Curb Overeating with This Mealtime Trick

To avoid eating too much -- and earning a bigger pants size -- try eating slowly and spending at least 30 minutes enjoying your food.

Research shows that scarfing down food as if every meal were your last actually reduces levels of key appetite-controlling hormones -- the ones that normally keep you feeling full and satisfied and tell you when to put down that fork.

Slower = Slimmer
In the study, lucky volunteers were served about 2 1/2 scoops of ice cream -- twice. On one day, they wolfed down the treat in 5 minutes flat. Then, on another day, they lingered over the bowl for a full half hour. Blood tests showed that slow eating increased levels of two appetite-lowering chemicals (peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide-1) by 25 to 30 percent. And these satisfaction hormones stayed high for the next 2 1/2 hours. (Build a high-satisfaction weight loss plan with this customizable RealAge diet.)

Satisfaction Secrets
"I'm full" hormones are released by special cells in your gastrointestinal tract. Eating stimulates them, but scientists aren't yet sure why a leisurely meal boosts output and a quick meal stunts it. And you shouldn't wait for the answer. Start harnessing your satisfaction levels now with a lazy, leisurely approach to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here are a few more tips on eating less but feeling full:

• Veggie-cize your meals. Adding veggies adds bulk but few calories. Watch this video to find out how generous portions of delicious vegetables let you eat more but weigh less.
• Focus on your food. Paying attention to every bit helps you eat less. Here's how to use mindful eating and make the most of every mouthful.
• Treat yourself to an appetizer. A healthy premeal nosh helps turn hunger off. Find out how the healthy fat in an almond appetizer jump-starts your stomach's satisfaction signals.