Portion Control for Weight Loss

In order to lose weight you have to exercise control over your calorie intake. For someone who has never bothered to count calories this can be a challenge, because not only do you have to make the right food choices; you also have to be aware of your portion sizes. If you're overweight you have probably got into the habit of eating too much at meal times and consuming calorific snacks in between meals. When you try to restrict the amount of food you eat, you may find that your stomach grumbles and that it becomes even more difficult to resist the temptation to gorge yourself.

It is therefore important to eat regularly, but in smaller quantities, so that you have a better chance of keeping hunger at bay and can avoid an eating binge. Bingeing is something many dieters struggle with, because you become so obsessed with eating less and only eating the 'right' foods that eventually you just snap and end up eating large quantities of whatever food you desire. Sometimes, your binge is so substantial that you not only fail to lose weight, but actually find yourself gaining weight. Consequently, you need to take steps to reduce the likelihood that you will binge.

This will require you to eat throughout the day with the focus very much on quality rather than quantity. If you eat wholegrain foods and foods with high levels of protein, you will have energy for longer and you will feel fuller, so that you won't start obsessing about when you can next eat because you feel hungry and lethargic. You may decide to have three main meals and a couple of small snacks in between, or you may opt to have five or six small meals a day. Obviously, it depends on how much time you have to prepare your food and what works for you.

Although you have to focus on eating a balanced diet, you also have to consider the role of portion control if you intend to lose weight. There are plenty of foods that are good for you because they provide you with essential nutrients, but they still contain calories and it is really calories you have to think about when attempting to lose weight. If you ignore the role of portion control you could end up eating a healthy diet packed full of fruits, vegetables and cereals, but still not losing any weight, simply because you've been consuming too many calories.