How To avoid food cravings when dieting
A food craving is more than just a preference for specific type of food. It is an intense desire for a type of food, which we will go to enormous lengths to satisfy.
People assume that giving into these cravings will sabotage your weight loss attempts. However, caving into your cravings won’t necessarily ruin your diet.
Emotional or psychological triggers often cause food cravings. The most common emotional triggers include depression, boredom, anxiety or stress.
Hormonal changes may also play a role in food cravings, which may explain why women report experiencing craving during their pregnancy and prior to menstruation.
Having low blood sugar can also lead to the desire for a specific food. Waiting too long between meals can cause your blood sugar levels to drop.
Having a blood sugar imbalance can also cause cravings. This imbalance means that your blood sugar levels are fluctuating too much, and is often caused by eating too many of the wrong type of carbohydrates.
Some times you experience food craving for no obvious reason. You feel an intense desire to eat a specific food and are not sure why. Giving into these cravings on occasion will not necessarily ruin your weight loss attempts.
Indulging in the food your body desires every once in a while will not lead to overeating if a few simple guidelines are adhered to. For example, it is important to set limits. Giving into you food cravings in moderation will not cause any permanent damage.
It may be helpful to plan ahead for your cravings. Plan to satisfy your cravings by pre designating the amount of your guilty pleasure that you will allow yourself.
Another great tip on enjoying the foods you crave without the added guilt is to make it special. If you crave chocolate, and you plan to allow yourself to eat one piece on occasion, then go out and buy your favorite type of chocolate.
If you are going to limit the quantity of your indulgences then try to splurge a little on the quality. This may help quench your desire and prevent that specific craving for a while.
It may also be helpful to explore you options when giving into your cravings. This means experimenting with low fat or light versions of the food you desire. You may be able to give your body the taste of the food it wants and still cut some calories.
While occasionally giving into your cravings will not sabotage your diet plan, if you can try to avoid them altogether your diet will be even more successful. Sometimes all you have to do is wait them out. What may seem like an intense craving one moment may pass in a few minutes. It may be helpful to distract yourself for a little while to see if the craving will pass.
You can take a walk, read a book, call a friend, or watch your favorite television program. If after you are done, you still feel the intense desire to indulge yourself then go ahead. Remember to keep moderation and low fat options in mind.
Another way to try to avoid cravings is to eat enough of a healthy diet to succumb temptations. If your body is not getting enough of the right type of foods to meet its energy needs you will be less likely to experience cravings.
Fad diets that involve skipping meals or eliminating entire food groups may cause your cravings to intensify. If you start by choosing a healthy diet you may eliminate most cravings and will not have to make the decision on giving into them.