Fighting Cravings

My biggest problems is fighting the craving I get for Domino's pizza. What are some things you guys do to fight cravings?

This may sound a little kooky, but when my old addiction to salted peanuts raises its ugly head, I.. floss. It gives me something to do with my hands and mouth, being occupied with something else takes my mind off food and I don't have to tell you how vital it is for your dental health and preventing periodontal gum disease :). You can even get floss with a nice minty flavour, making it even less palatable to eat something.

Another thing that keeps my cravings at bay is the thought of holiday pictures. I've been saving up to go to Barcelona and it looks like the trip will finally be realizing this August, but my problem is that on every previous vacation, every picture of me posing next to a volcano on the Azores or on a whale safari in the Atlantic shows my white flabby arms and shapeless thighs. I can't stand the sight of it. This time around I intend to get my picture taken next to some Gaudi architecture and I will be lean and toned, goddamnit! ;) So whenever I start craving something that is outside my calorie budget or on my black list, I just visualize myself taking great pictures on vacation for the first time in human history. It's kept me on the straight and narrow for sure.

Like flossing, others ive heard of is brushing your teeth or chewing gum, either ruins the flavour of anything you were wanting to eat.

sleep....seriously...sleep!

or do some exercise and eat a moderate amount of what your craving...better to not deny yourself completely...that causes unpleasant effects later on

drink coffee, it helps. Don't abuse coffee though, otherwise you may adversely impact your heart rate.

Exercise, water, coffee, crystal light (I water it down a lot), gum, brushing teeth.  Never heard of flossing before, that's a good idea.  If you brush, flosh, floride or listerine rinse, that will take a few minutes of time and maybe your mind off the craving and plus it will taste weird with all that freshness lol.  I'll have to try that one ;-p

Maybe give yourself a cheat day and exercise an extra amount before and after so you can have a couple of pieces. Hopefully that will ease your pain.

Maybe your body is craving something in the pizza like protein (cheese) or tomatoes, carbs? What kind of pizza do you crave? It is worth checking it out...Go to the source fo your craving.

How much protein, carbs, etc. are you getting daily?

Lots of questions, huh..but worth thinking about.

I drink water. Helps fill me up to where I can't even think of consuming anything else. If that doesn't work then I'll eat something filling but healthy. In my experience, the best way to avoid cravings is simply to fill up on something else.

Also, eliminate the temptation by not keeping especially fattening items in the house. I guess there's always the temptation to order out, but no matter how hungry I get generally all I can do is eat healthy as there's nothing else in my kitchen. :-)

Regularly allow yourself a certain allotment.  For instance 300 or 400 or 500 calories worth of pizza.  Take the amount you have decided to allow yourself.  Eat it and have no more.

Repeat weekly. 

I allow myself treats.

Original Post by gpm55:

Regularly allow yourself a certain allotment. For instance 300 or 400 or 500 calories worth of pizza. Take the amount you have decided to allow yourself. Eat it and have no more.

Repeat weekly.

I allow myself treats.

I agree.  Domino's really isn't that bad as far as calories go.  Perhaps load up on veggies on top to make it more filling and/or have something else with it so you don't go overboard.

If I want something, I make myself leave the house to get it.  Pizza included.  If I want it badly enough to load up two kids and go get it, then I have it.  It's pretty rare that I want to drag my kids along with me just for a craving.  Of course, if they ask for it, it kind of backfires on me!  Summer is a little tougher, too, because I can drive my golf cart instead of the car.  My kids are really good eaters, so they are just as happy with me cooking something healthy as with a pizza.  The allure of Domino's is that they will bring it to you.  I always joke that if I live in NY I'd weigh 800 lbs because you never have to leave your house!

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've heard of chewing gum and drinking coffee. The problem I have with those method is that it seems like I'm replacing one poison with another, and I hate coffee. I like that "leave the house" method. I think I'm going to try that.  I'm also going to start doing the water thing.

I think it is just the taste of pizza I crave. One thing I've started doing is buying small Red Baron pizzas that have less calories (400 as opposed to 1600) and eating those instead.

1) Ice.  Water is good but if you have ice you have something you can chew on.  Just as good for you as water but lasts a little longer, and it keeps something in your mouth to get your mind off food.

2) Gum.  Same idea as the ice but gives you something with flavor.

3) Just have it.  Obviously you don't want to do this every time, but if you feel like eating chocolate have a small piece.  If you feel like eating pizza have 1-2 slices.  Let yourself indulge every few days so you don't go crazy over keeping the stuff away.

The idea of not having it in the house and having to go get it is a good one, at least you know it's not sitting around and you won't be tempted to go to the cabinet and grab it just because it's there.

You could eat two pieces and put the other six in the freezer. Have a side dish like making yourself a big ol' salad. Choose healthy toppings.

I just feed into my craving and counteract it with more exercise or an extra healthy meal. I've learned that I am a much happier person when I am not depriving myself of the foods I love. And when I allow myself to guiltlessly have a Hershey's Kiss, for example, I fill my chocolate craving with a very small amount of chocolate instead of bingeing on Oreos or something. It's taken some time, but I've finally learned to control how much I eat of the bad stuff and to load up on the good stuff. Play games with yourself, like for every "bad" food you eat, eat two "good" foods or run for an extra five minutes or do an extra set of sit ups. Do whatever it takes to counter balance eating the junk and you'll be okay. Allow yourself to indulge once in a while, just don't let it get excessive. Everything in moderation. And drink tons of water, that'll fill you right up not to mention it just so good for you. Happy Cravings!