Does that morning Danish leave you craving another treat two hours later? Do you grab a candy bar to cope with your afternoon slump -- and then reach for a cola to get out of your post-slump slump?
If you’ve found that munching sugary snacks just makes you crave more sugary snacks, you’re not alone. Eating lots of simple carbohydrates -- without the backup of proteins or fats -- can quickly satisfy hunger and give your body a short-term energy boost, but they almost as quickly leave you famished again and craving more.
How can you stop sugar cravings once and for all? Why Do We Crave Sugar?
There are many reasons why we go for sweet things.That appetite may be hardwired. Sweet is the first taste humans prefer from birth. Carbohydrates stimulate the release of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. Sugar is a carbohydrate, but carbohydrates come in other forms, too, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.The taste of sugar also releases endorphins that calm and relax us, and offer a natural "high".
Sweets just taste good, too. And that preference gets reinforced by rewarding ourselves with sweet treats, which can make you crave it even more. With all that going for it, why wouldn’t we crave sugar?
The problem comes not when we indulge in a sweet treat now and then, but when we over-consume, something that’s easy to do when sugar is added to many processed foods, including breads, yogurt, juices, and sauces. And Americans do over consume, averaging about 22 teaspoons of added sugars per day, according to the American Heart Association, which recommends limiting added sugars to about 6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 for men.
How to Stop Sugar Cravings: 8 Tips to Use Right Now
1. Give in a little. Eat a bit of what you’re craving, maybe a small cookie or a fun-size candy bar. Enjoying a little of what you love can help you steer clear of feeling denied. Try to stick to a 150-calorie threshold.
2. Combine foods. If the idea of stopping at a cookie or a baby candy bar seems impossible, you can still fill yourself up and satisfy a sugar craving, too. Like combining the craving food with a healthful one. I love chocolate, for example, so sometimes I’ll dip a banana in chocolate sauce and that gives me what I’m craving, or I mix some almonds with chocolate chips. As a beneficial bonus, you'll satisfy a craving and get healthy nutrients from those good-for-you foods.
3. Go cold turkey. Cutting out all simple sugars works for some people, although the initial 48 to 72 hours are tough. Some people find that going cold turkey helps their cravings diminish after a few days; others find they may still crave sugar but over time are able to train their taste buds to be satisfied with less.
4. Grab some gum. If you want to avoid giving in to a sugar craving completely, try chewing a stick of gum. Research has shown that chewing gum can reduce food cravings.
5. Reach for fruit. Keep fruit handy for when sugar cravings hit. You'll get fiber and nutrients along with some sweetness. And stock up on foods like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Have them handy so you reach for them instead of reaching for the old [sugary] something.
6. Get up and go. When a sugar craving hits, walk away. Take a walk around the block or do something to change the scenery,to take your mind off the food you’re craving.
7. Choose quality over quantity. If you need a sugar splurge, pick a wonderful, decadent sugary food. But keep it small. For example, choose a perfect dark chocolate truffle instead of a king-sized candy bar, then savor every bite -- slowly. Don’t swear off favorites -you’ll only come back for greater portions. Learn to incorporate small amounts in the diet but concentrate on filling your stomach with less sugary and healthier options.
8. Eat regularly. Waiting too long between meals may set you up to choose sugary, fatty foods that cut your hunger.
Instead, eating every three to five hours can help keep blood sugar stable and help you avoid irrational eating behavior. Your best bets? Choose protein, fiber-rich foods like whole grains and produce.
But won't eating more often mean overeating? Not if you break up your meals. For instance, have part of your breakfast -- a slice of toast with peanut butter, perhaps save some yogurt for a mid-morning snack. Break up lunch the same way to help avoid a mid-afternoon slump.
One of the best ways to manage sugar cravings is to stop them before they start. To help you do that:
1. Skip artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners may sound like a great idea, but they don’t lessen cravings for sugar and haven’t demonstrated a positive effect on our obesity epidemic.
2. Reward yourself for successfully managing sugar cravings. Your reward could be large or small. Remember why you’re working on it and then reward yourself for each successful step.
