Home
>
Weight Loss
>
Do You Know These Tricks To Help Conquer Food Cravings?

Do You Know These Tricks To Help Conquer Food Cravings?

Food cravings are crafty -- they appear from nowhere and hit you just when you least expect them, don't they?

And the critical thing is that the way you respond to your food cravings might just make or break your success at weight loss and maintenance.

That's why you need simple ways to deal with cravings whenever they pop up.

Now, veering off from your eating plan occasionally will not be earth-shattering, but if you make a habit of giving in to your eating impulses, your moments of weakness will certainly catch up with you.

The good news is that if you can remember these tips that I am going to share with you today, you will be able to conquer those pesky cravings of yours!

1. Avoid being hungry

Eat 5 times a day -- 3 meals a day with 2 planned snacks, but remember to moderate your portions for each of your meals.

Once you start eating 5 times a day instead of the usual 3, you'll find that you'll be hungry less often, and you'll automatically have fewer cravings throughout the day.

On top of that, eating 5 times a day also helps to boost your metabolism level, so you'll be burning more calories throughout the day than before. And that's why this is my number one tip!

2. Catch your cravings early

If you can catch your cravings early, you have more control over them.

So, when do cravings start? A craving starts with a thought of something good to eat. It can be triggered by encountering a situation in which you see or smell tempting food, or by just thinking of something good and dwelling on the idea.

After a while, you'll be able to recognize the situations which are likely to make you start craving for certain foods.

The moment you catch the cravings coming on, you can start to put the tips below into use. The earlier you can catch your cravings, the better chances you have of overcoming them.

3. Ride out a craving

Believe it or not, you can simply wait out a craving. Sometimes we may even mistake a craving for actual hunger. Don't dwell on thoughts of food or eating -- distract yourself!

By playing the waiting game for about 20 minutes, it can help you to distinguish between the craving and actual hunger.

In the meantime, get busy by doing something else to distract your mind: take a walk, play a game, or concentrate on your work projects. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the craving has subsided after some time has passed. If you still want something 20 minutes later, chances are that you are truly hungry. By giving yourself a little time to take a pause before giving in, you may find the craving will disappear altogether.

4. Drink your water

Sometimes all you need is just a glass of water, that's all! Many times, we can mistake dehydration for hunger or cravings. Take a moment and drink a glass or two of water; it may be just what you need.

And this has another side benefit too -- even if you were truly hungry, the water will help to make you fill fuller (without adding any calories to your daily intake), so you'll not need to eat as much later.

5. Temporarily ruin your taste buds

After drinking your water, if you find that your craving still does not go away and you cannot stop thinking about eating, what you can try to do next is to disrupt your sense of taste or smell.

Try a strong mouth mint. Or you can brush your teeth or dab some cologne or strong smelling ointment under your nose.

This may only work for a while, so you must get busy doing something else to take your mind off eating. After a while, you will find yourself not thinking of the craving, and before you know it, it is already time for your next meal.

6. Giving in to your craving BUT only just a little

You will face the biggest danger about cravings when you give in to them.

What happens to a lot of people is that when they give in to the craving, they also lose control of how much they eat too.

Thus, please be extra careful when you decide to eat something to satisfy your cravings.

Don't overdo it. Eat an amount that seems reasonable and appropriate.

For example, you should never allow yourself to finish an entire carton of ice cream or a whole bag of chips in one sitting. What you can do is to take a small serving out and put the rest away. Alternatively, you can buy small portions to begin with. In most cases, you will find that the first few bites actually satisfy the craving anyway!

7. Don't fool yourself

If you are dying to have a chocolate chip cookie, you know that the low fat energy bar is not going to do the trick. So, what should you do?

Well, there's no point trying to fool yourself.

That's right, go for the "bad" choice. But remember: "Moderation, moderation, MODERATION!"

It is fine to allow yourself to indulge in what you really want, provided you watch your portion size. You will not feel deprived, and you'll be able to sustain these new healthy eating habits for the long haul.

On the other hand, if you abstain completely from all your favorite foods, you are more likely to eat that energy bar AND the chocolate chip cookie.

Easy, right? I'm sure they'll be able to help you manage your cravings better. So go ahead and try out the 7 tips above... _today_!

Tracy Lee is the owner of the "Weight Loss for Women Over 40" site. Get the latest news, tips & tricks that can help women over 40 to lose weight safely and permanently, and your complimentary copy of our Special Report "9 Little-Known Insider Weight Loss Secrets To Help Women Over 40 Make Those Extra Pounds Disappear" instantly here:

http://www.weight-loss-for-women-over-40.com/insidersecrets/

This article is available for reprint in your ezine, website or e-book. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included WITH A LIVE LINK back to our website. Otherwise reprint is prohibited.

Chicago limo Skokie ..

In The News:

Technology expert Kim Komando gives her tips and tricks on enhancing your user experience a smartphone and other devices you use everyday.

A new camera called NUCA uses artificial intelligence to create deepfake photos of subjects by stripping away clothing in close to real time.

The Kimberley Kube trail-ready camper has a compact but spacious design and combines luxury, functionality and ruggedness for a weekend getaway.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Emails instructing you to reset your password for an account may be legitimate, or they may be scams. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.

Northrop Grumman's Manta Ray uncrewed underwater vehicle aims to revolutionize undersea missions — it glides through the ocean without human assistance.

Learn how to work Google's calendar application to streamline and organize your daily tasks from technology expert Kim Komando.

If you do not want Facebook to have automatic access to your private photos, follow our tips to protect yourself. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson goes into detail about Apple’s recent iOS update that allows iPhone users to instantly translate spoken language simply by using the Action Button.

Safeguarding your digital life with a reliable physical backup isn't just a precaution, it's a necessity. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides the essential backup checklist.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how a Redditor exposed false recycling claims at their apartment, highlighting a report that only 21% of U.S. recyclables are processed.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson offers a travel toolkit featuring five technology tools to help you with booking flights and hotels for your summer vacation.

The bubble behind the clock on your iPhone can appear in different colors. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains what each of those colors mean.

Scammers are using the power of artificial intelligence to mimic voices of people and are using the fake voices to commit crimes, like kidnappings.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains the science behind the Invisibility Shield, a 6-foot shield that makes people become invisible.

The International Olympic Committee on Friday announced plans to use AI in various Olympic aspects, including athlete identification, training and judging.

Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains an easy trick to avoid squinting while working or surfing the web by zooming in on your personal computer.

Streaming giant Roku has recently been targeted by a pair of cyberattacks, and the company confirmed over a half million Roku accounts were compromised.

The Land Aircraft Carrier combines an all-terrain, six-wheeled vehicle with a two-seat aircraft, which features electric vertical takeoff and landing.

The European Union has sent TikTok a "request for information" on the video sharing platform's newest app, TikTok Lite, under the Digital Services Act, with the aim to clean up social media.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The FBI is warning the public about a recent phishing scam via text that claims its targets owe money in Pennsylvania for unpaid road toll charges.

Your Apple Music settings may be revealing to your contacts what you're listening to. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains the process to change those settings.

Learn how to secure social media accounts, implement legacy contacts, and create a digital estate plan to protect your online assets from 'ghost hackers' after your death.