When it comes to food cravings, it can seem like the only way to avoid them is to run for hills or staple our lips together so we can't eat. Food cravings can be very intense and can seem to run our lives, but they don't have to and we can make our lives easier. This article goes over 5 things you can do to lessen them and gain control.
1. Eat A Good Diet - Many people find that they experience food cravings in the afternoon and will tend to snack and binge on high fat, high calorie foods like chips, cookies and chocolate. These intense hunger pangs/yearnings then will spill over into the evening and the high fat, high calorie food binge doesn't seem to end. Usually many people have these in the afternoon because they skip breakfast or just haven't had time to eat properly earlier on in the day. The best thing to do is make an effort to eat a large calorie dense breakfast. This will help prevent those afternoon craves and will set you up for eating properly. If you don't eat regularly you will experience the desire for high density foods, so make things easier on yourself by eating regularly to avoid them.
2. Do Something New - Some cravings are habit or boredom. Many of us come home from a hard day at work and veg out in front of the TV. We will eat as we watch because watching TV actually is boring and eating is something to do. So instead of trying to use the TV to relax (which it doesn't do) do something else. Try being creative or exercising. You could draw, paint, learn a new instrument or go and try out a dance class or even learn a new language. Replace the time with a new habit and you will no longer crave.
3. Help Suppress It - There are many things we can do to help suppress the cravings and stop ourselves from overeating. You can brush your teeth or use something like chewing gum or even a lollipop to take our attention away from it. Until we continuously overcome them this may be our only solution to stop ourselves from eating, but the more we do it the easier cravings will become without a crutch.
4. Water - Another thing you can do is drink plenty of water. Some of us confused signals of hunger. What we may very well need is water - so make sure you are hydrated and drink lots before considering eating.
5. Just Wait - Cravings only last about 15 minutes at the most. This can feel like a long time if you just sit and wait for it to pass. Instead wait by doing something else. Go for a walk, get some housework done or exercise. Distract yourself for 15 minutes and you will be surprised how quickly it would have passed.
There are plenty of others things you can do to overcome those fake hunger pangs, but this are good starting points. Don't let food get the better of you. They can be beaten and you don't have to let them rule your life.
1. Eat A Good Diet - Many people find that they experience food cravings in the afternoon and will tend to snack and binge on high fat, high calorie foods like chips, cookies and chocolate. These intense hunger pangs/yearnings then will spill over into the evening and the high fat, high calorie food binge doesn't seem to end. Usually many people have these in the afternoon because they skip breakfast or just haven't had time to eat properly earlier on in the day. The best thing to do is make an effort to eat a large calorie dense breakfast. This will help prevent those afternoon craves and will set you up for eating properly. If you don't eat regularly you will experience the desire for high density foods, so make things easier on yourself by eating regularly to avoid them.
2. Do Something New - Some cravings are habit or boredom. Many of us come home from a hard day at work and veg out in front of the TV. We will eat as we watch because watching TV actually is boring and eating is something to do. So instead of trying to use the TV to relax (which it doesn't do) do something else. Try being creative or exercising. You could draw, paint, learn a new instrument or go and try out a dance class or even learn a new language. Replace the time with a new habit and you will no longer crave.
3. Help Suppress It - There are many things we can do to help suppress the cravings and stop ourselves from overeating. You can brush your teeth or use something like chewing gum or even a lollipop to take our attention away from it. Until we continuously overcome them this may be our only solution to stop ourselves from eating, but the more we do it the easier cravings will become without a crutch.
4. Water - Another thing you can do is drink plenty of water. Some of us confused signals of hunger. What we may very well need is water - so make sure you are hydrated and drink lots before considering eating.
5. Just Wait - Cravings only last about 15 minutes at the most. This can feel like a long time if you just sit and wait for it to pass. Instead wait by doing something else. Go for a walk, get some housework done or exercise. Distract yourself for 15 minutes and you will be surprised how quickly it would have passed.
There are plenty of others things you can do to overcome those fake hunger pangs, but this are good starting points. Don't let food get the better of you. They can be beaten and you don't have to let them rule your life.
About the Author:
For more cravings advice and tips visit Stop Cravings. If you struggle with emotional eating check out our article on how to stop emotional eating.
