How to Reduce Cravings for Junk Food in 5 Easy Steps
I’m going to be honest with you: junk food is hard for me to ignore. It can be hard for me to say no when its offered. Life is too short to miss out on things. Although this is true, there comes a point where we eat way too much junk food and end up with a feeling worse than ever. The question is, when do we step in to take control of our diet, and how do we maintain it? How can we make ourselves feel better while still enjoying the foods we love? The following steps will help you reduce cravings for junk food to help create a happier, more fulfilled you!
1. Control Your Stress
Stress management is the number one key to a healthy body and a healthy mind and is really the staple that diet, exercise, and sleep rests on. When you manage your stress, you’re more likely to make better food choices. If you manage your stress, you’re going to be more likely to prioritize a workout to take care of yourself; your sleep is going to be so much better. When you are stressed, everything goes out of the window. Often we focus so much on the diet and exercise portion that these beneficial, healthy things become a source of stress. By prioritizing stress management, the rest can fall into place and work more efficiently which makes us feel better and healthier?
2. Don’t Deprive Yourself
This is probably the most important and most commonly mistaken concept of dieting. You should always listen to your body. Do not deprive yourself of a certain food group or follow a restrictive diet if you don’t feel like it is right for you. There are too many diets that completely restrict some of your favorite foods. While it is good to follow a consistent plan, treat yourself.
Not all dieting is bad, but a strict and strenuous one can potentially cause more harm than good. Before you start new eating habits, it may be a good idea to contact a doctor, dietician or personal trainer to organize a plan and determine what is best for your personal health.
3. Be Aware of What You’re Craving
What have you been craving lately? Is it sweets? Pizza? Or just waffles with a lot of syrup? Write it down, or make a mental note of it. By knowing what you’re up against, you can begin to pick out patterns and start to form a strategy for battling these cravings.
4. Distract Yourself
What’s the easiest way to avoid something? To “forget” about it. Although this concept normally comes into play when you forget to get things done, it can still be applied to reducing cravings for junk food as well.
A study in Addictive Behaviors suggests that playing Tetris for just three minutes can drastically reduce a craving. If Tetris isn’t your forte, talking to a friend can also be a great way to steer your mind away from those nagging cravings. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
5. End Your Meals Right
I know I’m not the only one who starts thinking about dessert in the middle of dinner. To avoid the inevitable binge of eats, let your body know you’re done. To do this, try developing a positive trigger to signal your body that you’re done eating for the night. For example, finishing dinner with a cup of mint or green tea and honey may fill a sweet craving and also provide your body with the benefits you need to help you sleep. In this situation, you are getting the sweet satisfaction from the honey, but you’re also giving your body awesome benefits that will decrease your dependency on sugary treats.
Summer is amongst us!
