Ugh. Junk Food Cravings ...

Good morning,

Let's talk about cravings for junk food today - and what you can do to reduce them (& beat them).

You know what I'm talking about ... you are sitting at your work desk at 2 pm and suddenly ALL you can think about are chocolate chip cookies.

Or you are watching TV at night and feel the ice cream or chips in the kitchen calling your name.

These cravings are super common - and they can be a result of many things.

• You could be hungry
• You might be stressed, lonely, or bored
• You've developed a habit of snacking around a certain time or activity
• Your hunger hormones might be out of whack from a bad night of sleep
• Or it's that time of the month
• You might have a nutrient deficiency

Eating a special treat every once in a while is fine - and even encouraged!

But on a regular basis, it can get in the way of feeling healthier, so ... take a look at the checklist I have for you:

4 Ways To Help Reduce The Junk Food Cravings (& Take Back Control)!

• Plan ahead.  Have healthier options on hand: fruits, cut-up veggies, nuts, etc. (ps - I know you already know this, but do you actually DO it? :))

• Hide food offenders.  If you have foods in the house that bring on cravings, keep them out of sight!

• Eat it.  Allow yourself to snack on your favourites once in a while. This way they don't become "forbidden foods" that make you crave them even more.

• Try mindful eating.  When you indulge, make eating that food your only activity. Turn off the TV, get off your phone, and savour every bite, noticing its taste, texture, temperature, etc. This can help you feel more satisfied with a smaller portion. Plus it can help you decide whether you are eating because you are actually hungry ... or because of something else (entertainment, to relax, bored, etc).

Habits can be changed - they just take time!

Make your day an amazing day!

Francois, MES, CES, CLT, CBT

CEO | Chief Medical & Cancer Exercise Specialist