3. Slow down. For one week, focus on your sugar cravings and think about what you’re eating. Diet mayhem often results from lack of planning. So slow down, plan, and eat what you intend to eat, instead of eating when you’re desperate.
4. Get support. Many people turn to sweet foods when they're stressed, depressed, or angry. But food doesn't solve emotional issues. Consider whether emotions are involved in your sugar cravings and whether you need help to find other solutions to those emotional problems.
5.Mix it up. You may need more than one strategy to thwart sugar cravings. One week you may find success with one tactic, and another week calls for an alternative approach. What’s important is to have a bag of tricks to try. To tame sugar cravings, you really need to figure out what works for you.
Lastly, go easy on yourself. It may take time to get a handle on your sugar cravings.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
"The latest fad diet followed by the stars-The Mayo Clinic Diet Meal Plan"
Mayo Clinic Diet – Meal Plan
This is a copy of the fad diet.
12 days on – 2 days off
Breakfast
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
2 Eggs (any style)
2 Slices Bacon
Lunch
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
Meat (any style, any amount)
Salad (any kind of dressing)
Dinner
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
Meat (any style, any amount) (fish may be substituted for meat)
Vegetables (any green, yellow, or red vegetables cooked in butter or any seasoning)
Bed Time Snack
1 glass tomato juice or 1 glass Skim milk
Vegetables Allowed
Red onions, green onions, bell peppers, radishes, cucumbers, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, peas.
Vegetables to Avoid
White onions, potatoes, celery.
Find other high protein meal ideas here.
Instructions
At any meal you may eat until you are full – until you can’t eat any more.
Don’t eliminate anything from the diet, especially don’t skip bacon at breakfast or omit salads. It is the combination of foods that burn fat.
The grapefruit is important because it acts as a catalyst that starts the burning process.
Cut down on caffeine – it affects the insulin balance that hinders the burning process. Try to limit to 1 cup per meal at mealtime.
Don’t eat between meals. If you eat the combination of food suggested you will not be hungry.
Note that the diet completely eliminates sugar and starches, which are lipids and form fat. Fat doesn’t form fat; it helps burn it. You can fry food in butter and use butter generously on vegetables.
Do not eat desserts, bread, and white vegetables or sweet potatoes. You may double or triple helpings of meat, salad, or vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed. The more you eat of the proper combination of food, the more you lose.
This is a copy of the fad diet.
12 days on – 2 days off
Breakfast
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
2 Eggs (any style)
2 Slices Bacon
Lunch
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
Meat (any style, any amount)
Salad (any kind of dressing)
Dinner
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
Meat (any style, any amount) (fish may be substituted for meat)
Vegetables (any green, yellow, or red vegetables cooked in butter or any seasoning)
Bed Time Snack
1 glass tomato juice or 1 glass Skim milk
Vegetables Allowed
Red onions, green onions, bell peppers, radishes, cucumbers, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, peas.
Vegetables to Avoid
White onions, potatoes, celery.
Find other high protein meal ideas here.
Instructions
At any meal you may eat until you are full – until you can’t eat any more.
Don’t eliminate anything from the diet, especially don’t skip bacon at breakfast or omit salads. It is the combination of foods that burn fat.
The grapefruit is important because it acts as a catalyst that starts the burning process.
Cut down on caffeine – it affects the insulin balance that hinders the burning process. Try to limit to 1 cup per meal at mealtime.
Don’t eat between meals. If you eat the combination of food suggested you will not be hungry.
Note that the diet completely eliminates sugar and starches, which are lipids and form fat. Fat doesn’t form fat; it helps burn it. You can fry food in butter and use butter generously on vegetables.
Do not eat desserts, bread, and white vegetables or sweet potatoes. You may double or triple helpings of meat, salad, or vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed. The more you eat of the proper combination of food, the more you lose.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
How to stop binge eating
How do I stop if I start binge eating?
It definitely gets tougher once you start to stop. At this point, you have to take more desperate measures. If I can gather any reserve at all, I throw the food in the garbage. I don’t throw it on the top either, I make sure it is crushed and inedible. If I can’t throw the food away, I have asked my husband to either eat something or throw it away for me. I am lucky he is supportive enough to help me with such things. Don’t let that voice tell you that you are wasting food. It’s a trick. You either waste it in the trash or on your body, where you have to work it off in health problems and exercise and dieting later. So either way, it is a waste. When in doubt, toss it out!
