Before you dig in at mealtime, drink a glass of water, says Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN, author of The Small Change Diet (Gallery, March 2011). It will fill you up and help prevent overeating. “Sometimes hunger is mistaken for thirst,” says Gans. “Especially when starting an exercise program, you need to replenish the water you lost through perspiration.” And if you need more help getting enough H2O, stick a Post-it on your computer at work as a reminder to sip, says Gans. Or keep a bottle bedside to encourage you to hydrate as soon as you open your eyes in the morning.
