How can I calm down cravings?
 

hey guys,

i've been on my deit for awhile and i'm at the point where i've haven't had some food i really like in a long while.

so i'm finding myself starting to cave into my cravings abit.

is there any neat tips and tricks to help calm the craving beast and to stop me from making the wrong choices?

I wish I knew the answer to this. When I get hungry all I can think about are enchiladas, lasagna, pizza, cake, etc. but then I go and eat something healthy. Usually I feel better after that but not always. This stuff is really hard when I know there are much better tasting foods out there but I can't have them because unlike other people, if I eat them they will make me gain weight, whereas other people can eat them and maintain their weight. It's so unfair. Why can't I have a normal dinner instead of a portion controlled one? Why do I have to eat low calorie food when I could be having chili dogs topped with cheese, but then I know I can't have it because it will make me gain weight? It sucks!

Oh ladies, can I empathize with you on this one! One thing I've tried really hard to do is to allow myself a single bite of something that I'm craving that I know I shouldn't have, in hopes that it will chase the craving away. But I have to prep for that, I can't just willy-nilly grab a spoon and do a face plant. First I have to eat something healthy and acceptable (a piece of fruit, a veggie, maybe a can of tuna with mustard), then drink some water (min 20 oz), wait 20 minutes or so and then allow myself the bite, chew slowly and then drink some more water to get the taste out of my mouth, maybe even toss in a breath mint. Sometimes it's the fading of the after-taste that drives me to another bite and another and another - well you get the idea. Another thing I do is keep those Laughing Cow cheese wedges in the fridge. I don't know what it is about them that helps, but 1-2 of those usually does the trick and they are only 35 calories each. I think it's because the calories in those are roughly 30-30-30 so it covers all the bases a lil' bit. I also keep sf pudding cups on hand, they are about 60-80 calories each (depending on the brand) and when I'm craving something sweet, they take the edge off. Speaking of pudding cups and Laughing Cow I need to go shopping today.

In truth you "can" eat any of those things, you just should "choose" not to, and not just for your waist line, most of those foods can also stop your heart, raise your blood pressure, shoot your cholesterol through the roof and/or give you a stroke. Well I don't know about you, but I find the term "choose" easier to live with than "can't".

I agree wholeheartedly.

I am also of the mind that if I continually deprive myself of something, I will go hog wild (emphasis on hog) with it eventually. I plan for my cravings by adjusting the rest of the day (sometimes the day before and / or the day after)...if I can work it into my pie chart and calories, I eat it. However, it takes some planning; if I eat it impulsively, all bets are off and I'm screwed...I'll just compulsively snack the rest of the day. Like Amy said, "bookend" it with healthy food; do something to get the taste out of your mouth afterward as well.

Of course, some people do better if they don't give in and avoid those foods completely. Everybody is different; you'll have to experiment and see what works best for you.

well i find the times when i take that one bite, it can usually calm the cravings.

like my hubby makes a pizza i tend to cut off a tiny piece for myself.

but it's abit challenging when the hubby makes these foods, pizza, poragies or any froozen toss into the oven type foods (mostly breaded stuff) when my programs doesn't let me have this stuff it's hard when we're both home and the smell fills the house.

the other times is when i'm out, the worst is if i'm something were food i like is near by, like a convinise store, or fast food at the mall. the bright colors and the smells really get me craving them.

the one thing i find that kinda helps is chewing gum, (which i should really start doing more off again) i usually use the bubblegum flavour dental kinda, so it gets that sweetness i crave for and aalso gets my body thinking that i'm eating.

if only there was that magical trick that would work for everyone

Almeeker, if you can eat one bite of a good tasting food then you're a stronger person than I am. I find that avoiding them as much as possible is a good policy. If they're in front of me I can say no and abstain. If I eat one bite I need to have at least a reasonable serving of it.

There is the emotional side of it and the logical side of it. The emotional side was coming through in the post I made earlier. I wish I could live on all the bad foods without having any health consequences, and I know that nobody can do that, even thin as a rail people who don't gain weight by it can still be sick inside their bodies.

I was watching one of those freaky eaters episodes on youtube where a guy ate nothing but french fries for years and years on end. Literally he felt he couldn't tolerate any other kinds of food. He was very physically active, and so didn't gain weight from it. He said that french fries didn't affect him. When the show's hosts had blood tests done on him, it showed he was at high risk for a heart attack or a stroke, and this is what woke him up to his bad diet.

