Food cravings are one of the biggest challenges that we face when it comes to losing weight but believe it or not there are a few techniques that aid in helping you tackle the cravings. Here are five rules that have proven to work for those who are attacking those weight loss goals.
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Drink more water. Oftentimes, thirst is confused with hunger and we reach for the cookies when we should be reaching for the water. The next time you have a craving, pour yourself a large glass of water and wait a few minutes. More often than not, the water will squander the craving and you will forego consuming those added calories.
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Avoid getting too hungry. When we haven’t eaten for several hours, our body has a tendency to go into starvation mode, which lead us to grabbing anything in sight. The problem with this is that convenient foods that are easy to grab are typically not healthy and don’t do a whole lot for aiding in your weight loss. So, instead of setting yourself up for failure by not being prepared, have some approved food items ready to go so the second you get that hunger pain you can fill the void with a handful of berries, or a hardboiled egg instead of a bag of chips or M & M’s.
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Learn how to handle stress. It’s just one of those things in life that goes hand in hand…stress and food cravings. But, beyond the cravings, when you are stressed, the blood levels of the hormone cortisol in your body rise, which can ultimately cause you to lose weight, particularly in the belly area. The best ways to avoid stress is to plan ahead, slow down when things get too hectic, and take a stab at meditating.
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Get enough sleep. Hormones that fluctuate throughout the day play a major role in our appetites. When we are sleep deprived, our system of hormones is interrupted, which can lead to poor appetite regulation and major cravings. According to studies, people who don’t regularly get a good night’s sleep, are 55% more likely to be obese.
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Don’t go grocery shopping when you are hungry. Going food shopping while you are hungry is like putting you face to face with your enemy at your weakest moment. This will only up the chances of you grabbing something unhealthy that sparks your interest. And beware of the grocery store marketing techniques, as they have a tendency to place the unhealthiest items, so they are eye level, targeting you in ways that you didn’t even know.
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