It’s been a love-hate relationship between you and
the weighing scale every morning. Sometimes you wish the scale would learn to make ‘white’ lies once in
a while, but the better part of you knows
that the truth is the best way to go.
What makes the relationship even complicated is this
one slice of chocolate cake. Yes, that moist, rich, velvety chocolate chiffon
cake with toffee almond filling topped with nutty white chocolate. It’s calling
you. Yes, the cake is speaking to you, whispering in your ear, controlling your thoughts…
Snap! You remember your weighing scale. Your dear,
innocent weighing scale which only knows how to speak the truth. You remember,
how heavy a burden you are to your
weighing scale once you step on it. And, yes, you don’t want to be a burden
anymore.
So, when faced with another tempting chocolate cake,
here are some of the things you can do to help yourself turn away from the
temptation.
Turn
away and walk. Not only did you literally walked away
from the temptation, but you also had the chance to move those muscles and get
that blood pumping. Food cravings are most likely to hit when we’re stressed or
tired. Exercise, or any form of physical activities, provides an energy boost
and lifts the mood. A change of scenery from a short stroll will make you
forget about the temptation and the cravings.
Breathe
in, breathe out. Cravings may be likened to a strong
emotional urge which can be controlled and calmed down. Try a breathing
technique to pacify your cravings. Inhale for four counts, hold your breath for
seven counts, and then exhale for eight counts. Repeat the breathing technique
for four times. Afterward, you’ll feel
calmer and more in control.
Eat
the right kind of snacks. Cravings are not always the result
of stress or tiredness. Sometimes, it is caused by chemical imbalance in our
bodies just like when the blood sugar starts to dip. To avoid this situation, munch on a combination of complex carbohydrates
and protein. This combo will not only bring up your blood sugar level, but it will also stop your hunger for
sweets.
Drink
water. With all the benefits and importance of consistently
and continuously drinking water
throughout the day, there is nothing to lose if you decide to fill up on water
instead of eating. In addition to that, thirst is sometimes mistaken for
hunger. By drinking your glass of water you're
quenching your thirst, and at the same time, lessening the chances of mistaking
that thirst to hunger.
Get
that phone. We all know that mobile phones are the
ultimate distraction and it is not always a bad thing. When you feel like
eating a lot, look for your phone, and
you may check your social media accounts, e-mail, or even that role playing
game that is your current obsession.
Mind over matter and strong discipline will help you
get out of a craving. These are just some tips to distract yourself from an
eating streak. You may have a different way of curbing out cravings that you
may want to share. What’s yours?