cravings-related stories
'This Is Why You're Fat' Creator on Staying Thin When Surrounded by Fatty Foods
Jessica Amason, Viral Media Editor of BuzzFeed.com, co-creator of thisiswhyyourefat.com and co-author of "This Is Why You're Fat"
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| Photo: Barnes and Noble |
"I'm always on the Web, so I'm attuned to the new trends," says Amason, editor for BuzzFeed.com and former blogger for AOL's Urlesque.com. "And of course I'd noticed there were sites like Serious Eats and Pimp That Snack that were popping up everywhere. And so it made sense that there should be a one-stop shop kind of site." That's Fit also talked to Amason about her exercise regimen ("I go to a gym and I try to eat pretty healthy, but my motto has always been everything in moderation"), and if her eating habits have changed ("I was an athlete growing up, so I've always been a fairly healthy eater, but I have become very knowledgeable about the crazy fatty foods that are out there.") Read on for her favorite foods from the blog, and if she thinks these meals are really why you're fat.
That's Fit: What's your favorite guilty pleasure?
Jessica Amason: My weakness is baked goods, that's a pretty tough one from me. From the site, though, I think that my favorite is probably either the pizza burger, or the snack stadium. Just because there's real commitment there, those guys know how to go big. Because I know it's my weakness, I try not to indulge all that often, but with the holidays coming up I'm sure I'm gonna go a little crazy and then have to crack down once I get back.
Candy Cravings Already: Is a Healthy Halloween Possible?
Keep track of the latest in diet and fitness Twitter trends and opinions with this weekly post. Not only will AOL Health's Twitter alias Healthpop and That's_Fit ask fitness-related questions and share the best responses with you, we'll scour the Twittersphere for the latest buzz on everything from good eats to exercise routines gone bad.
There's candy wrappers all over the office, and when we get home, the first thing we reach for is the Halloween dish. Turns out all the cool Twits out there are craving seasonal treats now, too. Here's how they try to strike a balance between indulging and eating mindfully:
MobiMom
JaredCastle
leslie_dennis
pbsparents
khat0511
ColletteAM
Read any good Tweets? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!
There's candy wrappers all over the office, and when we get home, the first thing we reach for is the Halloween dish. Turns out all the cool Twits out there are craving seasonal treats now, too. Here's how they try to strike a balance between indulging and eating mindfully:
MobiMom Finally broke into the "hidden" bag of Halloween candy - oh, no - this is NOT good....
JaredCastle Halloween trivia: A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins. Candy corn (22 pieces) is 140 calories. http://short.to/sl7q
leslie_dennis Halloween candy should be counted as a food group unto itself. I've already had 3 Smarties and a Now & Later. I'm wired!
pbsparents Plan for a healthy Halloween. Instead of candy, give stickers, pencils or small change w/ a note saying "Treat yourself!"
khat0511 Just bought enough halloween candy to choke a whale.. it's all staring at us now.. if i don't look, the calories don't count, right?
ColletteAM @Thats_Fit I couldn't care less about Halloween candy. 1) I'm vegan & 2) Its junk. If I want chocolate it's gotta be the best.
Read any good Tweets? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!
Does PMS Give You Monster Cravings?
That time of the month can be a real killer for healthy eating habits. When those PMS cravings kick in, it can be hard to resist.
When you're premenstrual, hormone fluctuations can cause physical changes in your appetite. What's more, heightened emotions can also find you reaching for the fridge handle. AOL Health has some great tips for healthful replacements for common cravings.
Whether they're premenstrual cravings or your regular run-of-the-mill need for a chocolate fix, remember that you can control your cravings. And if you're doubting that your hunger is real, stop and do the HALT test to determine if you're really hungry or if it's just your emotions.
Remember, exercise is a great way to manage PMS symptoms. Last week, I wondered if you worked out with your dog.
When you're premenstrual, hormone fluctuations can cause physical changes in your appetite. What's more, heightened emotions can also find you reaching for the fridge handle. AOL Health has some great tips for healthful replacements for common cravings.
