Weight loss causes hunger to go into overdrive.

A New England Journal of Medicine study found that participants who lost weight through a ten-week weight-loss program continued to release appetite hormones in amounts that subconsciously favored hunger and weight gain for a year after successful weight loss. The tendency to regain weight after weight loss is far more complicated than simply reverting to old habits.

What you can do: Listen to your brain, not your hunger level.

If you are trying to lose weight or maintain weight loss, realize that your body is working against you. Relying on your appetite can be misleading. Your brain, however, can make logical and structured decisions about your calorie intake to override deceptive hunger cues. Using judgment and reason, you should plan well-proportioned meals, making sure they are balanced in calories and nutrients. Even if you feel hungry after eating, stick with your plan. Author: Dr. Meghna Mevawala (Diploma in Diet and Nutrition, PhD - Alternative Medicine

Consultant Clinical Nutritionist)