With the holidays quickly approaching, sugary treats are all around us. Although holiday weight gain is common, it does not have to be inevitable. Not overdoing it on the sugar will help you stay healthy throughout the holidays and beyond. If you have a hard time walking away from sugar and find yourself craving sweets, you are not alone.
Sugar can be very addictive and so many of us struggle with this! Overcoming cravings will give you the power to choose when you want to eat sugar. It is so important to have this power because it will allow you to enjoy yourself in a balanced way. These four tips will help empower you to ditch dessert (most of the time) and feel good about it.
1. Eat more sweet vegetables. You can significantly reduce sugar cravings by consuming more sweet vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, or butternut squash. You will get a sweet fix without a dramatic spike in blood sugar. By fueling your body with healthy sources of sweetness, you won’t be as tempted to reach for the holiday cookies.
2. Consume Healthy Fats. Sometimes a sugar craving is a side effect of a diet lacking in healthy fats. If you find yourself dreaming about sweets often, try adding more healthy fats to your diet. Coconut oil, walnuts, avocado, extra virgin olive oil, eggs, and salmon are all great examples of healthy fats. Nourishing your body will help lower cravings because you will feel full and satiated; therefore less likely to be tempted by junk food.
3. Tune into your feelings. When we consume sugar it creates a euphoric state in the brain. A lot of times sugar cravings are coming from the desire to feel happy. Notice if you tend to want sugar when things are not going your way, or when you feel lonely. If that is the case it is important to deal with the emotions that are causing this. Simply bringing your attention to this can be a step in the right direction.
4. Take a deep breath, and let go. Believe it or not, obsessing over your sugar cravings won’t help you get rid of them. If you have taken all of the practical steps to reduce sugar cravings and are still having a hard time, give yourself a break. If your mind is focused too much on the fact that you do not want to eat sugar, it might actually cause you to want it more. The mind is very powerful!
Giving too much thought to something that you are trying to quit will keep your consciousness focused on that thing. So, relax and trust your body. Spend some time meditating, exercising, or doing something you enjoy instead of beating yourself up about eating dessert. You might find that your sugar cravings slowly dissolve as you stop focusing on them so much.
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About the Author: Natalie Canizares – IIN Certified Health Coach, Motivational Speaker