Whether they're premenstrual cravings or your regular run-of-the-mill need for a chocolate fix, remember that you can control your cravings. And if you're doubting that your hunger is real, stop and do the HALT test to determine if you're really hungry or if it's just your emotions.
Remember, exercise is a great way to manage PMS symptoms. Last week, I wondered if you worked out with your dog.
Crunches, Nia Vardalos and Smartslips - Week in Review - June 15 to June 21
Can certain foods really affect your mood? It's possible. Maggie tells us that eating photoestrogenic foods might help women control drastic mood swings.Stop doing those crunches! Or at least, do them in moderation. Instead, says Ashley, protect your back by doing exercises that strengthen your core.
Could you have hidden food allergies that are causing inflammation and making you fat? Jonny says it's possible, and he'll teach you how to find out.
Nia Vardalos on her weight loss secret: "I had a blood sugar problem so my Doctor ordered me to lose weight, it was really hard but I did it through diet, exercise and it took a year." Not much of a secret there, just good, old-fashioned hard work.
Are munching and crunching adding too many calories to your daily diet? Here are some ideas for curing those cravings naturally.
What will they think of next? Kristen tries out a Smartslip, kind of like a big resistance band worn under your skirt to tone your legs all day long. Would you wear one?
'Tis the season for flip flops, the world's most laid back shoes. Let AOL Health show you how to protect those tootsies while you wear your favorite summer shoes in style.
This Father's Day, help your dad be a vertical dad. That is, show him how to relieve stress by being on his feet and staying active, not reclining horizontally on the couch.
After you take Dad out for a hike or a bike, TCBY is serving up free yogurt. Jacki's got tips for keeping this treat healthy.
Can sleep improve your performance in the gym or on the field? We all know how important sleep is, so it's worth a shot to make sure you're getting plenty of shut-eye.
Crave-NX - Can it Cut Your Cravings?
Walk the Walk, Diet & Weight Loss
Snacking is by far my biggest pitfall when it comes to losing weight. And working from home doesn't help. Rather than having a set schedule for breaks or lunch, I've got 24/7 access to my kitchen.
So when the makers of a new product called Crave-NX contacted me to see if I'd like to try their seven day diet-spray for a week, I was intrigued. According to Generex Biotechnology Corporation, Crave-NX is a "scientifically formulated and clinically tested oral glucose spray designed to fuel the mind and control sweet tooth cravings (i.e. cookies) and carb cravings (i.e. potato chips) resulting in saved calories."
So yes, I was intrigued, but cautious too. I haven't taken so much as a diet pill since I was 16 years old and wasn't about to start now. So I asked for more information. The spray contains two calories of glucose, which is absorbed through the cheeks, causing a small rise in blood sugar to satisfy hunger cravings without the calories. After looking at the ingredients list (water, glucose, glycerin, sodium, glycocholate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium benzoate, artificial flavors), I thought "Why not?" and gave it a try.
Walking the Walk - Day 1
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Day 1: I'm kind of both nervous and excited to start Crave-NX today. Nervous, because as I previously mentioned, I'm not big on diet aids. I'm worried about weird side effects. But I'm excited because snacking is where my diet nearly always fails. If I can keep my diet to meals alone -- maybe with a piece of fruit or veggies in between -- I know I'll eventually reach my goals.At 10 a.m., the first craving hits. "I'm hungry," my brain says. Only I'm not, because I just had breakfast at 8. So instead I reach for the Crave-NX. It's got a mild flavor, like orange drink. I squirt five times, then go back to work. My mouth feels kind of tingly, and 15 minutes later I look up from my computer and realize I'm not hungry after all.
Huh.
