Originally Posted by
InOmaha
A heart rate monitor will give you a better indication of the calories you burn. Calorie burning varies considerably based on size.
^This is true - with a big caveat: many heart rate monitors (HRMs) inflate the calories you burn. My Garmin Edge 800 is pretty accurate, but my Garmin Forerunner 410 gives figures that are about 140% those of the Edge 800 - on the same ride, with the same heart rate strap paired with both devices. My old Timex HRM was even less accurate. I found that the Timex gave decent numbers if I plugged in only my lean body mass (estimated) of 140 lbs., rather than my real weight of about 215 lbs.
On the original question: I find that planning meals for several days at a time helps me control snacking. And like many others, I've found that after a few days of following my plan carefully, the urge to snack has declined. I keep baby carrots, celery, and baby dill pickles around for those times when a glass of water doesn't dispel the feeling of hunger. I also try to keep busy, since it's easier to ignore a rumbling tummy if I'm focused on a project.