Don’t overly restrict yourself
We’re all different and we all handle cravings differently too. Eliminating everything you love completely will only make it more likely that you’ll overindulge so go by your cravings personality. If you are the type of person that can eat a couple pieces of chocolate candy and be satisfied, then keeping some small treats around is fine. But if you’re inclined to eat a whole bag of candy, chips, or anything else, go for portioned-out items during reward times only.
Don’t get to that so-hungry-you’ll-eat-a-house stage
Some people need snacks between meals to keep balanced. Others are fine with just 3 portioned meals. When you figure out your eating personality though, it’s important you never allow yourself to get to that “hangry” place. We all make bad decisions when we’re that hungry, like pulling through the drive-thru.
Keep tabs on your cravings
One of the best ways to keep yourself honest as well as keep track of things is to keep a journal about your cravings. For one month, write down what you’re craving, what time of day you’re craving it, what emotions you’re feeling during the cravings, and how much of it you ate. After a month, review what you recorded and see if there are certain patterns. Once you determine what’s making you have these cravings, they can be a lot easier to head off at the pass.
Be carb smart
We need carbs because they calm our bodies. While living low-carb has been shown to be beneficial for weight loss, no-carb isn’t as effective. Still, it does matter which carbs you eat though. If you’re craving fries, bake them up in your oven, or substitute with kale or zucchini for healthy chips that taste like the real deal. Use whole wheat options instead and get the most out of your carbs. Remember, high fiber means lower carb intake.
By looking at what sets your cravings off, you’ll be better able to stop them before they can fester which makes all the difference between enjoying a reward or going overboard.