Walking the Walk - Day 3
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Day 3: According to the Crave-NX packaging, I can use the spray between meals, before meals, before exercising, and really, whenever a craving hits. (But Crave-NX is not to be used as a meal replacement, so don't even think about it.) I'm finding that it's the biggest help in the mornings, but this afternoon it came in handy too. Out for a bike ride, my girls talked me into stopping in at the ice cream store. I happened to have Crave-NX in my purse and pulled it out. I felt a little silly using it in public, but I learned two things: 1) Don't miss your mouth ... this stuffy is sticky! And 2) I really do have willpower against double scoop waffle cones.
Crave-NX didn't stop me from ordering ice cream (not even magical spray could do that), but I stuck to a baby-sized scoop of a lite sorbet, rather than something far more damaging.
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Walking the Walk - Day 5
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Day 5: So I've tried using Crave-NX between meals, today I'm going to use it before a meal to see if it helps me control my portion sizes.
I eat a light breakfast and plan a late lunch, just to make sure I'm good and hungry. And I am. About 15 minutes before I plan on eating, I take Crave-NX. Then I go to work making the most delicious looking salad on the planet, with so many goodies on top, I'm not sure it qualifies as a health food anymore.
The Crave-NX kicks in, and I'm less interested in my salad when I dig in. It definitely took the edge off my hunger, so I feel in control and don't feel the need to devour my salad. But I do anyway. Not because I'm hungry, but because it tastes so damn good. Do they make a spray for that?
Walking the Walk - The Verdict
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Crave-NX surprised me. I honestly expected it not to work, at best, or at worst, to not like using it. But it did manage to take the edge off my between-meal cravings, and it wasn't an unpleasant experience after all. Here's what I liked about Crave-NX:
- It comes in a small bottle that's perfect for sticking in a purse or pocket.
- It's relatively inexpensive, at $7.77 per bottle.
- It's got a decent flavor and is easy to use.
- It's works fairly quickly.
Obviously, if you're going to try Crave-NX, it's a use-at-your-own-risk kind of situation. And that, perhaps, is the biggest negative I could find about the product. Their website is curiously free of information about how Crave-NX really works or even an ingredients list. A friend suggested to me that maybe Crave-NX works because I think it's supposed to. I hadn't considered that, but the placebo effect could be a factor here.
I'm very cautious about using products when I don't know what's in them or what they might do to me when I take them, so if I was simply a consumer who stumbled across the Crave-NX website, I probably wouldn't buy it because of that lack of information. When I emailed the company to ask for more information, they did send along an ingredients list, as well as a small study, but I still got no clear information on how Crave-NX works in the body to prevent hunger and product is not FDA approved.
Walking the Walk - Making it Work for You
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If Crave-NX sounds like a product that might help you, you can order it easily from their website. There are also plenty of other ways to combat cravings while you lose weight, too, including:
- Drink plenty of water. Sometimes what feels like hunger is actually thirst.
- Eat! Small meals or snacks every three hours or so will keep blood sugar levels more stable.
- Balance your snacks with protein and fat. Munching on carbs just leads to craving more carbs.
- Brush your teeth. It's distracting, and nobody wants to ruin a minty fresh feeling with a sugary snack.
- Try filling up on a bulky fruit -- apples work great. They'll satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping you full.
Have you ever tried to cut cravings? What kinds of tips and tricks can you share with our readers to make this healthy habit stick?
Got a Walking the Walk idea you'd like to see Bethany try for seven days? Share it with us in comments!
Master Your Cravings
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Pavel Somov, author of "Eating the Moment"
That's Fit: In your book, you point out that even problem solving can lead us to eat when we may not be hungry. Can you explain why?
Somov: Work-related thinking and problem solving are potentially stressful activities; stress can trigger emotional eating; in other words, when we have to solve a problem or figure something out we might comfort ourselves with food. For example, on the way to work you might think: "I have a difficult meeting this morning. Why don't I pick up some Starbucks and grab some donuts?"
