How do you get rid of cravings?

SykoNI

As in the title. Any ideas? Cravings especially for the likes of sweets, or a bar of Mars or crisps etc. How do you combat it?

THuffman1967

I work those into my calorie budget for the day. If I don't allow myself to give in a little to the cravings, I'm afraid that I would blow it entirely. So figure out what you are craving the most (for me it's ALWAYS something with chocolate) and work it in.

anemoneprose

You could

- get a super saturated version or analog of the thing you're craving (eg, dark chocolate, not milk; super salty edamame instead of crisps/chips)

- have the opposite of the thing you crave (want crisps, have a banana; want sweets, have a pickle)

Best is to not have temptation around, & refuse or distribute food gifts. Why do people still do that

bahacca

Yep-if you are craving it, put it into your cals and eat it. Just use portion control. Having a craving for potato chips is NOT license to eat a whole 1 lb bag of them!

Saaaam42

Control my portions or opt for the healthier version (i.e. dark chocolate)

jmeyer925

Like the others have pretty much said, you're not going to get rid of your cravings. You have to learn how to manage them.

And try and use them as a motivational tool! Really craving that fun size snickers? no no no, can't have it until after you've walked for half an hour. Want that extra beer? Not until you've stayed under your calories for 3 days in a row. Do you really need that regular ice cream? No, the TCBY frozen yogurt tastes just as good!

Also try and replace your sweet tooth with other things as well like fruits and flavored waters. Will help with the short term. Just dont cut them out completely unless you KNOW you can. Otherwise you're going to binge on them.

rivka_m

I generally have cravings at work. Sometimes I pour out a little of something for myself and give a coworker the rest of the package or eat a bit and dump the rest in the garbage. It's wasteful (especially $-wise) but it's better than eating a whole bag of chips by myself.

Graelwyn75

Either have a little of what you fancy each day, and work it into your calories OR hold off during the week and allow one weekend day where you let yourself have a little of the things you craved during the week and do a good workout.

Alternatively, find healthier options that might satisfy, such as some nuts and dried fruit for the sweet stuff, or a diet hot chocolate, or a chocolate mousse stuck in the freezer and you can make your own crisps doing kale chips - recipe should be easy to find online - or grab some rice cakes instead.

ipsamet

I eat it? I've learned that, for me anyway, trying to get the cravings to go away is not going to work. If I make anything off limits, the "diet" is going out the window soon enough and I'm back to binging. So, I work it in to my calories for the day and have a serving rather than going overboard.

Been working for me for almost a year and 100 pounds from my highest weight.

zaph0d

Cravings are a result of hunger. So get un-hungry, i.e., eat.

j0zf

I eat small amounts of the things I crave, and then for the most part "out of sight - out of mind" helps.

Smrhoads

I chug a bunch of water

Jessicao33

As in the title. Any ideas? Cravings especially for the likes of sweets, or a bar of Mars or crisps etc. How do you combat it?

I take gymnema sylvestrev400 mg And it helps a lot with sweets take 1-2 callers one to 3 times daily before each meal. I only do it 2 Tim's a day... Good luck

Flowers4Julia

I think cravings for certain foods, especially sweets, come from a need to feel a little high...sugars have the ability to temporarily lift you up by increasing the serotonin in the brain. Unfortunately, it's too temporary and has bad effects on insulin and fat storage,,etc.

Another way to beat cravings without bad effects is to increase protein intake and teach yourself that this would make for a healthier person, inside and out.

There is alot of cool research and info out there on the net on this subject. Make it your new hobby to get some good info.

Most folks are just gonna tell you to chew gum or drink water. I say education is POWER! Go for it!

MusicMakinSnaye

I either avoid it completely and not go near it (was craving McDonald's and McDonald's is conveniently on my way to work. Just avoid it. Nothing there is good for me) or I fit it in. Observe portions as best as possible.

mollz007

I just try to distract myself

mary659497

I have found that nothing works for me when I have a craving so I try my best to include in my daily calorie allottment. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't. However, I just move forward.

Roseygirl1

I think how you deal with cravings depends on what effect indulging has on you, and on what your goals are.

For me, my overriding goal is to return to being vibrantly well after years of illness, which has given me a lot of belly fat. To meet that goal, I really need to control my sugar and carbs, and eat as nutrient-dense as I can. So for me, I choose not to keep sugary treats in the house, and I am really settling in to eating a whole foods, carb-controlled, sugar-free diet. I focus more on what I want to get more of---like colorful veggies---than on what I should have---like cookies and white bread, etc.

Also, I have times where I can't stop, so it's best for me to not have my trigger foods in the house, since I don't want to set myself up for a binge. I will allow myself a treat, but it's usually for a special occasion, out at a restaurant, and rarely.

However, if your health permits it, and you aren't a binger, I don't see why you couldn't indulge if it's a controllable thing for you.

