I am by no means perfect. I am pretty sure the Good Book refers to only one Person being that way. I struggle. I have temptations and set backs. It is all part of the process.
It sucks when my husband and I have a date night, and I feel guilty eating anything other than a salad. While I know that is the best choice, I want to eat the food smothered in butter and 6 dinner rolls (carbs mmmmmmm). We don't have to go completely without.
We went to a dinner theater where the food was buffet style. You may think this is bad - buffet...all-you-can-eat. However, this can be good! I loaded up on salad. I got everything that was fresh and piled it on before topping it with a little bit of low calorie dressing. Then I got fruit, a small slice of meat, some veggies and passed on the potatoes. I even got a small serving of baked fish.
I hate fish.
There, I said it. I try my hardest to like it because I know the health benefits, but I cannot choke it down. If it didn't taste so much like....well....fish, then I could enjoy it. Blah! Anyway.....
The server came around with our choices for our free dessert. My heart screamed for the turtle cheesecake, but I chose the sugar free chocolate cake. The meal was delish and I didn't sweat the few extra calories I had eaten in the chocolate cake.
Studies have shown that sugar can be as addictive as cocaine. I firmly believe this statistic. I can go days without sugar but once I eat one cookie, it is like my body goes dumb and tells me to eat the whole package. If I would just stay away from them and not consume the one, I would be okay. However, once I get that taste of sugar I go all crazy-eyed.
Sugar, however, is not my kryptonite.
Salt.
I love any salty snack. Doritos are my favorite but I am not bias. If it has a crunch and salt, I will devour it like a sucker fish - even the healthy, salty snacks. It doesn't matter if it is healthy or not. I will consume enough where the health factor no longer is valid.
So what does one do?
Whether it is carbs, salt or sugar, there are ways to defeat the craving beast.
1. Drink plenty of water! Drink, Drink, Drink! Not only is it good for your health and skin but it fills your belly so you aren't that hungry and it helps curb cravings.
2. Indulge. Yup, I said it. Indulge once in awhile. I don't mean sit down with an entire bag of Doritos (guilty). But treat yourself to some on occasion. If you eliminate what you love completely, you will feel like you are being punished.
3. Don't buy it. Don't keep it in your house. If you don't have it, you can't eat it.
4. Find healthy alternatives. Love sugar? Try fresh fruit or a low calorie Popsicle. Love salt? Try airpopped popcorn with a light dusting of sea salt (sea salt is still SALT - go easy!)
5. Journal your food. There are a lot of free apps (My Fitness Pal is what I use) and good ole pen and paper. Once you realize what you eat in a day, you may be surprised. You are more apt to make better choices if you physically see it on paper.
Those are just a few options you can try.
Most of all, don't beat yourself up over it. Okay so you had a cookie or 10. Don't feel like it is the end of the world. Realize what you did, realize it is a weakness and move on.
It is a process. Health is not a destination; it is a way of life! You got this.
Peace,
BeastModeActivated
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