Are you a sugar addict like I am? I have learned the right way to struggle with those cravings, but I still struggle with them. The books tell us to keep sight of WHY we chose to avoid sugar in advance of our cravings -- it could be losing weight, controling diabetes, or simply feeling better. Sometimes, keeping your eye on the prize isn't good enough in the moment that craving is overwhelming you beyond your control. After you have avoided sugar-ridden treats for a while, your cravings will subside enough to bring your motivation back into focus in those moments. But, clearly, getting to the point where you can chose your motivation over sugar is a bigger struggle than a lot of us can handle when we first make our choice to avoid sugary treats and get healthy. That struggle to detox from the sugar is why a lot of us fail.
A friend forwarded me an article that I thought had some great ways of avoiding cravings... and here they are:
- Try to find a substitute. Generally, people tend to crave sweets after a meal or as a pick-me-up in the late afternoon. It might be helpful to have something else there and ready to fight off those cravings. For example, peppermint tea might work in the evening, a box of raisins in the afternoon, a piece of fruit, or anything else that you can think of that would be somewhat nutritious and easy to keep with you. If you must have "sweet," go with something that's naturally sweet, such as dried fruit or even 100% fruit juice.
- Wait out the craving. Most nutrition experts say that the cravings you experience will only last a couple of minutes. So if you can wait it out, they will pass and you will be better for it. Try to occupy yourself for a good 10 minutes when you get a craving. Call a friend, take a short walk or do something to distract yourself.
- Set daily goals and reward yourself for meeting them. To a sugar addict, nothing is tougher than getting through the day without a sugary treat. The longer you can hold out, the easier it will become, so try to find a reward that would be worth holding out for. I did this about a year ago and gave myself a dollar for every day that I did not indulge in sweets, and at the end of the month, I would go get a manicure or buy myself something nice.
- Recruit someone to do it with you. If you are married or have a family, this would be a healthy habit for everyone to adopt. Clean out the cupboards and refrigerator of unhealthy foods and tempting treats. Make it a team effort. Hold each other accountable and support one another through the tough times.
- Put yourself in good situations. If you are one who loves to use the vending machines at work or will drive through the local gas station to fill up on snacks, then try to do things in a new way to prevent yourself from falling into old habits. Clean out all of the change and single dollar bills in your wallet so you aren't able to feed the vending machine. Make sure you fill up on gas when someone is with you. Go grocery shopping after a meal, so you don’t load up on unhealthy foods.
Tips written by Holly Little, Certified Personal Trainer
Read the full article here: http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=134
If you need to get healthy, as a health coach, I can help you get there. Email me at HealthyandFitLife@gmail.com.
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