Cravings of sugar, cravings of chips, cravings of all those yummy but bad for us foods are something we all struggle with. Myself, my clients and I’m sure you too sometimes.
I'm certainly no stranger to the occasional urge to rip open a chocolate bar, or dive into a bag of my favorite chips - and I'll bet you aren't a stranger to this either. The occasional indulgence isn't anything to be alarmed about, but if you find yourself licking the remnants of these indulgences off your fingers on a more regular basis, you’ll need to practice some control to get in charge of those cravings.
The goal here is to be in charge of your cravings, not have them be in charge of you.
Here’s 6 tips to handle these cravings and get back in your healthy routine.
Get to the root of your cravings
Take note of when you’re going for these foods. Is it boredom? Did you have a horrible day at work? Is it that time of the month? All of these things can be a trigger for your cravings. Try to be mindful of them once you identify them. Next time the craving comes around, stop and evaluate your surroundings, noticing what may be triggering this craving. Restrain yourself 80% of the time and enjoy the things you crave 20% of the time. Eating healthy the majority of the time will lower your cravings drastically, anyway.
Try to eat more often
It may sound counterintuitive, but if you eat more often, you’ll keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel. Pack a healthy snack to enjoy mid-morning and another to have mid-afternoon. By doing so, you’ll feel fuller longer and be less likely to head to the office vending machine.
Slow down when eating
Mindful eating is the best way to keep from overeating, whether you’re eating a nutritious meal or splurging. Your brain doesn’t get the message that your stomach is full for about 20 minutes.Therefore, slowly chew your food. Savor the flavors. You’ll find you won’t need to eat your entire portion, nor will you feel like you have room for dessert.
Do something else
Cravings never last forever. Eventually, you’ll forget about your craving if you distract yourself. Go for a walk, read a book, message your friends, put up the laundry or involve yourself with anything else that you can think of. Before you know it, you’ll have forgotten about that nagging craving.
Swap smartly
If you really can’t help munching while you are watching a movie, swap out unhealthy options for healthier ones. Choose crispy carrot and celery sticks with hummus or a small serving of mixed nuts. Want something cool, sweet and refreshing? Freeze melon balls to get an ice cream-like experience without the guilt.
Keep your food cravings out of the house
You know the saying “out of sight, out of mind,” right? It’s so true when it comes to food cravings. As much as possible, keep these things out of your home. If you get late-night cravings, you won’t have those things around to binge on, and you’ll be less likely to go out of your way to get them.
Cravings will come and go, but when you're armed with solutions to combat them, you're putting yourself in the position to control the cravings, rather than being controlled by them.
So, let's get honest here.
What craving nags you the most?
Comment below and let me know.
If cravings and sweets and junk food have been taking over, then it might be a time to do a Detox. In this FREE video training, I share 7 Steps To More Energy and Faster Weight Loss through Detoxing.
You can sign up for free here:
Related reading:
Eliminate Cravings and Improve Your Mood With This Secret Weapon
What Your Food Cravings Are Really Telling You
Gaylene Gomez, NNCP, C.H.N.
A little bit about me! I'm Gaylene, a Holistic Nutrition Coach for women. I work with busy, professional women to help them learn about healthy, simple lifestyle changes they can easily implement to reduce belly bloat, lose weight and get through their day with sustained energy. My clients are committed to their health and excited to learn about healthy eating and natural living. I feel proud of them for taking charge of their health and I'm so lucky to work with these amazing women.
Learn more about me here: About Me