I keep hoping that there might be some artificial substitutes for some of the more notorious foods in the future that have reduced calories and health risks, or at least a manipulation of natural substance (like miracle noodles). If the food scientists can make lots of types of sweetener (the natural option being stevia) be low calorie or zero calorie, why can't they make more savory options for us?

if only there was 0 cal pizza and ice cream, chips with no salt but still tasted the same.

soda not full of sugar

sadly it doesn't work that way darn

I give myself two days a week where I let myself indulge in my cravings (not completely, just one small portion of one thing I really want). I feel like I'm only living once, if I really want a few bites of that cheesecake, why not? But you have to make sure you're control, because it can be a veryyyy slippery slope.

Another option is, really think about your craving, and find out if there is a healthier solution to it. A few of my examples:

Pizza. Instead, why not get some very thin flat bread, and put some seasoned vegetables and tomato sauce on top, then a sprinkle of cheese. Then heat it up and enjoy :)

Ice cream. Graham cracker and a little low fat whipped cream. Or (and healthier), blended frozen bananas with a little almond milk (yummm).

Chips. I make homemade sweet potato chips instead. Thinly slice a sweet potato, add some herbs and a tiny bit of salt, drizzle with a small amount of olive oil, and throw in the oven.

And for chocolate, I just eat a tiny piece of dark chocolate.



I find that restricting too much often can cause diets to fail, at least for me. If I've been too strict, I often find myself binging which is far worse than the small indulgence every once in a while :)


Edit: Another tip! Drink a glass of water or tea any time you're hungry. Sometimes when you think you want food, it's really your body telling you it just wants more water!

What I did is I found a new food, or new food combo that is "good for you" that you just get the crazy cravings for! Presently for me, it is pickled banana peppers. I love them on chicken breasts, salad, eggs... Before that, it was avocado tomato sandwiches. Find you new crazy good for you craving! Loaded with flavor and goodness!

Bottom line: "Think of food as fuel for the body instead of feeding emotions"

Until one transitions into this way of thinking, rewires the way one thinks about food, there will always be a struggle with "cravings". :cool:

FYI, I'm not 'there' yet, but I'm well on the way. 51 years of habitually eating poorly cannot be overcome overnight.

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...ileys/clap.gif

Great advice! This is what I do and it WORKS. I've substituted "Zesty Peas" (my recipe) for spaghetti. I've substituted a sweet potato with nonfat sour cream for pizza.

Bottom line: "Think of food as fuel for the body instead of feeding emotions"

yeah i've been in a pretty great mood this week and i find that being in a good mood i don't go all crazy with my cravings for junk food

There is soda not full of sugar. It has sweeteners in it.

yeah but i alway hear deit pop is just as bad as the regular stuff.

as for other things i rediscovered for a tasty snack that i love, it's an apple (one that isn't sour, like golden del, gala) just cut up into slices and a tbsp of peanut butter. i use a kinfe to spread on alittle bit of the peanut butter onto a slice of apple and it's like heaven mmm so tastey

Not as far as gaining weight. I also don't think sweeteners are any more unhealthy than the corn syrup or sugar of the regular version, and acid levels are the same too. The only real difference i can see is that one has tons of calories and one doesn't, so yes there is an alternative to soda.

I only wish there were the same options for savory foods that there are for sweet foods. You can get artificially sweetened pies, ice cream, lemonade, soda, you name it, but when it comes to things like a big plateful of pizza or beef enchiladas with cheese there are no viable, similar tasting alternatives.

Hi everyone - I am fairly new to FitDay, and so far I love it! What I have found that really helps with my cravings is to pre-enter all the food that I plan to eat for the day so I can see the total calories. The food I am craving gets entered also. Then I start subtracting items until I am down to my daily calorie goal. If I really want to indulge that craving it's okay, I just have to give up something else.

PS - I just logged the doughnut I grabbed from the Friday am office snack table (love/hate relationship with that table), I have 317 calories to cut out of lunch/dinner now... sigh

Donuts are one sweet food I haven't seen a low calorie version of :(

If you can tolerate the fiber, the Fiber one 90 calorie brownies are pretty tasty.

Congrats on your progress so far. I know you may not want to hear this but drink more water to the point it make you fill bloated, then see how much you still crave your treat. I too have a problem with cravings and what helps me the most is tracking/journaling. Once I see how much I have consumed, it helps me to ration out what I am craving.

I have a huuuuge sweet tooth! I love chocolate big time, but obviously I cant be eating chocolate bars all the time anymore. I've been drinking a chocolate slim fast shake most days and it really helps to keep me from craving sweets the rest of the day.

I also find that if, every once in a while, I work a treat into my daily allotted calories, I can enjoy that treat without that feeling of shame you get from getting off track.

I can't say how it will be for you, but as i'm starting to see progress, and can really visualize my goals coming to life soon, my priorities shift into place and its getting a lot easier! This all is coming from a girl who one month ago though she had no self control at all when it came to food :)