FitSugar

Curb Your Cravings With This Trick

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:00:00 PST

Moderation is my eating mantra, and it allows me to enjoy the foods I crave without feeling deprived. Science is backing me up on this too. New research focusing on successfully conquering cravings found eating in moderation to be the key to reducing your hankerings for specific foods.

In its March issue, Fitness magazine reported interesting findings from a recent study. Researchers found that eating daily 150 to 200 calorie portions of your favorite food for two weeks will significantly reduce your desire for it. The study's lead author Jennifer Temple explained, "If you can indulge in treats in a healthy way, you're less likely to feel deprived and overeat them."

How do you curb your cravings?

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Diet Tip: Curb Cravings With Mint

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:30:00 PDT

We're always looking for ways to fight cravings when they arise, and one my tricks of the trade is mint.

Yes, mint does wonders to keep my cravings under control as its strong scent is a natural appetite suppressant. I keep a mint scented candle in my kitchen and I like to light it at night. Not only does it keep the house smelling good, I feel like I am less likely to give into late night snacking temptations. Other simple ideas are to sip mint tea, chew sugar-free mint gum, or simply brush your teeth. It may all be psychological, but it works for me so I can't complain. Try it out and see if mint helps keep your cravings under control too. If not, check out some other great ideas for curbing cravings.

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What's the Deal With The Tapping Technique?

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:45:00 PDT

If any of you guys are following Paul McKenna's new show, I Can Make You Thin then you may have heard something about a Tapping Technique for cravings. I know that people follow the show religiously but I can't help but laugh when watching it.

Most recently a co-worker filled me in on McKenna's eight-step (yes, eight steps) technique for getting rid of cravings and wow, what a technique it is. I'm not sure this would work for my cravings other than confuse the heck out of me. Personally, I like your ideas for curbing cravings better than this interesting approach. However if you want to learn it then

Easy Ways to Curb Cravings

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:30:00 PST

Cravings can get the best of you, so it's best to be armed and ready to go for when you start to feel a craving coming on. You guys gave some great advice for curbing cravings so here are my picks from your fabulous ideas.

What's Your Advice For Curbing Cravings?

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:30:00 PST

Sometimes a reader question comes along that I know you guys could provide a ton of great answers for so I wanted to share this question with you.

"Hey Fit. My new year's resolution is to stop eating so much junk food, especially Skittles but the problem is that I get these cravings and I have a hard time not giving into them. Do you have any tips for curbing cravings so I can finally stick with my resolution?"

So share your best tricks for curbing cravings in the comments section below. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with as I have recently rediscovered Reese's Pieces and could use a few new tricks myself.

Simple Tips For Staving Off Holiday Sugar Cravings

Heather Dale — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:29:20 PST

You know you're getting into the holiday spirit when the movie Elf is on repeat in your DVD player. If this is the case, let's just hope you aren't influenced by Will Ferrell's bad dietary habits, which include copious amounts of candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup! We may not be guzzling down bottles of syrup, but when confronted with tables full of cookies, candies, chocolates, and cake, what's a girl to do? Other than exercising some restrain, here are some helpful tips that will help curb your sweet tooth during the holiday season.

Diet Tip: Ditch the Ultimatums

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:20:00 PST

When you're hoping to lose weight, you may be tempted to set rules for yourself, but do your body (and your sanity) a big favor by steering clear of strict ultimatums. It's smart to track your progress and food habits, but if you find that you're playing mind games with yourself and feeling discouraged, it's time to ditch the firm absolutes. Vowing to shun sugar for a month may seem like a great weight-loss strategy, but in reality, it's more likely to kick-start a craving for sweets.

A better idea? Follow your instincts. When you want something sugary, eat something sweet to avoid binge eating later. If there are certain foods that you struggle to eat in moderation, look into healthier alternatives to help curb your cravings. Swap yogurt or Popsicles for ice cream, try some of our nutritious versions of your favorite comfort foods, and satisfy the need for fries with these salty substitutes. By sticking to your natural impulses, you'll have a greater sense of your body's hunger signals and be able to eat sensibly without having to think twice.

