We all crave for something whether it’s a slice of chocolate cake, a Hershey’s bar, or even chips and dips you love to munch on. Unfortunately, this habit of ours is not doing our weight much good because most of the snacks that we reach for are laden with fat, salt, and sugar that can settle in all the wrong places in our body. Some say that they can’t control their cravings but this is untrue as there are steps that can be taken to stop your craving right in its track.
- Think nuts. If you’re feeling the first pangs of cravings, you can stop it as early as possible by drinking two glasses of water and eating up to 6 ounces of nuts like peanuts, almonds, and walnuts. In just 20 minutes, you will notice a reasonable reduction on your cravings compared to before.
- Find a distraction. Another trick to managing your craving is to look for a way to distract yourself from thinking about what you are going to eat. Look for activities that involve the use of your hands such as gardening, playing sports, and the like because this will prevent you from reaching for those unhealthy snacks that can cause weight gain.
- Go minty. To stop your cravings, why don’t you brush your teeth then gargle with some minty mouthwash? Now that you have fresh and clean mouth and breath, it will be difficult for you to eat. This can certainly make you think twice about giving into your cravings.
- Buy in small amounts. If you can’t stop your cravings as of yet, you can take baby steps and try to reduce your intake. A good step to take is to reduce the amount of food that you are buying. For example, instead of buying a dozen donuts, you can cut it in half as a start then reduce the number each time you purchase.
- Consider your situation. Another way to keep your cravings at bay is to assess your current situation. Think about what makes you crave for food at the moment. Is it because you have missed a meal? Or did you expend your energy doing various activities? If you find yourself hungry because of no apparent reason other than seeing a commercial about your favorite donut or pizza, then it’s just your craving talking.
- It’s okay to indulge. There is nothing wrong with indulging yourself once in a while but this doesn’t mean that you will go overboard with your consumption of chips, chocolates, and the like. It’s all a matter of reducing your intake of the foods that you crave the most. For example, instead of buying a pint of ice cream, you can settle with just a small cone.
- Eat food with others. You can keep your intake of food down to a minimum if you eat your favorite foods with family or friends. They can also help keep an eye on your food intake so you won’t go beyond your allotted amount.
- Keep stress at bay. Cravings can also be triggered by stress which is why you need to make it a point to learn how to let your feelings of stress go. This can be done through meditation, working out, or playing sports for that matter, anything that can help release your pent up emotions. You will be surprised to find that your feelings of craving for food will decrease dramatically over time.
These are just a few steps that are worth taking into consideration the next time you feel that you are craving for a certain kind of food. By controlling your craving, you will be able to keep your weight down easily.