Change what you are doing after you remove the food from your immediate area. Go see a friend, call someone, talk it out, go to the gym, put on music and dance it out, just don’t do whatever it was that you were doing when the binge was triggered. In fact, if you couldn’t muster the strength the remove the food from your vicinity, removing yourself from its vicinity is a good option.
Changing what you are eating mid binge may help. For instance, if you started by eating cookies, maybe you can muster the strength to add an apple and nut butter in between cookies. That leaves less room for more cookies. It also changes the taste in your mouth, so it switches things up and takes you out of the frenzy mode a bit. The combination of fiber and protein will also help satisfy true hunger, so that will be one less thing to combat.
Keep thinking while you are eating. Even though you caved in, that doesn’t mean the fight is over. You can still stop. One slice of pizza is always going to have less calories than two. Keep trying to figure out why you are eating and what might resolve the problem or provide the same emotional comfort. If you do manage to figure it out, write it down and keep it with your list of binge busters. Don’t forget to immediately act on it.
The moral of the story is PLAN. Binge eating is a sudden urge and it’s a strong one. You need a strong plan to fight it. Don’t wait until you’re about to dive into a plate of goodies before you have your plan in place. Once a binge is started, it is ten times harder to stop, so avoid the triggers, avoid the first compulsive bite, and avoid the binge.http://www.lamodademiami.com
It definitely gets tougher once you start to stop. At this point, you have to take more desperate measures. If I can gather any reserve at all, I throw the food in the garbage. I don’t throw it on the top either, I make sure it is crushed and inedible. If I can’t throw the food away, I have asked my husband to either eat something or throw it away for me. I am lucky he is supportive enough to help me with such things. Don’t let that voice tell you that you are wasting food. It’s a trick. You either waste it in the trash or on your body, where you have to work it off in health problems and exercise and dieting later. So either way, it is a waste. When in doubt, toss it out!
Change what you are doing after you remove the food from your immediate area. Go see a friend, call someone, talk it out, go to the gym, put on music and dance it out, just don’t do whatever it was that you were doing when the binge was triggered. In fact, if you couldn’t muster the strength the remove the food from your vicinity, removing yourself from its vicinity is a good option.
Changing what you are eating mid binge may help. For instance, if you started by eating cookies, maybe you can muster the strength to add an apple and nut butter in between cookies. That leaves less room for more cookies. It also changes the taste in your mouth, so it switches things up and takes you out of the frenzy mode a bit. The combination of fiber and protein will also help satisfy true hunger, so that will be one less thing to combat.
Keep thinking while you are eating. Even though you caved in, that doesn’t mean the fight is over. You can still stop. One slice of pizza is always going to have less calories than two. Keep trying to figure out why you are eating and what might resolve the problem or provide the same emotional comfort. If you do manage to figure it out, write it down and keep it with your list of binge busters. Don’t forget to immediately act on it.
The moral of the story is PLAN. Binge eating is a sudden urge and it’s a strong one. You need a strong plan to fight it. Don’t wait until you’re about to dive into a plate of goodies before you have your plan in place. Once a binge is started, it is ten times harder to stop, so avoid the triggers, avoid the first compulsive bite, and avoid the binge.http://www.lamodademiami.com
Monday, May 23, 2011
How to get flatter abs
Like the quest for the Holy Grail, many people are on a mission to improve their abs. What does it take to get there? These 9 simple exercises and lifestyle tips can start you in the right direction.
No. 1: Improve Your Posture
Slouch and your stomach pooches. So straighten up, and you've done your abs a favor without breaking a sweat! For better posture while standing, align your ears over your shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over knees, and knees over ankles. Keep the fronts of the shoulders open like a shirt on a hanger, instead of a shirt on a peg. Draw your navel to your spine and keep your weight even on the balls of your feet and your heels.
