Every time you give in to your cravings, it’s like starting all over again. You relive the moment when you first tasted that delicious snack or that slice of cake, and it feels so agonizing. You try not to think about it, but you can’t help but feel the need to take that bite again. This vicious cycle of giving in and relapsing over and over again is called ‘restarting’, and it can be a scary experience for anyone trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you’re struggling with cravings, it’s important to know how to deal with them. You don’t have to give in every time they come around, and they don’t have to define you. Follow these tips to never restart again, and keep your cravings in check.
Understand What Triggers Cravings
As humans, we crave food because it is a natural human instinct. The thing is, not all cravings are the same. They can come from many different places, and this is why it’s important to take a step back and think about what may be triggering your cravings. The most common triggers of cravings are emotional stressors like boredom, sadness, or anger; physical hunger; or inactivity. It's important to recognize which one you're experiencing, so that you know how best to deal with the craving.
Learn to Manage Your Feelings
If you’re struggling with cravings, it can be difficult to manage your feelings. When you give in to a craving, it can feel like a victory. You won that battle and managed to resist temptation. But when you relapse and start all over again, you feel like you’ve lost the war.
It’s important to keep in mind that cravings don’t define who you are. You have the power to control your urges and make good decisions no matter how tempting they may be. You just need to learn how to manage your emotions better so that they don’t derail you from your healthy lifestyle goals.
When cravings come around, try visualizing what a healthy lifestyle looks like for you - whether it's a simple weight loss goal or something more complex like quitting smoking or taking care of yourself. This helps motivate you to take care of yourself instead of giving in every time cravings come around. Remember why it's important for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and find ways that work best for YOU when it comes to resisting those urges.
Find Accountability
Some people need to be accountable to somebody else in order to avoid restarting. If you’re struggling with your cravings, find a friend or family member that can help you stay on track. You can either ask them to help you check-in every day or week about your eating habits, or ask them for emergency support when the cravings come around. This accountability partner should be someone who cares about your health and wants to see you succeed.
Plan Ahead
When you know that you’re going to be in a situation where temptations are constantly around, it can be easy to think of them as an enemy. But the truth is, cravings aren't your enemy. Give yourself time and space to make healthy choices, and don’t deprive yourself of the things you love.
For example, if you have a craving for pizza tonight, write down all the ingredients for a healthy pizza on your fridge so when you get hungry you have something healthy to eat. If you have a craving for chocolate cake at midnight, consider eating fruit instead before bedtime so that you don’t find yourself raiding the pantry in the middle of the night.
Planning ahead will help reduce cravings and keep them from being overwhelming. For example, if you know that your favorite cereal is unhealthy and want to resist when it's sitting right in front of you at breakfast time, take two or three bites before wrapping it up in plastic wrap so it won't be there later when temptation gets too strong.
Exercise regularly
One of the best ways to deal with cravings is by exercising. When you’re stressed, exercise releases endorphins, which will help make you feel better. If you’re short on time, try a short walk outside or do some deep breathing exercises. When you exercise, your body releases dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. These chemicals have been shown to suppress hunger and enhance moods.
Conclusion
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to overcoming cravings, but there are a few steps you can take to help make it easier:
1. Understand what triggers cravings for you - figure out what leads to a craving so you can avoid it if possible.
2. Seek emotional support - talk to friends and family about your cravings and seek emotional support.
3. Find accountability - tell someone about your cravings so they can keep you accountable and encourage you to stay strong.
4. Make a plan to deal with cravings - think of how you'll deal with a craving when it occurs and what you'll do the next time the craving comes up.
5. Stay active - regular physical activity can help manage cravings, so make exercise a regular part of your life.
Post a Comment