So you want to lose a few pounds but you don’t want to be hungry, uncomfortable or irritable while you are doing it. That is a tough call. Everyone knows that if you go on a diet to lose weight, you will have some hunger pains. After all, the idea is to eat less and make your body burn stored fat for energy. You eat less, you get hungry.

Well if you are really serious about dropping a few dress sizes, or getting into those comfortable jeans again, or scoring some admiring looks, take heart, there might just be a way to reach your weight loss goal without getting desperately hungry by following a high protein diet program. That is the point, isn’t it? To find a diet that will let you eat, not feel hungry and still lose weight. Well, studies have shown that people who are on a high protein diet feel fuller longer than those who only follow a calorie restrictive diet.

I have been researching diets for a very long time and I found an article in the Brisbane Times from last November that reported researchers had finally confirmed what fitness and weight loss gurus have been saying for a long time. You can lose weight by eating more protein. And, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has hinted that protein may be able to satisfy hunger better than either fats or carbohydrates. So, it is finally out, eating more protein and fewer refined carbohydrates can help you lose weight and keep it off.

Think about that for a moment. Clinical research published in the Journal of Nutrition and the New England Journal of Medicine has determined that eating more protein could help you lose weight help you keep from feeling as hungry. And it appears that this notion is catching on because more and more people are learning how to lose weight and make lifestyle changes that keep it off by following a high protein diet.

What is it about protein that is so good? It is really simple because protein is the major component of all cells, including muscle and bone. We need it for growth, development, and immunity to fight off infections, repair the cells and protect the body. It is really a remarkable nutrient.

Researchers don’t understand how it turns the appetite off but it does and makes it easier to lose weight. If you eat a lot of protein, you will lose weight without exercising. But what is the point of that? You will drop some unwanted pounds, but will not tone up or firm up those underlying muscles that give you that second stare look.

High protein diets have been around for a very long time. If you have ever spent any time in a gym or other exercise programs, or played sports, odds are good that you have heard of someone going on a high-protein-low-carb diet to help build muscle and lose body fat. Many people claim this type of diet is great and helps them reach their fitness goals.

There are three essential nutrients necessary for good health. Removing any one from your diet for any length of time can lead to deficiency related health problems. That said, high-protein and moderate carb/fat diets are alright depending on what you mean by “moderate”. If is low enough to be deficient, you may actually be hurting your chances of staying healthy while you drop those unwanted pounds.

Here are some facts and opinions that might help you decide to try a high protein program:

1. There is a wide range of protein intake recommended by the Institute of Health’s Dietary Reference Intake. It goes anywhere from 10% to 35% of total calories. For example, if you are a normal healthy adult on a 1,800 calorie diet, you could safely consume anywhere from 10% of your calories (that’s 45 grams) to 35% (that’s 218 grams) of protein every day with no ill effects. But, get this. The recommended Daily Allowance of protein is 46 grams a day for women and 56 grams for men. That is slightly above 10% and is the minimum allowance recommended to prevent deficiency.

2. If we consider that 1800 calorie diet and 10% is coming from protein, then the other 90% has to be coming from fats and carbohydrates. It is no wonder it is so hard to lose weight and keep it off. But when you increase your protein, you should have a corresponding decrease in fats and carbohydrates. The key is to balance your diet and still get enough calories to stay healthy. So the question is, how do you make a diet that increases protein and maintains a balance of carbs and fats?

3. Experts recommend getting about 120 grams of protein a day for the greatest weight loss benefit. Most of us will struggle to eat that much protein and the increase should be done slowly over the course of several days or even a week. It would help to have a plan that details how we are going to up the protein and lower the carbs and fats.

Once you start to remove those jerrycans one-by-one and drive along the highway till your fuel tank begins to lighten, you will speed up and be a happy little automobile. Here are some tips to lighten your load gradually, and with a little patience you will have a brighter, lighter, future.

• Get a hospital check up if you intend to exercise to lose weight. Changing your diet to a healthier plan should not need a medical examination, but if you do decide to get a check up, don’t go to your GP, he probably won’t have the equipment to do a specialized examination. A good hospital is geared up with a conveyor belt of different checks, and you should be finished in about an hour. It is more than the doctor putting a stethoscope on your chest, looking at your tongue, and telling you that you’re fine. You wouldn’t let your dad haul out your car engine and change the power-steering system; you would take it to the workshop where they have the right equipment.

• Drink water instead of sodas; they are loaded with calories. And when you do drink water, drink enough at each meal to make you feel a little bloated; especially if you have started to cut down on meal portions. Try to drink 8 glasses a day.

• Change your milk from full cream to skimmed. You will probably find the powdered milk much more palatable. Even a glass of skimmed milk prepared a little strong will stop any hunger pangs you might have between meals – add a banana and you have a satisfying meal.

• Introduce a little more movement into your life. Walk up stairs instead of using the elevator will help you get slim, and learn a few yoga exercises. I said a few just in case you weren’t the yoga type or found the positions too strenuous. But if you did start to like it, taking up yoga seriously will lead you to a very fulfilling lifestyle.

• Something a little more drastic is buy a dog – or borrow one if someone is willing to trust you with their little bundle of joy – and take it for a daily walk in the park.

• Failing this, use a treadmill for a daily 20 minutes; starting with walking speed and then increase your pace. Join a gym or get a home machine. All these will aid your weight loss.

• You can also swim, cycle, or jump rope in your back yard; after dark if you are shy of the neighbors, or with a partner for a romantic moonlight skip.

• Focus on your food portions and try to start your diet by shoveling about a third of the meal from your plate for a later snack, or if you’ve served yourself that much shovel off half. And spread your mini meals out to five a day.

• If you have a late evening craving for carbohydrates, try a teaspoon of L-Glutamine in a half glass of fresh orange. The glutamine is tasteless, but if you have already had your 8 glasses, you don’t want to drink more water do you?

• Trash all the junk food in your cupboards and fridge. You will never get rid of fat by eating fat producing products. Replenish with fruit, vegetables, Rye crackers, nuts, dried beans and spices.

• Always have a good start to the day with a breakfast of Oat Bran. Use a 70cc scoop that’s about 2 tablespoons. Sweeten with coconut sugar or a little honey. Add skim milk if you like it creamy. You can eat Oat Bran cold too.

Every weekend give yourself a treat. Either 2 cookies with your coffee or a slice of apple pie, but only if you have done well all week. If you don’t want to read all the separate pieces of advice on the internet, adopt a weight loss program compiled by one of the professionals, it could be that you can buy yourself a new body and healthier lifestyle for a few bucks. Good Luck.