How to Control Your Hunger and Lose Weight

***DISCLAIMER*** I, gamergirl, am a curvy lady. At five foot six inches tall, I weighed in this morning at just a hair over one hundred eighty-five pounds.

My name is Charlotte, and I am a snacker. Here on this page you will find my top tips for curbing your hunger - TEMPORARILY. Long-term deprivation of nutrients and sustenance to your body can do far more damage than eating that double cheeseburger will. Please do not use the tips I am about to give you for more than a few hours.

I repeat: the advice you are about to read is a temporary solution to hunger. Use them to pass that last hour before you go home for dinner, or when you have the urge to gorge yourself. If you want to find a "quick fix" to breaking some bad habits, click here.

Let me burst all your bubbles right away so we can get to business.

There are ZERO easy methods to lose weight.

There are no mysteries, no miracle drugs.

There is only the changing of habits and a conscious effort minute-by-minute, day-by-day, and month-by-month to control cravings, hunger and overeating.

Are you still with me? Good.

There are numerous ways to control hunger, to suppress your appetite during the day. We're busy folks these days, fast food chains replace restaurants all over the country in what should be our first warning sign that our eating habits are getting out of control.

So, the next time you're driving past a McDonalds, Sonic, or even Subway, try something from this list to stave off that impulsive craving for food:

Drink water. Most people do not drink enough water to keep the body properly hydrated. If you drink 20 ounces of water a day, you are still drinking more water than a great number of Americans.

Chew gum. The calories you might take in (next to none) from the gum will be spent in the chewing process, keeping your mouth busy and satisfying any underlying urge for shoving food in your gullet.

Talk. Another diversionary tactic that can also help stimulate your mind and help you form deeper bonds with someone. If you're traveling alone, call a friend you haven't talked to in a while and catch up with them.

If you're at the office, at home, or anywhere else outside of your vehicle:

Walk it off. Remind yourself that your next meal comes at (whatever time you generally eat) and keep on moving.

Indulge in a different interest, such as window-shopping in your favorite part of the store, if that is where you are when hunger strikes.

When you're at home and the craving strikes, do an errand you've been putting off for a while and tell yourself, you can go check the fridge after you're done. Then, if you're still hungry by the time you've done that errand, reward yourself with some ice-cold water. Ha! I tricked you! (Drinking water is one of my favorite solutions, because frankly I don't drink enough of it, which means neither do you, tubby.)

So, let's recap here.

When you get hungry, look at the clock. When do you *normally* eat your next meal? Are you overdue for your normal mealtime?

When in doubt, DRINK MORE WATER. You cannot overdose on water, your body needs it, and aside from helping to give a short-term break from hunger, drinking enough water every day will actually help you have more beautiful hair, skin and assist your digestive processes... HELPING YOU LOSE WEIGHT!

Fresh fruit is a good substitute for those chocolates, chips or candies.

Be social! Interact with your fellow man. Form more solid bonds with those around you. Enrich your life through conversation, not high sugars and super processed corn syrups.

Be more physically active. Sometimes physical activity can take your mind off that rich treat, that greasy snack, or even that Starbucks drink you love so much.

Be thinking about it. Maintaining your weight takes effort. Losing weight takes even more effort. You're not just fighting the laziness of your body, you're battling hard-coded mental patterns that YOU created.

And please.. I'll say this one more time.. please please please do not starve yourself. If you feel like you need to lose weight, do research, be proactive about it, talk to your health care professional and make healthy choices.