Work-related thinking and problem solving can be also a conditioned trigger for eating when you are not hungry even if a given work or problem-solving project is not stressful in and of itself. When we regularly comfort ourselves with food whenever we have something difficult to do or something challenging to think through, we develop a habit of coping with work-related stress by eating. Over time, work-related cues (e.g. brain-storming sessions) become cues for eating when you are not hungry.
Somov: Work-related thinking and problem solving are potentially stressful activities; stress can trigger emotional eating; in other words, when we have to solve a problem or figure something out we might comfort ourselves with food. For example, on the way to work you might think: "I have a difficult meeting this morning. Why don't I pick up some Starbucks and grab some donuts?"
Work-related thinking and problem solving can be also a conditioned trigger for eating when you are not hungry even if a given work or problem-solving project is not stressful in and of itself. When we regularly comfort ourselves with food whenever we have something difficult to do or something challenging to think through, we develop a habit of coping with work-related stress by eating. Over time, work-related cues (e.g. brain-storming sessions) become cues for eating when you are not hungry.
Carb Cravings - Kick 'Em Before Spring
Now that it's mid-March, winter should be coming to a close, though for many of us, spring is but a mere dream we hang onto. But whether or not it feels warmer where you are, one thing is certain: Bathing suit season will be here before you know it, and the time to start shaping up is now.Problem is, research shows that we crave carbs when it's chilly out, which means that we need to get a handle on our cravings first. Here are a few tips:
- Purge your pantry. Get rid of sugar and unhealthy carbs like white rice and pasta. Stock the fridge with fresh veggies and healthy things like hummus. Believe me, you'll snack on the healthy stuff when you don't have a choice.
- Find filling alternatives. Nuts, for instance, are a great source of energy and -- in small doses -- are waistline-friendly.
- Give in ... wisely. If you can't live without your morning toast, don't beat yourself up -- just have whole wheat bread and make sure you only stick to one slice.
Got any tips of your own?
Weight Loss - Why Gender Matters
Men and women are different, there's no arguing that. And around our house, it's never more apparent than when there's chocolate in the house -- I'm forced to eat it; he isn't.OK, so not forced. That would imply I'm not in charge of what I eat. But it's really, really hard for me to resist sweets, which is why I don't buy them. He, on the other hand, is like a kid who still has Halloween candy left at Easter. In January, Bev told us that there's a reason for this: Our brains are wired differently. Men can say no to their favorite foods, but women can't stop thinking about them.
Clearly, when it comes to willpower, men have the upper hand. But according to "Newsweek," there are several ways that men and women differ when it comes to dieting. For instance, men might have stronger willpower, but nutritionally, women are smarter. "With women, they're very eager to learn," says American Dietetic Association spokesman Jim White. "They look for nutrients, read food labels and focus on healthy cooking and healthy meals."
Temptations Derail Your Diet Plans
- 38 percent of you are swayed by temptation. That's understandable! The next time a craving kicks in, try to beat it with Jana Klauer's stopwatch plan for craving control.
- 27 percent of you feel family and friends try to sabotage your weight-loss efforts. This is a sad but true anomaly. You would think that those who love you would want you to be healthy and reach your weight loss goals. Often, however, family and friends are surprised or somehow threatened by your efforts. Others may unintentionally throw you off course or say something insensitive. The key to solving this problem is taking control of your own weight. Others can not force feed you and your weight loss efforts are -- ultimately -- up to you. To get the support you need from others, express what you need clearly. Tell your family and friends what helps you -- and what hurts you. Don't expect others to just intuitively know your needs.
- 17 percent of you get hung up when you hit a plateau. Plateaus are an unfortunate weight loss reality. But you can break through it, so don't give up. Check out Jonny Bowden's eight plateau-busting tips.
- 13 percent of you said nothing can derail your weight loss plans. When you set your mind to it, you do it.
- 4 percent of you have been thrown off by crazy diet plans. Those plans can sound good in the beginning, but they're rarely sustainable for the long-term. Check out AOL Health for diet tips that work.