Since it isn't for me, I find I do best without the things that trigger cravings. What helps me a lot is following principles of the paleo/primal diets. It REALLY does away with cravings!

My biggest challenge is evening, when I watch TV. I've found that a cup of a naturally sweet herbal tea does the trick for me then. If I'm hungry, I'll eat some almonds. They really take the edge off in a big way. The other trick I have is to mix a TB. of high quality coconut oil with a TB. of good cocoa powder until it's smooth and creamy, and just eat it off the spoon. Coconut oil is a healthful fat and cocoa is full of antioxidants! It satisfies my chocolate need without triggering me for a binge. I CAN only eat one (spoonful).

Good luck!
Susie

inkandsheep

Eating healthier in general has really helped me. E.g. I use very little salt and added oil in my cooking and after doing that for some months, I don't really want something greasy and salty anymore (I used to love take away pizzas and chips...). Eating things that help me feel fuller longer helps as well.

Substituting with healthier snacks is also a good alternative. Instead of chocolate bars I have some cold pressed fruit/nut bars around - they only have about 100 cals each and are a much better option without all that added sugar normal sweets and chocolate bars have.

angiechimpanzee

Stop eating the things you crave. Eliminate them from your diet entirely, yeah I said it.

The more you eat them, the more your body wants. They're like poison, empty nutrient-void foods that trick the brain into wanting more & more. Get rid of them. Eat nutrient-rich foods instead, things that will actually satisfy your body's needs. Once the crap is out of your system & you've replaced them with beneficial foods, your body & mind will thank you, and the cravings will be a thing of the past.

angiechimpanzee

Eating healthier in general has really helped me. E.g. I use very little salt and added oil in my cooking and after doing that for some months, I don't really want something greasy and salty anymore (I used to love take away pizzas and chips...). Eating things that help me feel fuller longer helps as well.

Substituting with healthier snacks is also a good alternative. Instead of chocolate bars I have some cold pressed fruit/nut bars around - they only have about 100 cals each and are a much better option without all that added sugar normal sweets and chocolate bars have.

This! Precisely what happens to me.

cramernh

As in the title. Any ideas? Cravings especially for the likes of sweets, or a bar of Mars or crisps etc. How do you combat it?

Very easily.... I learned about food triggers, sensitivities and allergies and how certain foods were affecting me both hormonally, physically, etc...

I dont crave junk food.. I dont even miss it.
I dont miss pasta, potatoes, rice, corn, flour, bread - I dont want any of it... when I got rid of those foods under medical care, it took care of all of my sweet-related addictions...

rml_16

Stop eating the things you crave. Eliminate them from your diet entirely, yeah I said it.

The more you eat them, the more your body wants. They're like poison, empty nutrient-void foods that trick the brain into wanting more & more. Get rid of them. Eat nutrient-rich foods instead, things that will actually satisfy your body's needs. Once the crap is out of your system & you've replaced them with beneficial foods, your body & mind will thank you, and the cravings will be a thing of the past.

What if I crave asparagus?

Leeannboswell

As soon as I gave up wheat, last April, I no longer have cravings for sweets, flour, sugar, junk food, ice cream, goodies, etc.

I eat only pure foods, like it comes out of the ground or off the tree, except for yogurt, honey and peanut butter and meat (small amounts, not more than 4 oz per day, if that).

No cravings!! Go figure!!!

Leeannboswell

Yah!! Hear! Hear! You hit it on the head. Don't eat it, you won't crave it. Duh!

Eat the asparagus!! Go Nuts!!!

yowza101

I usually wait 30 minutes, drink more water and do something else to get my mind off of it. If I still want it after 30 minutes, I have it then. With me, if I wait longer, then I'll eat more then what I wanted. I don't buy the big size bag of candy, chips, etc. If I do it at home, then I buy something that I know my 19 yo likes and then I know it's going to be gone a lot sooner. Sometimes the 30 minute thing work and sometimes it don't. The best part, I don't beat myself up if I give in the craving.

It's normal to have cravings, I just try to have something healthier and when that healthier item don't work, then yes I will get a Snickers or whatever I am craving...hahahahaha.

MzStarrQueenB

Drink water then wait 15 mins take a walk then when all else fails. I eat ONE serving of fresh fruit or veggies. And if that doesnt work I drink more water. And if that doesnt work I eat one serving size of the item that I crave. If its really unhealthy like Taco Bell for example. I cook it myself to lower the calories. If its cookies like Oreos for example I will just have HALF of a serving size thats like one cookie.





If you set your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.....



http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/8987-serious-diet-support-group

Leeannboswell

Yah!! Hear! Hear! You hit it on the head. Don't eat it, you won't crave it.

Eat the asparagus!! Go Nuts!!!

WendyTerry420

I try to budget in a treat each day. So sometimes I can just remind myself that I will be having a yummy dessert after dinner. If it's TOM-induced, I usually cave-in. :frown: