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Dieting for Weight LossHow to
Cope with Cravings
If you're on a weight loss or weight management program,
you will eventually need to deal with cravings. As you can
imagine, indulging your every food or beverage whim can derail
your weight loss progress and leave you feeling like a
failure. Luckily, there are lots of great ways to keep your
cravings at bay while still feeling satisfied. Any one of the
following tips might just be the thing to help you deal with
those frustrating sensations and keep your diet on track:
Fill Up on Fluids
One of the best ways to defeat unhealthy cravings is by
filling your stomach with a healthy beverage. Water is the
ideal choice, as it has zero calories and is necessary for
health. Water helps detoxify the body and flush impurities.
Every part of your body needs water in order to thrive. If you
dislike the taste, or lack thereof, try adding lemon. One of
the newest diet innovations are calorie-free flavored powders
that can be easily added to your water to provide a burst of
healthy flavor. Herbal tea is also a good choice, especially
if you're seeking something warm and soothing.
Wait it Out
Sometimes, the best way to defeat a craving is to wait it
out. Eventually, it will go away. Try to distract yourself
from the craving with a healthy activity. Choose something
that you enjoy doing. This might be something like taking a
long walk or a hot bath. Or, try something that stimulates the
brain like playing a game or doing a crossword puzzle. You
should try to wait at least one hour to see if your craving
subsides. If it does, congratulations. If it doesn't, try
eating or drinking something healthy to fill your stomach.
Find a Healthy Substitute
Often, you can substitute an unhealthy craving with a
healthy food item. For example, if you're craving something
salty, go for baked pretzels rather than greasy chips. If you
want something creamy and sweet, try lowfat frozen yogurt
rather than ice cream. Let's say you want pizza. Try ordering
it without cheese and loading it up with healthy vegetables.
The idea is to satisfy your taste buds without sabotaging your
diet. With a little creativity, you can think of healthy
substitutes for your unhealthiest cravings!
Indulge Wisely
No one is going to stick to a diet that's unpleasant all of
the time. Every now and then, it's OK to indulge your cravings
if you do so in an intelligent manner. For example, let's say
you are craving chocolate. Go to the store and choose a
gourmet chocolate bar that contains a high percentage of dark
chocolate, a known antioxidant. Limit your intake to a small
serving, and eat as slowly as you can. Sit down while eating,
and savor every moment of the experience. Maybe you want
potato chips. Allow yourself a few chips, not a whole bag. By
giving in a little and savoring what you want, you'll feel
satisfied without ruining your weight loss efforts.
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