Creating good habits

BoxerBrawler

It occurred to me today that I never crave junk food anymore.

In fact, when I think about the things I used to eat I actually get nauseous! The other day some friends came over with one of those frozen pizza's. The moment it came out of the oven all I could smell was oil and grease and fake cheese and yuk! :sick:

I read that once you stop eating certain things you'll loose your craving or addiction or whatever you want to call it for them. Like they say if you don't eat sugar you don't crave sugar. I have also read about wheat products containing a chemical that creates addiction and some fast food places that use additives in their food that make people crave it. I am not saying that is all true or not, just stuff that I've read and am beginning to believe because of my own personal journey.

Now don't get me wrong... I am all for indulgence in moderation for example, I love chocolate and I usually make sure to leave room in my day to eat a square or two of Simply Light low carb no sugar added dark chocolate (It's delish and at Trader Joe's if you want to try it) And most days even if I can't fit it in I'll have a square or two haha :laugh: But for me personally I mean things like chips for example. I was always a huge chip lover. Salty snack, crunchy, etc. I could down a whole bag by myself in one sitting. But now, if given the choice between chips or a bag of baby carrots I would truly take the carrots hands down.

I actually CRAVE fresh crunchy veggies. I can taste the natural sugars in them and feel the hydration and could basically live on them every day, which I pretty much do.

So it seems that if you want to eat clean it may be a struggle at first but eventually your body will detox the garbage and get used to the good stuff and even crave it! I didn't even think about it before but it has become a habit to automatically go for the healthy options, vegetables, etc. vs. the things I used to eat.

SephiraRose

Fantastic, you certainly have made a healthy life style change. And dark chocolate is full of antioxidants, taste good too.

piratebear1

Well done you.

Im not quite at you stage - but then I dont eat clean, have a big family and eating clean just isnt a practical life long choice for me so Im doing it by making better choices not radical ones.

I certainly notice what foods to do me more these days - I notice which ones are clogging my arteries - i notice which ones bloat me which give headaches etc where as before they all blended into another.

I dont crave half as much as i ever did - and like you I can smell the oil and the fat on certain foods and it repulses me! .. I still am a BIG cheese fan, despite the damage i feel it doing me when i eat it ;-)

BoxerBrawler

Yes, dark chocolate is awesome! I usually eat one square a day for the antioxidant qualities of course haha.
And thanks for the kudo's. I am pretty proud of myself. I mean less than a year ago me and my husband would think nothing of a big breakfast (fried eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash, toast, beans, coffee, etc.). Followed by a couple of late afternoon steak and cheese subs (and a bag of chips haha!) Followed by dinner that I'd cook and it was always something that had to do with pasta, cheese, sauce, etc. We always ate our fruit and veggies too but that was along with the billion calories we were eating daily. I was never obese but certainly overweight for my height. I simply didn't care... But like I said... OMG when I think about those days, I just can't imagine living and eating like that. If I ate any of those items aside from one little taste today it would physically make me sick... can you say hours on the throne? :blushing:

MLouis1

Another good for you! I think I have finally kicked the soda habit. I didn't like it after school ( I teach ) because of the caffeine. So I only had one on the weekends. Now I don't even care. Give me water. I still have my coffee in a.m. but the rest of the day is water. I like to eat fruit, not crazy about any type of juice. And my night snack is more fruit and a piece of string cheese, than carbs. I know fruit has carbs but it also has fiber.

HelllYeaHH

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392214274&sr=1-1&keywords=the+power+of+habit

I'm reading this book and it is really interesting so far. You can read the first 20 ish pages on Amazon. It's really making sense when you think about it.

LRoslin

There are some indulgences with which I can set limits. I can stop myself at a tablespoon of chocolate chips mixed with my favorite cereal. Or a few nuts with chocolate. I eat too much chocolate and my teeth get furry and I feel gross. (Weird, I know.)

I cannot stop myself with french fries or chips. It's best if I don't even start eating those. I've replaced chips with air popped popcorn. French fries, I just avoid. I can't stop at one!

toronto_j

I've noticed that I don't crave sugar anymore either. I used to think nothing of buying a donut or other baked good, ice cream, cookies etc. I actually have a box of unopened cookies as well as a box of pudding cups in my cupboard...just don't feel like touching either. I find fruit and flavoured yogurt provide enough "dessert" for me these days, though I probably couldn't say no to a nice restaurant dessert. Don't know if I could control myself around french fries though, and I'm very careful about nut consumption...those I could definitely go overboard with. Also I'm finally able to measure out a serving of crackers, rice chips etc. and not eat the whole bag in one sitting. This is pretty huge for me. I used to basically make a "meal" out of a box or bag. But I feel satiated and I immediately log what I've eaten to keep myself accountable. And I drink a ton more water, making sure I sip all day instead of waiting until I feel thirsty.

Francl27

Good for you. Sad to say that hasn't happened to me!

BoxerBrawler

Yes! fiber... I just made a post about fiber if you care to read and comment

BoxerBrawler

Yes there are certain items that I simply need to avoid as well but I guess that's part of the battle, ending an addiction and reducing cravings for certain things right? The longer you go without it the less you'll think about it or crave it.

schonsdragon

That is fabulous!

I still have days I want my junk food but I have noticed on those days I want a higher quality and much less of it to satisfy me and usually it is a specific junk food that I am craving not general junk food. I have noticed that once I have some of what I was craving, 1 serving or less, then I am done for a long.