Cravings
Cravings are one of the worst aspects of the weight loss journey. Impossible to eradicate, you can take steps to control them.
Coping With Cravings
Cravings are a bugger and when they hit, can be tricky to deal with. Today, I feel much happier than I have in a long time. It’s a beautiful day here in Manchester. I feel delighted with the progression I’ve achieved so far in a relatively short time frame. The real reason for my happiness today is I’ve cracked cravings and can deal with them. Probably one of the most difficult barriers to overcome when trying to lose weight.
You may recall me blaming the roulade for an ever-so-slight wobble on Sunday the 19th. I must apologize to roulade and sugar for laying blame when in reality they were blameless. The same thing happened last Sunday when there was absolutely no sugar in my system. Possibly because it’s the only night I watch TV (this week, a soppy but watchable rom-com with Hugh Grant and Marissa Tomei, “The Rewrite”) with my significant other, Larice. I got the urge to eat. Not for bad things in particular but just needed to eat. So how did I cope with this crisis?
In the old days, I would have eliminated such cravings by simply going to a shop and stocking up on crisps, nuts and chocolate. Job done! But since almost completely eliminating such foodstuffs, when I get cravings, I am much more methodical and logical in approach. A sign of how much I’ve changed in just over a month. My brain now realises that slumping on the couch stuffing my face with crisps, nuts and chocolate is NOT the answer and will not bring happiness or comfort. Undoubtedly the opposite should I go down that road.
Cravings Strike!
First, I had some of Larice’s Snack-a-Jacks and a slice of cheese. This didn’t work so I took the same approach as the 19th, grabbed meatballs (chicken ones this time so fewer calories) and stuck them in the air fryer. Ate with low-fat mayo and tomato ketchup combined.
I rarely eat low-fat mayo these days but mixed with ketchup it kinda works. Also like the 19th, once I’d eaten then it felt job done. A measure of my success so far is that I consider a 2500-calorie day, a ‘bad day at the office’ when in reality, I’ve only ever so slightly gone over my calories. Yesterday, was completely back on track. Three meals a day, 2000 calories.
Plotting
Different Combinations
I’m now plotting for this Sunday in case the inevitable happens. tbh, I think the answer is having something to throw in the air fryer. Doesn’t have to be the healthiest option but something that will satisfy.
I find the combination of mayo and ketchup with some meat works. What if we did have crisps, nuts and chocolate in the house? Would I have gone for it? I’d like to think not but given I’m a self-confessed (bad) food addict, I could well have been tempted. However, in the past that never put me off, when I had bad cravings I would simply go to a shop and buy like crazy and eat everything I bought! So for me, whether we have food in the house is irrelevant.
If you’re struggling with food cravings, the best advice I can give is to ride it out and yes I know this is not easy. I’d say the first week or two is the most difficult. I didn’t find it nearly as tough as I envisaged but I think it’s because I finally decided to change my way and do something. So much of this comes from our brains. I love giving hope to anyone who struggles because if I can do it, you can too. But, you have to be prepared to work hard. Remember, giving in is the easy option and will not fulfil your life.
Insomnia
An Old Enemy
The worst side-effect for me was insomnia (must get around to the follow-up blog!), and insomnia was one of the main reasons why I could never get going on a weight loss program in recent years. Since counting calories, I know I’ve eaten enough for the day and I’m eating healthily. That’s what kept me going. Once you start dropping weight, then the usual benefits such as looser clothes, feeling better, having more energy etc come into play. Every time I start thinking about the bad stuff, I start thinking of the positives (and there are many more than you think!). And knowing that bad food is very addictive and leads down some very dark roads, is enough to put me off thinking that is even an option.
With Christmas looming, I walked past all the chocolates, sweets and snacks in Tesco on Sunday and didn’t even bat an eyelid, concentrating on the foods I wanted to buy. I feel refreshed and invigorated I’ve got this attitude, given how much I would always overindulge this time of year.
With hard work, cravings can be eliminated!
