We all experience cravings, and they can be very difficult to deal with, especially if you indulge them to help you cope with stress. Here is a little advice to deal with cravings.
Sugar
I used to be a chocolate junkie. I still get the cravings, and have had to develop techniques to cope with them. When I was doing consulting work, my clients found the techniques very helpful too. Let's take chocolate (many people's downfall) as the first example. Here are the Don'ts:
1. Don't keep it in the house.
2. Don't keep it in the house.
3. Don't keep it in the house.
Now that is clear (I hope...), here are the 'Do's':
1. Do decide on your chocolate ration. Eg. instead of one medium bar once a day, decide on one medium bar once a week.
2. You may already have a favourite chocolate brand, but now you are going to look for an expensive, luxury brand instead, that you can only buy if you travel some distance to a special shop. Find one that you like as much as (or preferably more) than your usual brand.
3. On the allocated Treat Day, travel to the special shop, buy exactly the ration you have decided on, and no more. You can eat it whenever you want.
4. During the rest of the week, a hot chocolate drink can help you feel that you've had a treat. I make mine by whisking a teaspoon of cocoa powder into a cup of hot, lightly sweetened almond or cashew milk. It's not the real thing but if you're determined to let it take your mind off your cravings then it will. Be aware that there may be quite a lot of sugar in hot chocolate powder, so even this needs to be rationed.
To wean yourself off taking sugar in tea and coffee, I use a technique that a client taught me. First take a sip before putting any sugar in the drink. Then put in half your usual amount of sugar. It will take perfectly sweet. Concentrating on the aroma of the drink can also take your mind off the taste.
Alcohol
Unlike the glossy magazines, I don’t pussyfoot around when it comes to health. Alcohol is toxic to every cell in your body. That doesn’t mean you need to give it up completely, but if you don’t usually look for low-alcohol brands, your body will thank you if you start now. Wine can be mixed with sparkling mineral water to make a spritzer. At home, it's too tempting to finish off a bottle of wine just to avoid wasting it. Supermarkets sell small bottles that are just enough to fill one glass.
Smoking
I wonder why no-one ever tells you how bad smoking is for your gums? Basically, it reduces the blood circulation to your gums, which increases the chance of gum shrinkage and tooth abscesses. End result: tooth loss.
See my free Guide to Healthy Living
Wishing you good health!
Linda
Sorry readers, the enail went out without the last edit. Should be hot, lightly sweetened nut milk. Not very nice unsweetened!