As a Certified Venice Nutrition Coach for the past eight years, I understand how challenging it can be for my clients to fight the urge to give in to cravings. Like all of my clients, I’ve had to learn how to best handle my cravings too. The Chef in me always wants to splurge and the health nut in me is constantly searching for balance.
If you’ve read my blogs in the past, then you know that I truly encourage our members and my personal clients to occasionally indulge in their favorite treats. After all, leading a healthy lifestyle is all about balance, and chocolate, of course! But what happens when you no longer have a sense of balance? What happens when your cravings take the control and you lose it? When your cravings and the urge to give in to them becomes overwhelming, it’s time to come up with a solution that can help you take control and achieve balance once again. Below is my proven strategy to help you determine whether to give in or let it go, and how to get back in the driver’s seat to your health!
1. Pull out your goal sheet. If you’ve never taken the time to write down your personal goals or your “why”, (the reason your trying to live a healthier lifestyle in the first place), now’s the time to do it. In fact, do it right now! Take a few minutes to jot down your short term goals (ie. I will aim to have only one “off meal” this week and will eat balanced meals the rest of the time to keep my blood sugar stable) and long term goals (I am going to lose 10 pounds of body fat in the next 3 months). Every time the urge to give in to a craving surfaces, pull out your goal sheet and read your goals out loud. When your goals are staring you right in the face, it’s a lot harder to ignore them! You may just find that the anticipation and excitement over reaching your goals far outweighs the immediate satisfaction of a cookie.
2. Call someone. As part of my service to my personal clients, I provide my cell phone as well as the instructions to contact me anytime, especially when the “out of control” feeling hits. This allows my clients to vent, let it all out and 9 times out of 10, I can help guide them to make a better choice. If you are not working with a personal Nutrition Coach, call someone, anyone you trust who knows your goals and understands your need for a healthy lifestyle. Usually just talking about the craving makes it easier to pass it up. Need a personal Nutrition Coach? Check out our packages online. Go to the STORE button, then the NUTRITIONAL CONSULTING Button and see whether working one-on-one with someone is the answer for you.
3. Ask yourself the following questions. “Am I physically hungry for this _________ (4th slice of pizza, bag of chips, etc.)? “How will I feel 20 minutes after I eat all of this?” “How will I feel tomorrow morning after I eat all of this?” “Is this really worth it?”. Chances are, if you ask and answer those questions honestly, you can put the chips down and walk away.
4. Wait 20 minutes and see if the craving passes. Normally, after 20 minutes the craving will disappear. In that 20 minute time frame, try to do something engaging. Call a friend or take a walk (or pull out that goal sheet!).
Remember, it’s okay to give in to cravings here and there. In fact, the best thing you can do is plan a splurge meal into your week and work hard all week to eat clean. When you do indulge, make sure to eat slowly, savor every bite and most importantly get right back on track 3 to 4 hours later with a balanced meal to re-stabilize blood sugar.
If you are struggling with your cravings on a regular basis or feel that you are lacking control, it may be time to work with a personal Nutrition Coach who can help create realistic goals, guide you towards reaching them and come up with solutions to your challenges. To learn more, check out the STORE button, then the NUTRITIONAL CONSULTING button at www.venicenutrition.com And remember, life is all about balance, just make sure you’re the one in the driver’s seat!
Live well!
My best,
Valerie Cogswell
Lead Nutrition Coach and Head Chef