How to avoid the cravings

Posted November 1, 2007 at 09:00 AM by Christopher Jack

Section: His Health, Lifestyle Health, His Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Diets

At this point, I’m sure the combination of exercise and healthy diet has been drilled into your head.  Seems simple enough, but how does one avoid falling into that trap of overeating?  Keeping a few of these rules in the back of your mind to help avoid unwanted calories.

Drink water.  Lots of water.  We’re all familiar with the idea of downing eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day at this point.  Not only can it help flush out your system, keeping yourself hydrated may trick your mind out of any hunger urges, avoiding any moments of weakness (and tubs of ice cream).  Water fresh fruits, such as melons and oranges, will also help curb hunger.  TV time can kill any diet you’ve hooked yourself onto, but keeping a glass of water nearby can ward off the sweet tooth in all of us.

Don’t skip breakfast.  Eating a nutritious breakfast helps stabilize your blood pressure, helping you avoid those midday cookie cravings.  It also helps keep your energy levels up, instead of feeling sluggish, which can lead to overeating itself.  Not convinced?  Studies have shown that those who eat breakfast maintain a healthier weight than those who do not. 

Take a nap.  When we’re tired, we tend to try and get that little “pick me up” by snacking.  To avoid the vending machines in the afternoon, call it a night before Leno picks up. 

Write it out.  Planning out your meals for the day will help you control when, what and how much you eat.  As a general rule, try to eat every three hours, incorporating healthy snacks and smaller mini-meals throughout the day, rather than taking on three larger meals.  Try and work your meals around your workouts, taking in a smaller meal or snack an hour prior to your workout and immediately after. 

Research sources and for more information: [picture]; [About.com]