Cravings aren’t fun, I
know. They can dominate your thoughts, take over your day and make you
restless. Getting the better of your sugar or carb cravings, starts with a bit
of analysis and a number of thought provoking questions. Here are some simple
questions to ask yourself when you find you would literally bend over backwards
for that warm chocolate chip cookie.
1. Have you eaten in the
last 4-5 hours?
If you haven’t eaten in
a few hours, chances are the cravings could be linked to low blood sugar. Fill
up on a meal or get hold of a protein rich snack. Nuts, cheese, carrots and
hummus are all good choices.
2. Are you thirsty?
Dehydration can often
cause cravings. Get a large glass of water down and wait 20 minutes to see if
your body was in fact craving hydration.
3. Are you tired?
Lacking in the sleep
department is a quick-fire way to bring about sugar and carbohydrate cravings.
Ensuring you get enough sleep should be your number one health priority if
you’re seriously trying to overcome your cravings and don’t want to be on the
back foot before you even get out of bed. When I was dominated by sugar, a lack
of sleep would nearly almost certainly have me craving hot chocolate at 10:00 am
for that extra energy boost.
4. Are you bored?
If you aren’t tired or
hungry, are you simply craving distraction? If you work at home or in an
office, we often want a break from the computer. Visiting the cafeteria can often
feel like the default response. First, rank your true hunger from 1-10 and then
try doing something else for 20 minutes. Give someone a phone call, catch up on
some social media sites or go for a walk outside.
5. Is it lifestyle
imbalance?
Ask yourself if your
emotions are driving your cravings? Has it been a bad day? Do you want
something to make you feel good, a quick fix of happy hormones? If you’ve got
used to relying on food as a quick emotional ‘pick me up’ then you may need to
look at how you enhance more fundamental elements of your lifestyle to fill the
void. Is there a new hobby you could take up? Is your relationship working? Do
you need to make a change to your career or work?
6. Could it be hormonal?
Hormones can have very
strong influences on cravings for some individuals. If you suspect this might
be the case, start keeping a diary to track any patterns so you can improve
your understanding and start to anticipate your strongest cravings. When you
know they’re due, prepare substitutions and distractions in advance.
7. Do you really want
‘something’?
If your craving is still
there with a vengeance, and a walk round the block isn’t doing it for you, you
may just need to substitute. A cup of chai tea with extra cinnamon, some sweet
cashew nuts or indulgent full fat natural yogurt are all things that got me
through some of my most stubborn cravings. Find your own favorite
substitutions, use them consistently and eventually you’ll start craving your
healthier alternatives.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment