Crave less
If the word 'crave' was associated with fruits and vegetables, everyone would be healthier. But no, we crave cookies, candy, chips, ice cream, soda -- the junk.
Scientists know cravings are a mental thing, and research has identified a few creative ways to crave less or feel satiated on less. MSNBC shares eight research-based ways to crave less -- I've heard of a few, but these three are new to me:
- Satisfying a craving does not mean weight gain: A new, small study found women who ate decadent, portion-controlled bites of desired foods still lost weight.
- Visuals distract: Thinking of a bowl of Skittles? Jump on the computer and click on brightly-colored photos or open a magazine and look at the pictures. Alternate visuals diminish craves -- just hope you don't flip past a candy ad!
- Sniff mint, lose nearly a pound: Research has shown inhaling peppermint scent can empower you to walk away from afternoon cravings. In this study, periodic, daily mint-sniffers ate 3,000 fewer calories per week.
Have you ever heard a guy say that he needs to shed a few pounds, make some tiny changes in his lifestyle, and -- BOOM! -- he's at his goal weight? I know that's how it is for my dad. He'll state he wants to lose weight, drop desserts for a week, and all of a sudden he's down five pounds. Quite frankly, it's annoying. Granted, this is a bit of a stereotype -- not all men can lose weight easily. Differences in body chemistry, lifestyle habits, and other health factors can make it difficult for some men to lose weight. But, as a general rule, 
Did you know there are two kinds of cravings? A biological craving occurs when you're physiologically hungry -- it doesn't go away. I suppose that's where the term "gnawing hunger" derives from. An emotional craving is temporary -- you can distract yourself from this type of craving. Hmmm ... I guess munching on that three-pound bag of peanut M&Ms in between swigs from a bottle of cold 7UP at the drive-thru movie as a kid was satisfying an emotional craving, not a true biological need. I start wishing for that three-pound bag whenever we pull into a drive-thru theatre.
There are some diet gimmicks that just don't seem worth it. Such as? Well,
Easter is over but chances are, the chocolate is far from gone. I can relate--the Easter Toblerone I was gifted is staring me down from across the room as we speak. Luckily, I recently stumbled across
Craving your favorite food can destroy an otherwise
I am so glad I put that box of chocolate chip Teddy Grahams back on the shelf at Target last night. I was so close to buying it -- I had it in my cart for much of my shopping trip -- and I'm nothing but thankful this morning that I let the moment pass.
It seems blue is the least desirable color when it comes to eating -- so whip out those blue plates if you wish to slim down your appetite.
Ok, so proper dental hygene is an important thing -- we all know that. But brushing your teeth is not only good for your dental health, but your waistline too! Let me explain:
Today on
My otherwise fit and healthy brother-in-law was recently diagnosed with a hereditary condition that makes his body produce excessive amounts of cholesterol. The cure? Quit eating fat. ALL fat. It was a big change for this guy who was used to hearty meals and an unrestricted diet. I recently asked him how it was going, and he said, "It was really hard in the beginning, because I love to eat. But now I pick up an apple or a banana and it just tastes soooo good." He said he battled cravings for about 6 weeks, but that now they were virtually gone.
FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.
There aren't many foods I crave but when I get a craving for chocolate, watch out -- I'll tear the whole house apart looking for a single M&M. Chocolate seems to be the #1 food craving among the women I know so I don't feel too alone in this one.
Junk food in tempting. It really is. We know it's not good for us, but tell that to our cravings. They want what they want and nutritional value plays no role in that. The best we can do is try to find a healthy alternative that will satisfy the cravings and keep us on track too. 











