Tune into your body

Eat when you're hungry; stop when you're full. It sounds simple, right? But triggers to eat are all around, and they often have nothing to do with hunger: the candy on a co-worker's desk when you're stressed, or the brightly colored fast-food sign. Unfortunately, frequently giving in to cues like these can lead to extra pounds. Here are some strategies to become more aware of the "why," the "when" and the "how" of your eating habits and gain control:

• Develop an eating routine that works for you. Some people do well with three meals a day, and others prefer eating more-frequent snacks. But skipping meals or letting yourself get too hungry can lead to overeating and poor food choices — and may even cause your metabolism to slow.
• Don't ignore hunger. Research suggests that being too restrictive with your food may also make you less in tune with your body's internal cues that help you adjust your eating throughout the day — for example, eating less at dinner if you had a big lunch. Take your body's cues and have a healthy snack or meal before your stomach is growling.
• Avoid fast food. Not just restaurants; avoid any food that you eat on the go or while focusing on another activity. When you mindlessly snack while multitasking — driving, watching TV or working on your computer — research suggests you're likely to eat more both at that meal and later on. Instead, make a habit of sitting down to eat from a plate, and choose foods that take longer to eat, such as a whole orange rather than a glass of juice.
• Fill up on water. Water isn't a magic bullet for weight loss. But sipping between bites, and eating fruits, veggies or soups (all of which contain water) may still help to encourage the feeling of fullness and lead to eating fewer total calories.