Does your sweet tooth get in the way of your weight loss goals?
Do you do a good job in every other part of your healthy diet except for when it comes to sweets?
Well you are not alone; many people who are trying to lose weight have this exact same problem.
But don’t despair: there are plenty of ways to control your sweet truth, so that you don’t pack on unwanted pounds.
Let’s start with a quick explanation of how sugar affects your body. When you eat or drink something with a high amount of sugar, your blood sugar level spikes, and you feel really good for a little while.
But then very soon after, your blood sugar level drops, and so does your energy level and mood. Then you will experience the exact same craving that you had just a little while ago.
So if you want to win the battle with your sweet tooth, you have to stop this vicious cycle. Once you train yourself to abstain from sugar as much as possible, you simply won’t have those cravings. So the absolute best thing you can do is substitute healthy foods for those sugary foods.
Instead of starting your morning with a cereal or a beverage full of sugar, choose healthier options instead. When you have a craving, reach for a piece of fruit, some healthy vegetables, or some yogurt. By choosing healthy options, you will help yourself stay out of the vicious cycle that causes craving after craving. You will also experience more stable moods and energy levels.
But what if you simply cannot avoid a sweet temptation? You hear the ice cream calling from the freezer and you simply can’t get your mind off of it? We all have moments like this, and the best strategy is to delay the temptation as you substitute with a healthier alternative.
When I have these moments, I tell myself that if I still want the treat in an hour, then I can have it then. I make a mental note of the time and I chew some gum or have some tea in the mean time. If I am actually hungry, I will choose a healthy snack. Generally I am satisfied by the alternative or I end up getting involved in something else, so that I end up avoiding the temptation altogether.
The good thing about this strategy is that you won’t feel nearly as deprived as if you were just to tell yourself that you absolutely can not have the snack. When you feel like you are having to deprive yourself and are missing out, then it is much more difficult to maintain your diet for the long haul.
When you do give in to your sweet tooth, remember that not all temptations are created equal. There are 100-calorie splurges and there are 2000-calorie splurges. Make sure you know how many calories you are consuming, and that your splurges will not be a serious setback to your weight loss goals. Choose lower-calorie options, serve yourself small portions and enjoy your treat slowly.
Science has been able to verify that by eating slower, you’ll eat less, and that will help you lose more weight.. The facts has shown that the people who eat slower usually weigh less.
Remember to make your decisions based on the health content of the food. If a snack is a pure junk food, eat as little as possible.
If your current diet includes a lot of sugar, it will be more difficult to implement these strategies in the beginning, because your body is literally addicted to sugar.
But just remember that if you can make it through a couple of days without sugar, you will stop experiencing the cravings that make it so hard to stick to your diet in the first place. Stock up on gum, tea or any other low-calorie alternative that will help you avoid high calorie temptations.
If you love this article, you’ll love what my student and close friend, Susan, is going to share with you on the 5 Foods to Never Eat For Breakfast. Click on the next page below to watch the video.
About the Author:
Emma Deangela is the best selling author of The Alkaline Diet Program and 80/20 Fat Loss. She has helped over tens of thousands of men and women to lose weight and transform their health with sound nutrition advice.
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