Cravings, etc!

Losingitslowlyxoxo

I often have cravings for chocolate, or any sweets really. What are some healthy alternatives? Also, what are some words of motivation you use on yourself when you're feeling a bit bleak about the losing weight process?

kommodevaran

Sweets are delicious, and it's normal to have cravings. You don't have to follow every impulse, though.

A healthy diet is varied and balanced, and you can eat anything you like. No foods are healthy or unhealthy, it's all about dosage and frequency.

Weight loss takes time. Even with a good amount to lose (obesity), the most optimally set calorie target, correct logging, consistently hitting calorie target, and no cheating or forgetting, the most you can expect to lose per week, is 1% of your body weight, and that won't show up as a steady loss on the scale, either.

If you want to keep weight off after you've hit goal weight, you have no choice but to accept these things and find ways to make it work for you.

Don't look for "motivation" and "healthy alternatives" - it's all a part of a scheme to take your attention away from what works, and hopefully your money, too.

allouisek

I have the same problem too! Craving for something "nice". Learned to stock up with fruit so that I don't grab a sweety or chocolate out of the cupboard!

motivatedmartha

If you are used to eating lots of sweets then it can be difficult adjusting to not eating them often (you can of course still incorporate some into your meal plans). I find fruit or fruit teas help. I know all the arguments about fruit also being high sugar but you can choose some slightly lower ones (grapes and bananas are high) and the sugars in fruit are not so rapidly absorbed so you avoid the whole sugar peak thing while still enjoying something sweet in your mouth. I also like sugar free gum or mints as an alternative to buying a sneaky choccie bar when out and about. Best thing is just to ensure that you are eating enough to stop real hunger pangs and then act like your mother and say 'no' to empty calories

kimny72

I have chocolate with my tea several nights a week. Other times I have a couple of cookies or some ice cream. Still lost 20 lbs and have been maintaining for 2 years.

I tend to rely on single serve sweets to keep things in moderation. Dove Promises chocolates, Lindor truffles, ice cream pops stuff like that. Obviously, if there's something you really can't control yourself with, you might need to keep it out of the house, but I think learning to moderate fun foods is a big key to success. I strive to get my nutrition and macros from my meals and my snacks are just yummy snacks :drinker:

laab34

This was my battle tonight! Im also looking for new snack suggestions. Fruit isn't a midnight snack.

rheddmobile

Dark chocolate actually is healthy. I have a piece almost every day, usually shaved over my cinnamon latte. 52 calories.

Chantelledc90

I’m a terrible sweet tooth person and new to this reducing sugar intake too!! But I love red capsicum so Ive started preparing a container of capsicum sticks along with carrot sticks to snack on.
I also have Muslie bars with drizzled vanilla yogurt or yogurt with oats. There’s still a bit of sugar but not as much as I’d normally have (like drinking coke!)
I’m not a huge fan of fruit but my partner has containers of cut up apples and oranges so sometimes I help myself to those.
It’s step by step for me!

ceiswyn

I solve my chocolate cravings by eating chocolate. I have a load of good chocolates from Hotel Chocolat in my snacks cupboard; I get one of those, put it in a little dip dish, carry it through to the living room, then eat it slowly and lovingly and dwell on the aftertaste.

I’ve lost over 190 lb so far, without giving up the good things in life

Falklang

70%+ Dark Chocolate
Sugar Free Jelly
Greek Yogurt
Salted Nuts (easy on the salt if you have trouble with blood pressure or are weighing next day)

LivingtheLeanDream

I solve my cravings by having what I want as long as it fits into my calories.

Shadowfox429

I suggest picking up a healthy trail mix with seeds, nuts, cranberries, and some dark chocolate bits.
I’ve picked one up from Whole Foods called Sweet and Salty. It’s one of my favorites and fits into my macros well!
Sometimes when you are craving chocolate, it can point to a magnesium deficiency.
The trail mix will pack in magnesium, plus there are bits of dark chocolate, so it’ll help those cravings.

crb426

Before you eat the chocolate, log it into your food diary. If it fits into your calorie goal, eat it.

If it will put you way over, then that shock of a number should be enough for you to walk away.

bandwidthbandit

Falklang wrote: »

70%+ Dark Chocolate
Sugar Free Jelly
Greek Yogurt
Salted Nuts (easy on the salt if you have trouble with blood pressure or are weighing next day)

Haha, I always try to stay far under my sodium allowance the day before I weigh. Every ounce helps...

Losingitslowlyxoxo

Thanks everyone! Lots of helpful ideas!

Slasher09

Ill be 100% honest. As someone with an almost 15 year history with eating disorders (bulimia/anorexia)...I stopped having the "cravings" when I stopped telling myself what I couldn't have. I mean...I DO have cravings for a sweet, or some chocolate or a soda and if it fits into my calories I just have it. I took a "cheat day" this past weekend and decided to make some chicken wing dip for game night because I had been craving it for a month or so. I didn't gain 20lbs overnight. I just went back to tracking the next day. I've also been seeing lots of amazing cinnamon roll videos on facebook and I make really good ones in my bread machine so I anticipate those will be on the horizon.

what I DONT have anymore is that feeling like I HAVE to have it or I'm going to die, or that I HAVE to have more and more and more. I don't have this feeling like I hate myself or that I'm a failure....AND I still get to eat the chocolate (she says as she is sipping the non-diet soda that she realized she had the calories for)

ladyhusker39

Healthy is such a subjective term and really has no value without context. Within a generally healthy diet you can enjoy sweets, even chocolate.

Right now I'm really enjoying having a chocolate pudding cup every night after dinner. I guess it takes me back to my childhood or something because it always makes me happy :-)