Why Weight

Give In To Your Cravings and Still Lose Weight

By Robin Boddy


You've been dieting all week, you've been disciplined and determined, but suddenly the urge to splurge is more than you can bear. The enticing thought of your favorite snack lures you to the kitchen and forces you to struggle with your willpower. The battle for the survival of your weight loss efforts is in jeopardy. The good news is you can indulge without risk of increasing your weight. Forget denial and deprivation, you can still enjoy your favorite snacks with a few simple alterations to your normal routine and some lifestyle tips. Cravings are a fact of life, we all have them. Some of us love chocolate others love creamy, smooth desserts such as ice cream. There are those who crave the comforts of macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes. Whatever your desire, we feel your pain. Cravings are real and they can become a big problem when indulging gets out of control. The good news is that it doesn't have to.

The following plan alleviates guilt and prevents the cycle that leads to overeating. Deprivation and denial only leads to over eating, small indulgences do not. Start adding pleasure, not pounds, by following these tips.

Plan ahead. The bottom line of any successful weight loss plan is: calories burned must be greater than calories consumed. Figure out how many of your favorite junk foods would be enough to satisfy you and plan them into your weekly calorie count. Plan for your favorite snack every day, about 150 cal, the equivalent of a one ounce chocolate, one McDonald's ice cream cone or 15 Lays potato crisps, this will eliminate feelings of deprivation which can lead to binges. If you don't make your favorite foods forbidden, you increase your willpower automatically.

Simply think of these foods the same way as any other food. Make them part of your food plan and focus on moderation. If your daily meal plan is nutritious and balanced, indulging in moderation won't be a problem.

Timing is everything. Choose a 100 to 150 cal snack if your next meal is in within one to two hours, choose a 150 to 200 cal snack if your next meal is longer a way than that.

Think small. Portion control is crucial. Bite-size bits still satisfy your cravings but won't ruin your best dieting efforts. One of America's unhealthiest trends is super sizing; so don't take advantage of more for less, that may save a few pennies but causes you to pack on extra pounds. Measure your portions in advance. Don't sit down with a container of ice cream or a bag of chips and then feel guilty when it's all gone.

Identify your craving. Snack wisely by choosing the item you are really craving. Identify your craving and find a snack that suits it. Don't try to satisfy your craving with something other than what you truly want. Substituting dried fruit when you're craving chocolate won't work, you'll probably end up eating the chocolate later and then you'll have doubled your calories. Follow your instincts the first time around, period. Indulge in moderation and you'll save yourself calories and fat.

Make sure it's worth it. Ask yourself: is this snack worth the fat and calories? If the answer is a resounding yes, then go for it and savor every morsel. Then drink some water or herbal tea.

Some of us confuse thirst for hunger. After you drink, wait 15 minutes and ask yourself if you're still hungry.

Never skip meals. Eat every three to five hours or try six smaller meals per day. Try adding nutritious snacks to regular meals. Timing your meals will help regulate blood sugar levels and possibly ward off cravings.

Pay attention to snacks. Put your snack on a plate and eat without distractions. Don't multitask or eat while watching TV, reading or driving. This avoids mindless snacking and unconscious eating. When you concentrate on this snack you're craving, your satisfaction level will go up.
Learn the secrets of substitutions. Some of your favorite indulgences can be fulfilled in lower calorie, lower fat versions without making you feel like you've settled for less. Incorporating these foods into your meal plans is easy and the best part is, you'll still have the flavor without the calories and fat. Smart substitutions are small changes that can really add up to pounds lost. Remember a few chocolate kisses or Oreo cookies is not the end of any diet plan. Small indulgences are not cheating. They are part of a healthy eating program that includes variety, balance and moderation. Incorporate your favorite foods into your daily plan and you'll never have to cheat again..

More tips and information about the best way to lose weight can be found at http://diet-weight-loss.best-info-on.com

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 11:01 AM