Tuesday, 21 June 2011

What the Stop Watch Method Isn't


This method is not a get thin quick scheme. Instead, it requires you to think differently and adapt your lifestyle accordingly. Once you get into the habit of pausing and thinking about what you plan to do when you get hungry or have cravings, you can then move forward in a more positive and healthy way.
It's not so much the fact that you begin drinking more water or eating healthier foods as it is the fact that you're gaining discipline. Self control is the key to kicking addictions and the key to accomplishing goals.
When a craving hits, try to remember that it should pass. Remember as mentioned before, that a typical craving only lasts about eight to fourteen minutes. If you can get through that time frame, odds are you will not be hungry when it's over. Just because you feel hungry at one point does not mean you have to stuff your face with Oreos or chips.
In time, the craving will subside and you will forget all about it. If you don't want to snack when the cravings hit, try chewing a piece of sugar free gum or eat a breath mint.




How the Stop Watch Method Can Help You with Weight Loss


The real secret to success with the stop watch method is to be fully aware of the signals your body is sending you. If you feel hungry, simply stop for a few minutes and think about it. How truly hungry are you, or do you just want to eat something? Opt for water instead and see if you still fee hungry afterwards. If so, then progress to the healthy snack and see how you feel.
By this point you should feel better, your insulin levels should be regulated, and your craving should be gone. And the best part is that you did not splurge on junk food or fast food, but instead chose a light snack that is good for you.
Perhaps the most significant part of this entire method to losing weight is the fact that you will gain more control over your life and what you eat. Once you get the control back, the rest is easy. It's learning all over again how to cope with hunger and how to make right choices that is the most difficult part.
Once you learn to get past it, you can accomplish your weight loss goals. You do not have to purchase a stop watch, but it is an effective little tool to help you remember to pay attention to what you're feeling.
Studies have actually shown that people who eat about five small meals per day instead of three larger ones can lose weight much faster. This is because our bodies should eat when it's hungry, and not when we think we are supposed to. This allows our metabolism to start working better and tells us we're still awake and ready to move on in our day.
If we don't feed the body, it can go into "starvation mode" and store fat for energy. By feeding ourselves healthy foods when we do feel hungry, we tell our body that it's not starving, but instead being fed.


Understanding How Your Body Works and How Cravings Affect You!



Understanding how your body works and how cravings affect you will help to shed light on how this particular weight loss method works. Listening to your body and understanding when and why you're hungry will help you to resist temptation and opt for healthier choices. Having something healthy with you at all times is especially important.
Since your body does tell you when it's hungry, it is much better to satisfy it with a light and healthy snack. This option will help you feel full, kick start your metabolism, and assist you with resisting temptation.
When you've been sitting at work all day and you get hungrier and hungrier, the odds are that you'll want to pitch in and order that pizza or go out to lunch and get a huge hamburger with French fries. The stop watch method can help you avoid this common mistake, and in turn help you to lose weight.
A huge key to success with this method is to really listen to your body. When you get a craving, use a stopwatch or a timer, and immediately set it for fifteen minutes. Let it run down, and drink a cold glass of water or have a small snack that is high in protein.
Some examples of high protein snacks include beef jerky or peanut butter toast. Avoid food with sugar, as these can throw your glucose level all out of whack and only intensify your cravings. As you avoid overeating when you have a craving, you're gaining self-discipline. After all, this is one of the main reasons that most diets fail.
The lack of self-control is what gets most of us into trouble when it comes to eating too much. Once you get that control back, you're on your way to losing weight.
It's a little known fact that often our body mistakes feeling thirsty for hunger. In other words, when we feel hungry, many times we are actually just thirsty. Drinking water can help you to feel full and can also let you avoid eating something you shouldn't be. Drink a tall glass of water when you feel hungry and watch your metabolism take off.
Studies have shown that water increases metabolism and helps us to be more "regular" when it comes to our digestive system.
If you choose to eat a small snack when you get a craving, be sure you make a smart choice. Foods high in fiber are great since they help you to feel full, and can also keep your digestive track working well. Apples are a great example of a food that is very high in fiber and healthy for you.
If you don't want to eat fruit, try carrot or celery sticks instead. Sometimes just the act of eating something crunchy can help you to not feel so hungry or want to munch on that bag of fatty potato chips.