Swear your workouts make you want to eat more than a linebacker or three at an all-you-can-eat brunch? Well, there is evidence that they might leave you a little on the peckish side. But when overweight men and women worked out for 12 weeks, they also found food to be far more satisfying.

After the workout regimen had them burn 2,500 calories a week, exercisers felt more satisfied from their standard breakfast -- cereal with milk, toast with jam and margarine, and tea with milk -- than they did when the study started. And . . . that meal kept them satisfied longer. There's no clear explanation yet, other than exercise somehow affects the sensitivity of your appetite thermostat.

But why let physical activity do it all? Rely on these other tricks to stay satisfied but eat less:

• Eat slowly. People who eat quickly until they feel full are three times more likely to be overweight than people who eat at a leisurely pace.
• Stick to just a few foods. The greater the variety of food on your plate, the more you're likely to eat. While you want variety throughout the day, keep it simple within each meal.
• Focus on your food. Keep distractions to a minimum so you can truly enjoy your food. Yes, that means put down the computer mouse now! We’ll wait! Enjoy your food, then enjoy reading. Makes both even better.