You know that little click you hear when your gas tank is full? Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a little warning like that for our stomachs? Just some subtle little chime that rings in to let us know it's time to stop eating? Unfortunately, our bodies are much more subtle than that.

For most people, it takes 20 minutes for our brains to realize our stomachs are full. Today may be the age of lightning fast e-mail, but our bodies are still relying on the pony express. That's why portion control is so important; when you keep your portions reasonable, you know you're not taking in more than you need. It's also important to eat slowly -- relish each bite and enjoy your food. When you take your time eating, you give that pony more time to get the "You're full!" message to your brain.

I just stumbled across this article about a woman who had a condition that caused her to faint when consuming things like sandwiches or soda. It sounds like a horrible condition and she must be relieved to have a diagnosis. However, I did find it humorous that she's not pleased about her post-treatment weight gain.

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Many studies show that people who eat breakfast have a better chance of losing weight. When you consume a balanced breakfast including foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, you're fueling your body with slow-burning foods that will keep you energized throughout the day. In addition, healthful breakfast choices will help you feel full longer.

A new study narrows down the healthful breakfast recommendations. The study found that dieters who ate two eggs for breakfast had better weight control than those who ate bagels. (The overall calorie intake of all study subjects was controlled.) In detail, those who ate eggs lost 65% more weight, had 61% greater reduction in BMI, and had higher energy levels.

It's important to note that the study was funded by the Egg Nutrition Center. I have to wonder what the results would be if the non-egg eaters in the study had eaten something more nutritious than a bagel (the report doesn't specify if the bagels were whole grain and if they were topped with anything).

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Your body has no idea that liquids contain nutrients.

Or so that's the theory scientists have come up with based on a recent study that took the idea that liquids are less filling to the next level. They found that although liquid and solid calories of comparable nutrient value filled people up about the same right away, the people who had the liquid calories reported feeling hungrier sooner afterwards. And in the study it didn't seem to matter if the liquid/solid fullness comparisons came from high carb, high fat, or high protein sources -- a glass of juice or milk isn't nearly as filling in the long-term as a piece of fruit or a hunk of cheese.

Interesting. I can totally see this principle working in my life everyday -- can you?

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Dieting as a single person is rough. All the good recipes feed 4-6, and spending time with friends means hanging out and eating out on a regular basis. Convenience foods and the microwave are all that really get used in the kitchen, and the dining room table is only used to hold junk mail and pay bills.

Eating healthy is a real challenge, let alone eating healthy enough to lose weight. This article goes into some common faux pas made by single people when it comes to eating habits, and gives advice on how to change your routine and avoid falling into the same dieting "traps." Some of them seem useful, like ideas on what foods are high or low on the glycemic index. But I bet others, like sitting at the dining room table alone and lighting a candle for yourself, won't last more than a night or two for most people.

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