Junk Food - Break Up With Bad Habits
Drink Shockers
By Mary Kearl
Your favorite beverage may be just as diet-wrecking as fatty fast food, adding calories, sugar and fat and offering little or no nutritional value. Watch out for these drink shockers that will tip you closer to the F.D.A. and U.S.D.A. recommended daily limits for calories (2,000), fat (65 grams) and added sugar (40 grams) a day. Added sugars means any sugar not found naturally within the food, so look out for ingredients like sugar, maple syrup, honey, corn syrup and molasses, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Red Bull
Size: 8.3 oz can
Calories: 110
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: 27 g
This drink contains more than half the sugar you should have in one day. Plus, do you really want to use 110 of your 2,000 calories on something you can drink in about 10 seconds?
*Calories per Ounce: About 13
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Sunsweet Prune Juice
Size: 8 fl oz
Calories: 180
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: 18 g
While Sunsweet's juice is 100 percent juice and does not contain any added sugars, it still is a high concentration of natural sucrose, which means the calories can add up. In comparison, one serving of Sunsweet's regular prunes contains 100 calories and 12 grams of sugar. Plus, it contains 11 percent fiber which you miss out on when you drink the juice.
*Calories per Ounce: 22.5
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Hawaiian Punch Juicy Red
Size: 8 fl oz
Calories: 120
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: 29 g
Hawaiian Punch Juicy Red contains five percent juice, which means 95 percent of it comes from water, plus dubious ingredients like High Fructose Corn Syrup, artificial flavoring, juice concentrates and sugar. Since many "juice" drinks like Hawaiian punch do not contain 100 percent juice, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting juice intake to 4-6 ounces for kids under 7 years, and no more than 8-12 ounces for older children and teens.
*Calories per Ounce: 15
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Hershey's Chocolate Milk
Size: 1 cup, or 8 fl oz
Calories: 200
Fat: 5 g
Sugars: 29 g
Just one serving of this milk contains 17 more grams of sugar than regular low-fat milk, or nearly half the added sugar you should have in one day. Make this an occasional treat, not a once or twice-a-day habit.
*Calories per Ounce: 25
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
McDonald's McFlurry with M&M's candies
Size: 12 oz
Calories: 620
Fat: 20 g
Sugars: 85 g
When it comes to calories, this drink is about the equivalent of one meal. Plus, you better watch your sugar intake for the rest of the day.
*Calories per Ounce: About 52
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Wendy's Chocolate Twisted Frosty with M&M's
Size: 16 oz
Calories: 560
Fat: 19 g
Sugars: 72 g
Yes, this drink is a little lighter on all counts than a McFlurry, but you'd still be better off ordering a chocolate or vanilla Frosty in the junior or small sizes. You'd save 250 to 410 calories and 11 to 15 grams of fat.
*Calories per Ounce: 35
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Glaceau Vitamin Water
Size: 20 oz
Calories: 125
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: about 33 g
There is one easy way to avoid this diet trap. If you're feeling dehydrated or low on energy, drink a glass of calorie-free, sugar-free, fat-free water and eat one of your five to nine servings of fruits or veggies recommended by the U.S.D.A.
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Starbucks Frappuccino Blended Crème, Double Chocolate Chip Crème (without whipped cream)
Size: Venti, 24 fl oz
Calories: 550
Fat: 11 g
Sugars: 79 g
By adding whipped cream this drink becomes even more shocking with an extra 120 calories and 11 fat grams.
*Calories per Ounce: About 23
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Baskin Robbins Cappuccino Blast Caramel
Size: 24 fl oz
Calories: 720
Fat: 24 g
Sugars: 102 g
Steer clear of this cappuccino the next time you're at Baskin Robbins -- it contains about a third of your daily fat allowance -- and head for the low fat variety of the Cappuccino Blast. At 220 calories and 2 grams of fat it's a much lighter option. But watch your sugar content for the rest of the day because even this option contains 44 grams.
*Calories per Ounce: 30
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
