How to control your cravings

Miasa1114

I'm the first to say it is very hard (sometime nearly impossible) to resist pregnancy craving. I've recently came apon an article on celebrities and their pregnancy weight gain and a quote caught my attention. While this quote is harsh, negative and and a little bit cold, it really made me think about how I was eating... so I am now sharing it with you. So here it goes (remember that these aren't my words)...

“I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals.” (from Gisele Bundchen).

Now, since I've read this,I stop and think of what I am doing to my body before eating everything I crave for (junk food). I tell myself that my body isn't a garbage disposal and I find something else to eat. I'm now a lot more respectfull toward my body and my baby but still allow myself a treat from time to time

I'm not saying this to make anybody feel bad about themselves (it wasn't even me who said it anyways...). It just that I was searching for a way to get through those awfull cravings and it's the only thing that has worked for me.

I would also be interested in knowing what you do to control your craving... I would like a trick a little bit more positive

ldrosophila

That might work. I've not had luck controlling. I'm simply ravenous lately.

lisapr123

I ask myself if I'd feed it to my baby. If the answer is no, I don't eat it (most of the time). I also subscribe to the philosophy that a taste is enough, which generally it is.

Admittedly, I've been lucky...at 26 weeks the only cravings I have had have been turkey sandwiches & apples.

I find if I don't have the bad stuff in the house and if I fill up on good stuff, I'm good to go most of the time.

Rubyayn

I had a LOT of cravings with my last pregnancy, but I was very unhealthy at the time. I find that this go around I only crave things when my diet and exercize routines suffer. As long as I am eating enough and eating every few hours, then I am good. It has made things a lot easier.

That said, if I want something I eat it. Even if it doesn't fit into my "plan". I always log it and work it into my daily goal though. Luckily, that is pretty easy to do when you are eating almost 2400 calories per day! So far, so good.

A lot of women do use pregnancy as an exuse to eat anything and everything though. I did it last time and paid dearly for it. I was already overweight, gained 60 pounds and swelled up something crazy. My C-section recovery was not the best due to the poor care I took of myself. I vowed I wouldn't do that to myself or my baby again and cannot even explain how mych easier this pregnancy has been.

Jennloella

I could hardly keep anything down, I left the hospital after delivery weighing over 20 pounds less than before I got pregnant, I gave into every damn craving I had!! I was hoping that if I ate what sounded good, I would get to keep it! Seriously, pregnancy isn't an excuse to eat everything in sight, but calorie counting should be the last thing on your mind.

awolf2011

It is just tough...plain and simple. I cave to some of my cravings because sometimes I eat everything else in sight rather than give into my craving so I end up eating WAY more un-needed calories. I'm doing pretty good this time around, so I'm happy with it. I just hope that the last trimester will be good to me!!! :happy:

kristinc06837

Love love love this quote and Will be using it now before I eat something!

Flybeetle

Interesting topic!
I find that whilst pregnant my relationship with food is very similar to when I am not pregnant: it's mostly in my head... Yes, I am physicially more hungry but pregnant or not, it always takes will power not to eat cakes and pizza all day, just as it does now I'm pregnant.
(But I can't speak for anyone else, I think everyone's pregnancy feelings and cravings are very different and personal and might be way harder to manage than mine!)
In my first trimester I was hoping that the myth was true, that being pregnant meant I could eat what I wanted. Then I saw the scales creep up and had a reality check. I went back onto MFP, logged religiously and I started exercising more intensely in my second trimester.
The scales still go up and I have to accept a certain loss of control but I feel some sense of normality from doing what I did before I got pregnant. I eat maintanance calories now and exercise to stay healthy (ahem, so I can eat more).
I am a little scared of the impending third trimester in case I get too tired or uncomfortable to exercise, which means I will burn less calories but probably be more hungry....Eesh!

Anyway, good luck everyone and we should be so proud to be consciously working to maintain a healthy pregnancy!

sallydurkin

Interesting topic!
I find that whilst pregnant my relationship with food is very similar to when I am not pregnant: it's mostly in my head... Yes, I am physicially more hungry but pregnant or not, it always takes will power not to eat cakes and pizza all day, just as it does now I'm pregnant.
(But I can't speak for anyone else, I think everyone's pregnancy feelings and cravings are very different and personal and might be way harder to manage than mine!)

I agree with whats said here, I have worked really hard this pregnancy to manage my cravings, some I pay attention to especially if they are consistent, I have not really given into them unless they were healthy or seeming appropriate. I looked up many to see if they could vitamin needed and a few of mine I added in some extra vitamins and that seems to help.... magnesium, calcium and iron seemed to cure most.
But like above not everyones pregnancy is the same..... this is my 5th preg and not even mine have been the same I gave into lots of temptations in my others gained much weight for each of them and this one is completely different! I have kept it very clean eating wise and exercised through the whole thing I am now over 38 weeks. And I love the way I look and feel, my weight gain has been minimum. Being my last pregnancy I am glad to have done it this way, I am sure I will come out better then when I started.