Top 5 Ways To Stop Cravings

"Food is the most widely abused anti-anxiety drug in America. Exercise is the most potent yet underutilized antidepressant."

     So we all have them! Before I was into healthy eating & fitness I felt like I craved more salt & now I have more of a sweet tooth. So what to do when you get the nagging need to consume something you will regret later? These are the steps that I take when that devil on my shoulder is telling me I need something.

5. Distract myself.

     So what do I mean by that? I mean walk away from the kitchen & into a room where you can't even see it & do something you will love. My examples I like to read & workout. Sometimes I do another workout, like Focus T25, because I know I will not want to eat crap after it. Now stay busy for more then five minutes & actually give it a try! Soon you should forget about that naught food you have been craving.

4. Brush your teeth.

     Now this one needs no directions. If you want something just go brush your teeth. Have you ever eaten or drank anything after a good brush? It's not the best! This work well if you do it right after meals especially dinner. If you brush your teeth after dinner then you will be less likely to need or want a dessert. I discovered this years ago before I was into any of this because I had invsalign & had to brush every time after I ate anything! I stopped craving things & in turn I lost weight.

3. Talk to yourself & make a deal.

     I don't mean go crazy! Just had a discussion with yourself about how eating this item would make you feel & how it would harm your progress. If that isn't enough then make a deal with yourself & mean it! Say if you eat it then you have to run for 30 or until you burn off all of the calories that are in that item. Do something along these lines. If you truly want to eat it then you better be willing to go pay for it in the gym.

2. The less you'll want.

     The less junk you eat the less you will crave it! A craving usually only lasts for 20 minutes. If you don't eat it over time you won't want it. So remind yourself of that. That is motivation for me. If I am craving something hard core & I tell myself "if you don't eat this now then you won't want it later" & it motivates me. I did this with Hot Cheetos. I loved then but I knew if I stopped eating them then one day I would forget about them & I did! 

1. Find a healthy alternative.

     Everyone has some kind of kryptonite in the food department. If you want fruit gummies then have a popsicle or a piece of real fruit. If you choose real fruit then pick something that you have to peel so that it will also play into tip #5 & distract you. If you want chocolate or ice cream look into Skinny Cow or sugar free or 100 calorie packages.

     Now when I have a sweet craving I mainly grab shakeology. It's so healthy for you & so filling! I can also mix it with so many different things, like fruit, that I can kill more then one craving at once. I have turned it into ice cream! I have seen recipes for cookies and pancakes. I really think that the possibilities are endless with it & this is what keeps me sane!

     The last big craving I get is salt. So I will have pop chips on occasion but my big craving is pop corn. So I air pop it. It's so much better for you but I need my butter. So I found a half light butter half canola oil spread (found by butter) that I melt & use. It's half the calories of normal butter & healthier. There are also popcorn seasonings that help with the flavor. 

     Don't let food or cravings rule your life. I believe that there is a healthier alternative to everything if you look, try, & experiment enough. I see more companies coming out with healthier options all the time! With the web at our finger tips to find healthier recipes there really are no excuses. Just remember that what you eat not only effects your progress but your health, your energy levels, & how you feel. So next time you have a craving don't be scared you know you can conquer it!