It's common to respond to stress by distracting yourself with your favorite comfort foods. Here are some ideas for healthier ways to cope when you're under pressure:
1. Do a preemptive strike on unhealthy eating. Keep unacceptable foods out of the house. If you know a particular food will be irresistible to you when you're stressed, make sure it is not within your grasp.
2. Keep your hands busy. Find something else to do with your hands besides eat. Keep the daily crossword handy, turn your attention to minor chores, surf the internet, or distract yourself by picking up the phone and calling your friends or family.
3. Reach for healthy snacks. If you have to eat, make sure that any foods you reach for will be healthy ones. Try crunchy vegetables like celery sticks, green-pepper strips, cauliflower buds, and broccoli florets. If you don't want them plain, dip them in hummus or an eggplant dip. Prepare these snacks ahead of time, and keep them in front of your refrigerator.
4. Avoidance! If you find it hard to stop eating something once you've started, your best bet may be to avoid the food completely. Once you give in, it's all too easy to overeat without thinking about it. Take it from me, the ultimate Peanut Butter Abuser!
It is not easy to resist cravings yet also to respond to hunger. Sometimes, it's not always easy to tell which is which.
Here are guidelines for telling the difference:
Hunger is the feeling you get when your blood sugar gradually drops; about four or five hours after a meal. It's your body's way of telling you that you're past due for your next feeding. Cravings, on the other hand, happen within a couple of hours after a meal. They occur as a result of reactive hypoglycemia; when your brain realizes your blood sugar is too-low and your body starts to crave foods that will give it a fast fix-usually a High-Glycemic carbohydrate. See http://www.aim4nutrition.com/glycemicindex.html
Reactive hypoglycemia is a vicious cycle. Once you eat a High-Glycemic carb to cure your cravings, you've set yourself up for another spike and subsequent quick drop in blood sugar-which will, in turn, make you crave more carbs. Because it may not always be possible to determine whether you are experiencing cravings or real hunger, it's best to eat consistent, regular meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. If you don't give your body the chance to be hungry, you won't be at risk of having cravings.
One thing to look out for; sugar, fat and salt can be addictive. The foods we crave usually have plenty of these ingredients. Sweet foods have almost as much salt and fat as potato chips. Salty foods such as crackers and spreads have fat and added sugar. The more you eat sugar, the more your body can tolerate it, so your body starts craving it more often to feel satisfied.
The first step to control cravings is to take unnecessary salt and sugar out of your diet. READ the ingredients list and choose simpler foods with much less salt and sugar.
Satisfy cravings with the most nutritious version of the foods you like. If you crave chocolate, pick dark chocolate. It is rich in magnesium, fiber, antioxidants and, compared to milk chocolate, it is a bit lower in sugar, fat and calories. The fat is dark chocolate does not raise cholesterol or harm blood vessels the way milk chocolate can. Have a small portion of 1.5 ounces.
Hunger is intensified too much by variety. Limit meals & snacks to one kind of food at any given time of day and you'll fill up faster on few calories. Uniform eating will help you be more successful at losing fat and will make it easy for you to food shop.
Don't starve yourself. It will eventually backfire and lead you to binge. If you are hungry, then eat. Just choose healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains
My fat loss and fitness plan "Every Body Loses" will give you the tools you need to begin a healthy fat loss program. The style of eating and exercising outlined in my book is one that you can follow for life without feeling deprived. If you're serious about losing fat and getting fit go to http://www.aim4nutrition.com and get started TODAY!
Aimee Deak
Personal Trainer & Nutrition Analyst
AIM 4 NUTRITION
http://www.aim4nutrition.com
Aimee Deak is a certified personal trainer, nutrition analyst and author of the book, "Every Body Loses", an easy-to follow, step-by-step guide to fat loss.
You can find more information about fat loss and exercise on her website http://www.aim4nutrition.com
cleaning team near Mundelein ..Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can... Read More
Most men and women put on weight differently. But on... Read More
Running For Weight Loss??.Slow DownYou may be out running your... Read More
Have you been on a new diet for a couple... Read More
Every weight loss surgery patient I've met said they at... Read More
Q: I've heard you mention that you don't need tons... Read More
Cellulite - Reduce The Appearance --------------------------------- Sallie Elizabeth has always... Read More
I'm sick of all the fad diets I see people... Read More
I am somebody who has had an ongoing battle with... Read More
It seems everyone is looking for that magic bullet -... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat... Read More
Women on diets need more calcium than normal to avoid... Read More
Choosing a weight loss program may be a daunting task.... Read More
The rediscovery of the wealth of the wonder drug Hoodia... Read More
I had lost nearly fifty pounds before anyone mentioned my... Read More
Have you ever received those tempting ads that seem to... Read More
The percentage of Americans who are overweight and obese is... Read More
Obesity and fast foods - there's little doubt about the... Read More
You have finally decided to tackle weight management and lose... Read More
There's no way you can separate the Jack LaLanne diet... Read More
Steady gains made in improvement in life expectancy may be... Read More
I would like to introduce you to an incredible new... Read More
Have you ever wondered how actors stay in such great... Read More
As of the writing of this article, May 16, 2005,... Read More
move out cleaning service Park Ridge ..I just came back from three days in Las Vegas.... Read More
Like millions of men and women, I started resolving to... Read More
If you've been pursuing a lighter, healthier version of yourself,... Read More
Permanent Weight loss is not about Diet. If you are... Read More
Using healthy low carb recipes are an important part of... Read More
There is no doubt about it; Americans are eating in... Read More
Are you trying to lose weight?If you are, STOP!Funny thing... Read More
Green tea has been highly valued in Asia for centuries... Read More
Yep, it is that time of year again! Time to... Read More
Serious diet pills are intended for people who are overweight... Read More
Imagine this ... What if you could ?Increase the rate... Read More
Patrick Henry once said, "I have but one lamp by... Read More
When Instant Results Take TimeYesterday I decided to "get back... Read More
Today, Ephedra is an herb of controversy. It contains ephedrine,... Read More
Gastric-bypass surgery is only the first step many morbidly obese... Read More
What the Diet Industry Does Not Want You To Know:... Read More
It's really difficult for a person to socialise if he... Read More
Is this even possible?Well hold on to your seat because... Read More
You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More
To lose weight and get in shape you must have... Read More
Our bodies only require a small amount of salt for... Read More
It is very tempting to try that fad diet that... Read More
In the early weeks after having weight loss surgery almost... Read More
If you are committed to the low carb way of... Read More
It has been 15 years since I was diagnosed with... Read More
Weight Loss |