4 Easy Tricks to Send the "I'm Full" Signal

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:14:40 PST

Portion control is a key player when it comes to balanced nutrition, but it can be hard to listen to your body's hunger signals when your mind is telling you to reach for seconds. When you realize that you're full, take advantage of these tricks to tell your mind that the meal is over:

Pick peppermint. A piece of hard candy, a mint, a mug of tea, or even mouthwash - go for anything peppermint-flavored after eating to flood your senses and keep your instincts in check. As a natural appetite suppressant, peppermint will help you control your cravings and avoid postmeal munchies.
Get up and move. It's hard to keep eating if you're no longer near the food, so ending the meal can be as easy as leaving your chair. The best way to let your body know that it's time to stop eating? Switch locations. Move from the kitchen to the living room and busy yourself with other tasks.
Have a small taste of something sweet. Sometimes, just a spoonful of something sweet can curb the urge to keep eating and mark the end of a meal. Instead of reaching for a cookie, though, you should choose a healthy, water-based food that will help you feel full. Try a handful of berries, a serving of watermelon, or a spoonful of pomegranate seeds - the tart seeds pack major antioxidant punch, plus they're high in vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber.
Make postmeal plans. If you have something to do after a meal, you'll find it easy to steer clear of unnecessary seconds and quit eating once you're satisfied. It doesn't need to be a major to-do, either - simply planning to call a friend or pack tomorrow's gym bag will help you stay focused and stop snacking.

Why You Snack at Night - and How to Avoid It

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:13:30 PST

Late-night snacking can be a calorie-loaded diet pitfall, but if you're able to recognize the reason behind your cravings, you can curb the impulse and stick to your healthy habits. Regularly find yourself back in the kitchen shortly after dinner? Here's why you keep snacking, plus how to scale back:

You skimp on food throughout the day. If you aren't eating enough at each meal, your body is going to kick into hunger overdrive later. Do you skip breakfast to save time? Breeze through a small lunch because you're too busy to keep eating? It's important to space out your food intake so that the hunger doesn't sneak up on you after dinner. Make sure to stay satisfied by eating a mix of protein, fats, and carbohydrates at every meal.
You're sad, angry, or _____. Any and all emotions can trigger the impulse to eat. Lower the odds of stress-fueled fridge raids by staying in touch with how you're feeling and choosing different outlets. If you start to regularly unwind in other ways - by calling a friend, for instance, or taking a walk - then you'll learn to deal with your anxiety before you even think to storm the cabinets.

Keep reading for more healthy snacking tips.

Fresh Start Resolution: Quit Your Caffeine Addiction

Emily Co — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

It's a new year and a new you! We're kicking off a short series detailing 12 helpful tips to start off the year right, whether it be to advance your career or increase your financial cushion. We've already given you advice on kicking your daily deal habit, so here's another way to start afresh in 2012.

Caffeine addiction is so commonplace that nobody will bat an eye if you say you need your daily dose of coffee. In fact, many of us would readily admit to an addiction. Though people claim that coffee benefits them, the efficacy of the brown liquid is often misconceived. For starters, studies have shown that although caffeine may give you more speed, you'll be more prone to making mistakes. This means even if you have a larger output, it'll be of lower quality. More negatives include feeling jittery when you drink too much coffee and withdrawal symptoms like headaches if you choose to stop drinking. Convinced? Here are some tips to kicking your caffeine habit to the curb for good this year:

Figure out your quitting style. Everyone has their own way of kicking bad habits and you can either choose to go cold turkey or ease off of it slowly. Remember, if you go cold turkey and suffer withdrawal symptoms, don't take any pain medication for your headaches since those have caffeine in it as well!
Find a replacement. When you find yourself craving coffee, try to replace it with caffeine-free tea. Chamomile and mint tea are always good options.
Try decaf. When you just miss the comfort of the taste of coffee, opt for decaf. Keep in mind that there's actually a small amount of caffeine in a decaffeinated cup of joe, so drink a small cup.

Of course, it's up to each individual to decide if quitting coffee is right for them. I'd say you should truly consider it if you're drinking excessive amounts (I'm talking more than three or four cups a day) and if you're feeling some of the negative effects of caffeine.