In theory, weight loss is something that we should all be able to do. It’s a simple matter of consuming less calories than you burn on a daily basis, but there is one little thing that has the power to halt all of that progress, and that is food cravings! Unfortunately, the majority of us tend to crave foods that are the opposite of healthy, so the temptation to snack can put a real spanner in the works! Here are my best ways to stop cravings for unhealthy foods and sugar.
Thirst is often confused for hunger by many people, so when you feel like you want a snack, have a large glass of water instead to replenish your fluids and rehydrate.
Work on getting more protein in your everyday diet, because protein is something that will help you to feel fuller for longer, meaning that you won’t be as tempted and compelled to snack on unhealthy foods.
When you feel a craving coming on, try to mentally and physically distance yourself from it. Throw on some headphones and take a walk around the block; that way you are distracting your body and you are also removing yourself from being near the kitchen!
Sit down on a Sunday and plan and prep your meals for the week ahead. Some people complain that it takes the fun out of spontaneous dinners, but if you are serious about cutting out snacking, the more regimented your eating habits can be, the better.
If you don’t want to crumble and end up binging, you need to try to avoid putting your body in to a hunger state. By all means, snack on small things throughout the day, but the trick is to make them healthy things like nuts, seeds, and fruits.
Do everything you can to eliminate all the unnecessary stress from your life. You will be much more prone to comfort eating and unhealthy snacking if you feel anxious and stressed on a regular basis.
Spinach extract is a neat little secret in the supplement world. It’s not one of the most talked about, but it increases the levels of hormones in your body that are responsible for appetite and hunger control.
Practise mindful eating, which is the process of actually sitting down at a table to eat, taking time to eat slowly, and actually think about your food instead of chomping in front of the TV.
It is essential that you allow your body to get into a regular cycle of good sleep. If you are fatigued, your hormones are all over the place, and this can lead to lots of bad foods decisions.
Make sure that all of your main meals during the day check the boxes for a true rainbow plate. Try to get things of all colours, textures, and good groups on the plate to satisfy your body in the best way.
The worst thing you can do is go to do your weekly shop on an empty stomach. You will be much more tempted to grab foods that are instantly satisfying but not necessarily healthy.