Hand Over the Junk Food and Nobody Gets Hurt
The simple truth is we all have cravings. Personally, I am weak toward almost every kind of junk food imaginable. I'm extremely fond of chocolate, ice cream, various typs of chips and dips as well as sugar laden drinks A day full of stress and I could eat all those yummy treats in a single day and completely forget about real food.
Everyone battles cravings, it is important to find your own personal tools to beat those cravings. The key for me is making a commitment to myself to eat healthy most of the time. I have found it helpful, to allow myself one complete day to cheat and allowing everything in moderation during my healthy eating days.
Everything in Moderation
Since I typically think, I need some sort of chocolate on a daily basis. Yes, I said, I need it daily. Need may be a bit of a stretch, since I am sure there have been days in my life that had no chocolate in them. Honestly, I cannot remember the last day that may not have had some form of chocolate.
The key is knowing that I have the chocolate, in small amounts, available any time I want it. The next step is counting that chocolate into my daily-allotted calorie goal. If I decide I do not want the chocolate no harm done I simply save those calories. If I indulge a little more than expected, it's not a disaster as I have accounted for part of those calories so it's not a huge pitfall.
When choosing to keep cravings on hand it is important to have them available only in small servings. This way if you have one serving it is no biggie you are allowed. If you fudge and have an extra serving, you have not blown all your hard work. This works for all types of craving foods as long as you can be dedicated and determined.
Cheat Days
A cheat day is generally one day per week that is predetermined that you can eat as much as you want of whatever foods you want. I generally choose to have cheat days on the weekends. My weekend cheat day usually consists of food such as chips and salsa, onion rings or other yummy non-diet friendly foods.
As you learn to eat healthy through the week you will notice the as much as you want may become less and less. Your appetite begins to listen to your body and you will realize that eating too much of certain foods leaves you feeling not so great. In addition, as you eat healthy foods you may realize you just do not want the unhealthy choices as much.
Honestly, that is what people tell me. I however just love my cheat days. I toughly enjoy a greasy cheeseburger or chips or whatever I happen to have been waiting all week for.
Eating Healthy
Ok this is the not so fun part of it but well worth it, since you know you can have any of your cravings in moderation. Remember moderation equals a total of one or two small servings per day. Knowing you have the cheat day will also make it much easier to get through the healthy eating days.
When eating healthy it is important to eat your fruits, veggies and protein every day. High fiber low calorie foods are best. Eat a healthy breakfast, a snack (this is a good time for a treat), a healthy lunch, a snack (another good time for a treat if you must), followed by a healthy supper.
When possible it is best to eat a piece of fruit or a healthy version of any food you are craving but if you are craving it bad allow your self a small portion. By allowing yourself to have those foods you crave in moderation, you will avoid having a melt down and over indulging on those foods. Cheat days also help as eating like a maniac one day wont hurt and you know you can do it again the following week as long as you eat healthy all week long.
Most people can be very careful about what they eat all week long if they know they can have anything and everything they want in just a few days. It is kind of like watching what you eat for a few days before a holiday so you can enjoy all the yummy foods at the family dinner. I find the cheat day is kind of like my own personal holiday every week.
Dedication Pays Off
After awhile dedication will pay off and you will eventually find you will automatically start making healthy decisions without even thinking about it. Your cheat days and treats may even start becoming healthier without even trying.
This is because what we do most often becomes a habit over time. And since our bodies work more efficiently and feel better when we eat healthier it stands to reason that after getting our bodies accustomed to healthy foods those will eventually become the foods we crave.
There is Nothing Like Chocolate
While I have found that nothing satisfies like having my daily dose of chocolate I have found that by allowing myself a little each day has prevented me from going on chocolate binges. I have also found that now that I am more careful I actually like dark chocolate almost as much as milk chocolate, therefore, I have switched to mostly dark chocolate treats.