| Most of us are "regular" people. We don't eat the | | | | currently have a support network, startbuilding |
| perfect dietall the time and have our struggles | | | | one TODAY. |
| with food, same as everyoneelse. But having an | | | | - Exercise. It increases feel-good endorphins that |
| awareness of this fact and knowing a littlebit | | | | cut down onyour cravings. Try to get at least 30 |
| about our health and food nutrition can help when | | | | minutes of physicalactivity every day. |
| it comes tomaking wise decisions. | | | | - Use moderation. Instead of stuffing yourself |
| Many people struggle with food "cravings." Studies | | | | with every kind offood hoping that your craving |
| tell us thatit's fairly common for food cravings to | | | | will go away, eat 100 to 200calories of your |
| happen at certain times,quite often at around | | | | "craved" food. |
| bedtime. Your guard may be down, you mayhave | | | | - Substitute with low-fat foods and complex |
| had an unusually hard day, and off you go on | | | | carbs. If you'rehungry for chocolate, eat non-fat |
| yournot-so-merry way to find that tasty treat. | | | | chocolate yogurt. Try fig barsor raisins for a |
| Fatigue and stressoften combine to take their toll | | | | sweet craving. |
| on the best of intentions. | | | | - Never skip a meal. Eat every three to five |
| When food cravings are unconstrained, what | | | | hours. Try sixsmaller meals or regular meals with |
| starts out as abedtime snack quickly turns into a | | | | nutritious snacks. |
| full blown feedingfrenzy...not something most of us | | | | - Understand that hunger craving are oftentimes |
| fully understand or appreciate. | | | | stress related. |
| We head to kitchen and every other place where | | | | Practice other ways to treat chronic stress - a |
| food can hide,clearing a path as we go. | | | | walk in the park,spiritual connections, a cozy |
| Most food cravings are not about satisfying a | | | | fireplace, baths...all thesestimulate neurochemicals |
| nutritional need orimbalance. They seem to be | | | | that activate regions of the brain thatstimulate |
| more emotionally related, or Godforbid, are | | | | pleasure. Relaxation techniques may work by |
| caused by plain old gluttony. Exactly why | | | | reducingthe psychological drives on stress output, |
| weover-indulge is not completely understood, | | | | which can be the rootcauses of stress. Bottom |
| however our knowledgeabout this subject | | | | line, substitute pleasurable experiencesfor comfort |
| continues to grow. | | | | foods. |
| Listed below are some thoughts and ideas about | | | | - Beware of certain medications. They can |
| food cravings: | | | | stimulate appetite. |
| - If the food isn't available, you can't eat it! Empty | | | | Drugs used for the treatment of depression and |
| the cookiejar and keep it that way! Keep healthy | | | | bipolar disordercan be appetite stimulants. Other |
| food choices on-hand. | | | | drugs, both prescription andover the counter, may |
| - Recognize the feelings and emotions that lead-up | | | | influence appetite as well. If you are on |
| to a foodcraving. Do you have food cravings | | | | amedication, and troubled by food cravings, |
| when you're bored, lonely, orstressed? If you can | | | | discuss this with yourdoctor or pharmacist. You |
| identify a trigger, you can deal with theemotion | | | | may be able to find an alternative thatdoesn't |
| that's making you desire a certain food. Try to | | | | send your cravings out of control. |
| deal withthe triggers in the best way you can. | | | | - Distract Yourself. What's that old expression...idle |
| - Sometimes, even recognizing that a craving is | | | | hands arethe devils workshop? Get busy. Do |
| about to happendoesn't seem to help. Don't beat | | | | anything other than cave-in toyour desire for |
| yourself-up. There is alwaystomorrow. Call a | | | | food, and keep doing it until the cravingssubside. |
| friend, make good use of your support | | | | - One final thought, take a look inside your |
| networkand share your feelings with someone. | | | | refrigerator andkitchen cabinets and do some |
| - Get enough sleep. When you're tired, you're | | | | general "house cleaning." Throw-outall that |
| more likely tocrave things. | | | | unhealthy stuff that is waiting to sabotage your |
| - Never give-up. When you "slip", press-in, | | | | diet,and start shopping more wisely. A little |
| bear-down, get agrip, do whatever is necessary | | | | forethought and carefulplanning will go a long way |
| to re-gain control. Try topractice restraint most | | | | for improving your chances ofsuccess. |
| of the time, but don't get legalistic andun-balanced | | | | Eat wisely, be happy, and live long! |
| in your weight loss approach. Think moderation | | | | The information contained in this article is for |
| andnot abstinence at all times! | | | | educational purposesonly and is not intended to |
| - Understand that self-control and discipline by | | | | medically diagnose, treat or cure anydisease. |
| themselves,won't cut it! If you depend totally on | | | | Consult a health care practitioner before beginning |
| yourself for control, youwill fail. Forming caring and | | | | anyhealth care program. |
| supportive relationships isrequired. If you do not | | | | |