Cravings can be such a detour in our weight loss efforts. I know chocolate calls my name every single day! In the past, if I had a craving for chocolate, I would easily chomp down 1000+ calories to cure it. If I craved salt, I could pack down 4000mg + of sodium in a salty snack in minutes. I would always crave Taco Bueno Mucho Nachos everyday. I probably ate that 2-3 times a week in addition to my other 2 meals. I later found out the nutrition of a serving of these nachos that only kept me full for about 2 hours.....
1560 calories (my total calorie intake per day should be 1540 so there is all my calories in one plate of nachos)
97g of fat (my daily fat intake is supposed to be 43g per day)
4105mg sodium (my daily sodium is 2000mg or less and the RDA is 2400mg or less)
So as you can see, this was a terrible craving to cure! A typical crave snack for me was a cheese quesadilla. Just the calories alone for 2 tortillas and 2 pieces of cheese is 600 calories and then it is fried in oil! That was just a snack! Ouch! But it didn't seem like a lot because of the portion. It was a bad habit and the main cause in my weight gain.
How did I put a stop to it? Here are a few tips....
Craving chocolate? Eat a banana. It sometimes satisfies the yearning for chocolate and is much less fattening. If you are about to totally blow it because you have lost all self-control, try eating 1 York Peppermint Patty, 56 calories, and should be enough to satisfy you. Better than eating an entire candy bar or a piece of cake.
Drink Green Tea with crushed ice. Green tea not only has many health benefits, it also curbs hunger pangs. The crushed ice will give you the crunchy your mouth is wanting. The decaff green tea is just as effective.
Chew sugarless gum. It speeds up the digestive system, burning more calories, and sometimes kills a craving.
Exercise! Your appetite will temporarily subside and you'll feel better about taking such a proactive approach.
Still craving chocolate? Try a magnesium supplement. Many women are deficient in this mineral, which is found in chocolate.
Craving fatty foods? Eat fish, or take a fish oil or flaxseed oil supplement. You may be low in essential fatty acids.
Grab something healthy to drink. Sometimes, cravings for food are really thirst in disguise.
Sweet tooth? Protein, fat and fiber keep blood sugar levels more even and help keep such cravings under control. Try eating a bowl of healthy cereal with strawberries or bananas mixed in instead. Even a banana with low fat peanut butter spread on it is better than desserts.
Watch your caffeine intake. Caffeine seems to make sugar cravings worse.
Put spiritual food in your mouth instead of junk food. Break open that Bible and start filling yourself with soul food. You will be amazed how it helps!