No. 2: Think Whole-Body Exercise
Don't get so into your abs that you overlook your other muscles. Your core muscles also include your glutes and back muscles, for instance. Pilates is one way to work all of the core muscles, plus the arms and legs, for a whole–body workout that does strengthens the abs — and more.
No. 3: Try the Canoe Twist
Stand upright, feet apart. Interlace your fingers to create a solid grip. Exhale, and sweep the interlocked hands, arms, shoulders, and chest to the left, as if "rowing a canoe." Simultaneously lift the left knee up and to the right. Inhale and return to the starting position. Exhale and perform the movement to the right. Alternate for 20 repetitions.
No. 4: Do the Cat Kick
Stand with feet together, arms extended like airplane wings. Exhale, and lift the right leg forward and up. At the same time, sweep the arms forward at shoulder level and round your spine, like a cat. The navel should feel as though it's pressing toward the spine. Inhale, and open back up and return to the starting position. Repeat with the left leg, alternating for 20 repetitions.
No. 5: Practice the Pilates Zip Up
Stand upright with heels together, toes slightly turned out. Bring your arms up, hands joined underneath the chin. Exhale, press your arms down, keeping hands and arms very close to the body. Simultaneously, lift your heels off the ground onto your tiptoes. Hold for two seconds at the "top," inhale and return to the starting position. The abs go "in and up" and the arms go down. Perform 20 repetitions.
No. 6: Examine Your Diet
You can do ab exercises until the cows come home, but if you've got extra belly fat, your strong abs won't show. To budge the belly fat, you have to look at what you eat and how active you are. In other words, eat less and move more, and spend your calorie budget wisely.
No. 7: Props Are Optional
Stability and Bosu balls, straps and bands, and gym memberships can be wonderful, but they aren't necessary for stronger abs. Even in your everyday life — while taking a walk, standing in line at the grocery store, or socializing at a cocktail party — you can engage your abs by standing straight and exhaling to draw the navel to the spine.
No. 8: Set Realistic Goals
Your genes may play a role in your body's shape, but don't make that an excuse to give up and head for the cookie jar. Your goals should be realistic and focused on your body, not on some idealized image. Beyonce's abs may motivate you, but you shouldn't expect to mimic them.
No. 9: Take Things Slow
There are no fast fixes. Even the promised quick fixes end up being temporary. Plan on slow and steady progression, and prepare for setbacks and even frustration. Rewards come with time and consistency.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
How to Stop Sugar Craving Naturally
Most of us have experiences sugar cravings from time to time and a little sugar now and then is fine. The problem is when frequent sugar cravings cause you to eat too much sugar, which means extra calories that can result in unwanted weight gain. If you’ve found that munching sugary snacks just makes you crave more sugary snacks, you’re not alone. Eating lots of simple carbohydrates -- without the backup of proteins or fats -- can quickly satisfy hunger and give your body a short-term energy boost, but they almost as quickly leave you famished again and craving more. Follow the steps below:
1. Stock your shelves and fridge. If you live with a family, (like me) who loves junk food, you have to have alternatives at the ready when hunger strikes.
2. Make a conscious choice never to pick up a sugar-filled, empty calorie junk food, and of course, to never let it near your mouth. Plan ahead for times when you will be surrounded by sweets, (such as a party) and decide ahead of time what you will eat and what you will not.
3. Try to drink water or a diet soda first, and then, if you still want something, pick up ONE of the items on the list below, and eat it slowly.
4. Give in a little. Eat a bit of what you’re craving, maybe a small cookie or a fun-size candy bar. (Suggested by a registered dietitian and ADA spokeswoman) Enjoying a little of what you love can help you steer clear of feeling denied. Try to stick to a 150-calorie threshold.
5. Combine foods. If the idea of stopping at a cookie or a baby candy bar seems impossible, you can still fill yourself up and satisfy a sugar craving, too. I like combining the craving food with a healthful one. I love chocolate, for example, so sometimes I’ll dip a banana in chocolate sauce and that gives me what I’m craving, or I mix some almonds with chocolate chips.As a beneficial bonus, you'll satisfy a craving and get healthy nutrients from those good-for-you foods.
