean muscle mass. It also stops you from eating things like sugar or french fries, which tend to be calorie-dense without the nutrients you need to feel good with higher energy levels. 

One of the best things about a protein-heavy diet is that you’ll likely feel full hours after the meal. Too often, people eat calories without protein and complain about feeling hungry, sometimes less than an hour after a meal. 

Accompany Protein with Low-Calorie, Filling Foods

You’ll probably not want to eat just protein for every meal. Eventually, all those chicken breasts and protein powder shakes will get to you, and you’ll be aching for something different. 

The idea is to stay on track with your diet and add variety simultaneously. The last thing you want to do is succumb to hunger feelings and sabotage all your hard work. 

Instead, focus on complementing your high-protein diet with low-calorie foods that will fill you up. Things like broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, and other vegetables are great. If you need something like a snack, opt for popcorn instead of chips, etc. 

Find voluminous foods that will fill you up without the high-calorie count. Whenever possible, food-prep them as snacks, so you can grab something without having to buy an unhealthy treat from a vending machine at work. 

Stay Hydrated

A lot of people walk around thinking they’re hungry when they’re actually dehydrated. Most people don’t drink enough water, so increasing your water intake will help dampen hunger feelings and tide you over until your next meal. 

Drinking a lot of water will also help you avoid overeating when it’s time for a meal. For example, taking down a large bottle of water before you eat will help you feel fuller on less food. It’s a great tip for people dieting and trying to lose weight. 

Increasing water consumption is linked to better metabolic performance, healthier skin, increased energy, and other health benefits.

So, you’re preventing hunger and boosting your physical health when drinking more water. Try to get to the point where you can comfortably drink a gallon of water each day, and pay attention to how it makes you feel. 

Get More High-Quality Sleep

Sticking to a strict diet is much harder when you’re a night owl. The gap between your last meal, dinner, and bedtime can stretch for hours. How will you avoid feeling hungry and, as a result, snacking when you’re up without food for so long?

One of the best things you can do is fall asleep earlier and get more high-quality sleep. Moving your bedtime up a few hours, especially if you’re typically a late sleeper, is fantastic for fighting hunger. 

In addition to shrinking your potential eating window, falling asleep earlier and getting better sleep evens your mood and helps build fortitude for tomorrow’s dieting plan. You’ll be less likely to respond to stress by eating and have more willpower to turn down snacks, drinks, and other items you wish to avoid. 

Sleep has all sorts of mental and physical health benefits. You’ll have better energy levels throughout the day, you decrease your risk of heart disease, and you experience better hormone balance. 

Invest in some high-quality bedding to make falling asleep easier. In addition, create a nighttime routine that prompts your body to prepare for sleep. Put down the phone, avoid caffeine, and dim the lights to fall asleep faster and stay sleeping. 

Peptides & Hunger

Melanotan 2 is a peptide that was originally developed as a sunless tanning option. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that trigger biological responses. In addition to the tanning benefits, research in animal models points to other positive physical health benefits. 

Melanotan 2 interacts with the melanocortin system, which plays an essential role in regulating eating and body weight. 

Lab studies report that this peptide Melanotan 2 triggers enhanced thermogenic responses, which are key to how bodies process calories and expend energy. Activating the MC4R receptor also indicates a reduction in appetite and increased activity, which leads to better weight results in rodents.