Mistakes That Make Cravings Worse
By Lana Bandoim
Cravings can destroy diet and weight loss plans while making people feel like failures. They are hard to ignore, almost impossible to resist and leave people wishing for more. Consider the following common mistakes that can make cravings worse.
Skipping Breakfast or Not Eating Enough
When you have a weight loss goal, skipping breakfast may seem like an easy option. Many people believe it is an easy way to cut calories. However, by skipping breakfast or not eating enough in the morning, cravings can increase. Studies show that breakfast should include protein to reduce cravings later in the day.
Eating Around the Craving
Eating around a craving instead of indulging in a small piece of the food is a common mistake. For example, people may have a craving for a chocolate chip cookie and milk. However, it is not part of their diet, so they try to ignore it by eating a fruit salad, yogurt, cheese sticks, granola bars and trail mix. At the end of the day, the craving for the cookie is still an issue, and the additional food they consumed is higher in calories than the cookie. It would have been simpler and easier to take a couple of bites of the cookie and a few sips of milk.
Ignoring Nutritional Deficiencies
In some cases, specific cravings can indicate a nutritional deficiency. For example, a craving for chocolate may be a magnesium deficiency, and the desire to eat burgers may be an iron deficiency. Some diets can make it harder to get all of the necessary nutrients the body needs. It is important to pay attention to cravings and check the nutrients you are consuming. Supplements may be a necessary addition to the diet plan. By ignoring these deficiencies, the cravings will only get worse.
Looking at Food Online
Studies show that looking at food online can increase appetite and cravings. You may not be able to smell or touch the ice cream cone covered in sprinkles and fudge sauce, but the picture is enough to be tempting. Try to limit visits to food websites or social media accounts that post food. If you need recipe inspiration, stick to trusted sites that only post healthy food that will not trigger a craving.
Your behavior may be making the cravings worse. Consider these tips and make some changes so the diet will be easier to follow.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Santee, Calif.