6. Go cold turkey. Cutting out all simple sugars works for some people, although "the initial 48 to 72 hours are tough. Some people find that going cold turkey helps their cravings diminish after a few days; others find they may still crave sugar but over time are able to train their taste buds to be satisfied with less.
7. Grab some gum. If you want to avoid giving in to a sugar craving completely, try chewing a stick of gum. Research has shown that chewing gum can reduce food cravings.
8. Reach for fruit. Keep fruit handy for when sugar cravings hit. You'll get fiber and nutrients along with some sweetness. And stock up on foods like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, says certified addiction specialist. Have them handy so you reach for them instead of reaching for the old sugarysomething.
9. Get up and go. When a sugar craving hits, walk away. Take a walk around the block or do something to change the scenery, to take your mind off the food you’re craving.
10. Choose quality over quantity. If you need a sugar splurge, pick a wonderful, decadent sugary food. But keep it small. For example, choose a perfect dark chocolate truffle instead of a king-sized candy bar, then savor every bite -- slowly, Don’t swear off favorites -- you’ll only come back for greater portions. Learn to incorporate small amounts in the diet but concentrate on filling your stomach with less sugary and healthier options.
11. Eat regularly. Waiting too long between meals may set you up to choose sugary, fatty foods that cut your hunger. Instead, eating every three to five hours can help keep blood sugar stable and help you avoid irrational eating behavior,Your best bets? Choose protein, fiber-rich foods like whole grains and produce.How to Stop Sugar Craving Naturally
1. Stock your shelves and fridge. If you live with a family, (like me) who loves junk food, you have to have alternatives at the ready when hunger strikes.
2. Make a conscious choice never to pick up a sugar-filled, empty calorie junk food, and of course, to never let it near your mouth. Plan ahead for times when you will be surrounded by sweets, (such as a party) and decide ahead of time what you will eat and what you will not.
3. Try to drink water or a diet soda first, and then, if you still want something, pick up ONE of the items on the list below, and eat it slowly.
4. Give in a little. Eat a bit of what you’re craving, maybe a small cookie or a fun-size candy bar. (Suggested by a registered dietitian and ADA spokeswoman) Enjoying a little of what you love can help you steer clear of feeling denied. Try to stick to a 150-calorie threshold.
5. Combine foods. If the idea of stopping at a cookie or a baby candy bar seems impossible, you can still fill yourself up and satisfy a sugar craving, too. I like combining the craving food with a healthful one. I love chocolate, for example, so sometimes I’ll dip a banana in chocolate sauce and that gives me what I’m craving, or I mix some almonds with chocolate chips.As a beneficial bonus, you'll satisfy a craving and get healthy nutrients from those good-for-you foods.
6. Go cold turkey. Cutting out all simple sugars works for some people, although "the initial 48 to 72 hours are tough. Some people find that going cold turkey helps their cravings diminish after a few days; others find they may still crave sugar but over time are able to train their taste buds to be satisfied with less.
7. Grab some gum. If you want to avoid giving in to a sugar craving completely, try chewing a stick of gum. Research has shown that chewing gum can reduce food cravings.
8. Reach for fruit. Keep fruit handy for when sugar cravings hit. You'll get fiber and nutrients along with some sweetness. And stock up on foods like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, says certified addiction specialist. Have them handy so you reach for them instead of reaching for the old sugarysomething.
9. Get up and go. When a sugar craving hits, walk away. Take a walk around the block or do something to change the scenery, to take your mind off the food you’re craving.
10. Choose quality over quantity. If you need a sugar splurge, pick a wonderful, decadent sugary food. But keep it small. For example, choose a perfect dark chocolate truffle instead of a king-sized candy bar, then savor every bite -- slowly, Don’t swear off favorites -- you’ll only come back for greater portions. Learn to incorporate small amounts in the diet but concentrate on filling your stomach with less sugary and healthier options.
11. Eat regularly. Waiting too long between meals may set you up to choose sugary, fatty foods that cut your hunger. Instead, eating every three to five hours can help keep blood sugar stable and help you avoid irrational eating behavior,Your best bets? Choose protein, fiber-rich foods like whole grains and produce.How to Stop Sugar Craving Naturally
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