Wouldn’t it be so much easier to lose weight if you had no food cravings? Those urges are pure evil. They take over your thoughts. They wake you up in the middle of the night. They just won’t quit until you succumb to their power!
But don’t give in just yet. Instead, check out our 8 tips to help you defeat your most ravenous cravings.
1. Don’t go hungry.
Eating regularly signals to your body that food is not scarce; its availability is reliable, so no need to load up on calories now. Contrary to popular belief, starvation doesn’t make you slim! It makes you hungry, and it stimulates cravings. When you’re not super-hungry, you have more control over what you eat, and can make smarter, more healthful
decisions.
The Vida180 diet plan prevents hunger, among other things, with light snacks that are already included in your calorie balance. Start now with your free diet analysis!
2. Avoid sugar and pastries.
Moreso than other foods, sugary treats and products made from white flour, exactly the kinds of foods you reach for between meals, feed cravings. Eat just a little, and you want it all!
There’s a reason for this reaction beyond just the delicious taste. The rapid insulin response to sugar and white flour causes your blood sugar level to drop so quickly that it stimulates hunger. Suddenly you can’t stop yourself – you’re reaching for more, more more!
3. Eat whole grains and proteins.
When you go on a severely restricted diet, it’s nearly impossible to be successful in the long term. You can manage for a few weeks or even a few months, but you probably can’t maintain those eating habits for life. And as soon as you revert to some of your old eating behaviors, the weight creeps back on. Ugh!
Losing weight and keeping it off – which is probably your goal – means making permanent changes to your lifestyle. And one of the best changes you can make is to choose foods that are high in fiber and protein, such as chicken, vegetables, fruit, eggs and whole grain bread. They not only fill you up; they keep you feeling full the longest!
4. Don’t relieve stress with food.
Emotional eating is a common problem. Who among us hasn’t sought comfort in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s?
When you’ve had a rough day at work, your significant is getting on your nerves, or the post-Christmas credit card bills just arrived, suddenly the refrigerator is calling your name. If you’re feeling stressed or sad, it’s natural to want to feel better. And food can do that for you, at least temporarily.
Recognize this knee-jerk response and decide to handle your stress in a way other than eating. Go for a walk, do some yoga poses, read a romance novel, or watch an episode of Housewives. You can even call your mom; she’d love to hear from you.
When you find new and healthier ways to let off steam, you’ll be less at risk of returning to your old eating habits.
5. Drink at least ½ gallon of water daily.
Water and other zero-calorie drinks fill the stomach and curb hunger pangs. Warm drinks like tea and ginger water can especially help keep cravings at bay.
6. Have a “Plan B” ready for difficult times when you feel your resolve crumbling.
Cravings are more likely to pop up when you’re tired or bored. If you notice them threatening to sneak up on you, stop for a moment and consider whether your feeling is really hunger or just an unrestrained appetite for sweets or junk food.
Your Plan B strategy starts with drinking a glass of water. Still feeling peckish? Grab a small handful of nuts (raw, not coated in sugar or salt), some trail mix, a piece of fruit or a small piece of chocolate (preferably dark, which is slightly healthier).
Another option? Distract yourself. Go do something that will occupy your mind or body in a worthwhile endeavor until your next meal time. Once you’ve tried this a few times, you’ll see it’s not that hard, and you can be proud of yourself for not giving in to your cravings.
7. Identify and change your daily habits.
Most smokers can tell you their biggest struggles in trying to quit are those times when smoking is connected with another daily habit. It can be having a cigarette when drinking coffee. Or perhaps smoking when they take their break at work or immediately after lunch. Giving up smoking in those situations is especially hard.
Similarly, you may be in the habit of snacking when watching TV at night. Or perhaps you’re accustomed to ordering a high-calorie beverage or dessert whenever you eat at a restaurant.
Take note of these habits and make a conscious effort to break them. Just because you’ve always done something in the past doesn’t mean you need to keep doing it in the future.
Every time you are successful, you’ll fortify your willpower and know you’re making good progress toward your healthy eating goals.
8. Give yourself a break.
Don’t be ashamed of your cravings. We all have them. And don’t beat yourself up if you slip once in a while. Nobody’s perfect, but you can always be improving. Just don’t let the mistakes compound and cause you to give up on your weight loss journey.
Get back on track quickly and stick to your Vida180 menu plan. You’ll soon be seeing the results of your diligence.
Lose weight and yet feel full and satisfied with a Vida180 personal diet plan created just for you. Start now with your free diet analysis!