Curb Your Appetite!

Issue #2

Curb Your Appetite!

Ten Tips to Help Curb Your Cravings

By Michele Walbright

We've changed our eating habits! We've begun a fitness program! We're all well on our way to reaching our weight loss goal! Never the less... there is an obstacle that continues to haunt us. We can't stop thinking about the brownies, the chips, or the ice cream. The cravings hit at the strangest times. What can we do to help us get past those cravings and choose the healthier alternatives?

Here are some tips to help us all curb those cravings:

1. If you weren't doing this already, I would strongly recommend following Slim Body Coach, Josh's plan for eating five mini-meals throughout the day. You can find more information on the five mini meals in his ebook www.SlimBodyBook.com. By eating five mini-meals, you can help stabilize your blood-sugar levels, and this will help you to reduce hunger and to reduce those cravings.

2. Remove all temptation from your home and office. Clear your pantry of all unhealthy snacks such as cookies, candies, and chips. For many of us it can be very hard to let go, I've heard excuses such as, “My children like to snack on junk food so I have to have them around the house." Why not set a good example for your children by teaching them healthy eating habits? This can benefit both you and your children.

3. When you're at the supermarket, don't buy junk food, instead opt for healthier alternatives. Instead of buying ice cream, opt for low-fat yogurt. If you buy junk food then you can guarantee that you'll eat it. I try to avoid the bakery aisle at the supermarket, cakes and cookies are my biggest weaknesses. Also, try making a list before going grocery shopping. Do not buy anything not on the list.

4. Prepare healthy snacks in advance such as chopping up fruit and veggies. You can store them in Ziploc Bags to make them more readily available when those cravings hit.

5. Reach for a tall glass of water. You may not actually be hungry; sometimes you can mistake dehydration for hunger. Have a glass of water and wait... you may not feel the need to eat after all. You want to make sure that you're drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.

6. Find out what the triggers are for your cravings. Do you always have the urge to eat while stressed out from work? Do you tend to snack while depressed? Try replacing your need to snack with a healthier activity such as exercise--which can not only be a great stress release, but studies have shown that it also helps with depression.

7. Splurge on occasion. You have to be able to enjoy an occasional splurge meal. If you follow Josh's five mini-meals plan, you are entitled to two splurge meals a week. This sounds pretty reasonable doesn't it? Any super strict diet can be hard to maintain and it is easier to get frustrated and give up. You want a diet that you can live with, eat healthy foods that you enjoy and don't starve yourself.

8. Have you had an especially stressful week? Are you struggling with cravings more than usual? Post a topic in our Slim Body Coach Forums or write in your Slim Body Coach Journal, chances are you are not the only one. You can find so much support from our Slim Body community, which can help you with the extra motivation you need to keep on track.

9. Keep a food diary. It helps to keep track of what you're eating every day and how many calories you are consuming. That way you can keep track of how many splurge meals you've already consumed for the week. You can keep track in your Slim Body Coach Food Diary.

10. Slim Body Matrix Shakes--available in three flavors: Milk Chocolate Cream, Chocolate Caramel Swirl, Vanilla Cake Batter, and Strawberry Banana Split. They work wonders to help curb your hunger and cravings for chocolate, and the flavor of a strawberry banana split--all without the guilt!

We'll all continue to experience these cravings on occasion. By keeping these ten tips in mind, we'll be well prepared to handle them and not let them deter us from reaching our weight loss goal!