Tips on how to control cravings

crave food, how to control cravings, cravings for food

There isn't a person alive, no matter their fitness level, dedication, goals or years of living a healthy lifestyle that hasn't struggled with cravings for food.  For me, I tend to crave food watching those television ads of restaurants where pounds are given away free and in bulk.  They also come at social events where bowls of salty and crunchy snacks are easily within arms reach.

No matter where cravings for food come from, they are something to be dealt with as they can have a significant impact on your results.

So when you feel your will power is losing the good fight, here are some tipson how to control cravings for the Salt and Vinegar chips in your child's Halloween bag.

0. Make a deal with yourself.  Eat something healthy first, then allow yourself to eat that craving.  Chances are, your feeling of satisfaction from eating something healthy with strengthen your will power to eat healthy.
   
0. Drink lots of water.  Water leaves you feeling less hungry - and with no calories to boot. 
   
0. If you're written your goals down, review them or repeat them.  If you haven't, now is the perfect time to do it.  Look at a before picture of yourself or a picture of when you were in your best shape.  This is a good reminder of why you're fighting the craving.
   
0. Get rid of any bad foods in your kitchen or don't put yourself in a situation where there's easy access to poor food choices.
   
0. Wait it out.  Often if you wait 20 minutes, a craving will pass.
   
0. Brush your teeth or chew sugar free gum.  Doing something with your mouth and making it clean will hinder your desire to dirty it with chocolate.
   
0. Have a little of your craving, but just a small taste.  Limit your indulgence to a very small portion.
   
0. Workout.  That extra effort to help you reach your fitness goals will make it more difficult to do something to sabotage them.
   
0. Find a support system, whether it's friends, a spouse, an online community or a personal trainer.  Look for people that will help hold you to account.
   
0. Eat protein.  Protein can leave your stomach feeling more full.  A greater sense of fullness should prevent more poor food choices.
   

It's important to fight temptation when striving to meet your fitness goals, but it's also important not to beat yourself up if you cave every once in a while. 

That said, look to some of the tips above to help you when you need all the help you can get.