How You Can Control Food Cravings

When you are trying to lose weight or just eat healthier, food cravings can be a challenge and one you find hard to conquer. It doesn't have to be that way! Find out how you can control those cravings and succeed in your weight loss and healthy eating.

I know for me personally, soda cravings can be horrible. I know that I should give them up completely for optimum success but I just haven't done it yet. Those cravings can be hard to deal with. One tip here that works for me is to keep coke out of the house! In doing this when you have a craving you can't just reach for that soda can or bottle!

How about down sizing? It works in the corporate world so why not in the healthy-trying -to-lose-weight world? For instance, say you love chocolate cake and maybe you normally have a huge slice. Next time try getting only half the amount you would normally get. You still get the treat but half the calories and sugar. Maybe not the best solution but it still gives you the treat you like.

Give the low calorie/ low sugar foods a try. I am not big on some of the low calorie snacks and foods they have out there. A lot of times I find they are not only low in calories but low in taste. Now in saying that, I have found a few so I encourage you to do some checking and taste testing of your own.

Avoiding certain foods or ingredients all together can help curb your cravings. Some ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, caffeine and sugar are addictive and leave you craving more. A lot of the sugar substitutes are the same way. That is probably why a lot of diet sodas and the like make you gain weight instead of lose.

This next tip may sound silly but it does work. Drink water! Lots and lots of water! When you are feeling full of water you tend to lose the craving you had for something else. Maybe this is only a temporary fix but if it works until that craving passes then I consider it a success!

Brush your teeth! I know, I know, another weird suggestion, but this too does work! Have you drank orange juice after brushing your teeth? It tastes disgusting! It kind of works the same way here. After brushing your teeth you tend to normally not want to eat something right after. Another temporary solution but if it works, it works!

Plan substitutes for your cravings. If you know you are going to crave chocolate then buy a lower calorie chocolate bar that you know you like and keep it handy and have that instead of the full calorie candy bar you might otherwise reach for. Do this for all your cravings. Having a plan before the craving comes will be a tremendous help to you.

Keep a journal and track when cravings hit. If you find out when they come and what triggers them you can derail them before they even come or at least be prepared for when they do come.

There could also be health reasons for your cravings. Low blood sugar or even low iron could cause you to have certain cravings. It would be a good idea to get those levels checked.

Eating at regular times during the day can help keep those cravings away. Skipping meals or putting a lot of time between meals can make those cravings creep up. If you feel satisfied all day you are more likely not have those strong food cravings.

Food cravings are normal and more than likely will come. If you are prepared for them you can handle it better and you will feel more in control of your weight loss and healthy eating efforts.