Snack More and Lose Weight

It may sound counterintuitive but eating more often often leads to weight loss. Say goodbye to crash diets and say hello to snacking. Sounds like a dream come true but if you're looking at losing weight, you'll need to fuel yourself properly to increase your metabolism.

If your body is deprived of food for long stretches, it teaches your body that it's not being fed on a regular basis and will result in your body hanging onto every last ounce of energy it has. That's where snacking comes to play. Here are some easy-to-follow rules on snacking to boost your metabolism:

• Eat every 3-5 hours – Any longer than that and your blood sugar drops, you become irritable and often will overindulge at your next meal. By following this rule of thumb, you prevent overeating.

• Train yourself to be hungry – By eating smaller meals, you can condition your body to receive food every 3-5 hours and to crave healthy snacks.

• Shoot for a 100-200 calorie snack – That doesn't mean you can reach for the Pop Tarts, it means that your snack should be a fruit, veggie, whole grain, protein or healthy fat. Consider nuts, a piece of fruit, hummus, or cereal bar as alternatives to bad snacking.

• Plan ahead – Keep some nuts, dried fruit or protein bars at your desk, cupboard or car so you won't be tempted to go to the convenience store and snack on chips and chocolate.

• Eat smaller meals – If you add snacks but keep your meal sizes the same, then you're just eating more calories. Less is more for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you add two healthy snacks to your diet.

The adjustment isn't always easy as we are so conditioned to eating 3 sizeable meals a day. It does take a bit of sacrifice and a little planning. Take the time and understand that it can take weeks for our body to adjust to it's new diet. Your waistline will thank you.