List of Craving Busters

So I find that if I have an actual BATTLE STRATEGY to turn to when I am feeling major cravings, it helps derail the cravings. What I did is make a list of actions I can take. Looking over the list makes me feel like I have real options besides sitting and suffering and wanting food. What do you have to add?

-Practice yoga/kung fu
-Simple strength training-- reps of pushups, squats, leg lifts, crunches
-Brush teeth and floss teeth
-Whiten teeth (30 minute strips/gels)
-Take a shower
-Play a video game
-Drink a large glass of water
-Eat an apple
-Go for a walk with the ipod
-Call up a friend/family member

 

Try on clothes that are too tight

Get on the scale

look at a picture that I know I look fat in

Brush my teeth

play bridge on the internet

look at my calorie intake and see where it stands

Sounds like a good plan, I actually like the challenge now. There is no better feeling than going out to eat with friends and family and have everyone ask how you do it! How do you not eat those bread sticks? How do you not eat the little Andes mint that they give you at the end of your meal? How do you do it?

The decision is easy for me now! The cravings are gone and it feels great. I know what the little mint is and I wont let that little mint win!

Chris R

Chew gum

-a sugar free gum that tastes sweet can really curb my sugar craving

try some warm water with lemon or a diet fizzy drink, If you are really hungry try a salad with some low calorie dressing

Brush your teeth definitely works, especially if you use a fluoride toothpaste that you can't eat after. Back when I was whitening my teeth, that was a big help too. I should do it again!

Playing video games also works for me, or simply just closing my door, or focusing on beauty things (I'm a beauty junkie, what can I say.) Trying new hairstyles, or applying makeup, or just reading. Find blogs on the net. Etc etc. Play with the cat (or dog).

The only thing I -really- have trouble with is saying no when it's in front of me. I can say "no no no" if it's only an idea (IE, wanna go out for donuts?) but if someone brings me the donut...then I have the trouble :(

Chewing gum helps me a lot, and so does drinking a cup of tea (or coffee or whatever you like).

Whiten my teeth, put on minty chapstick, drink some unflavored tea, drink some water, go on a website that I'm addicted to, do homework, check my email, pop in a peppermint, dance, do housekeeping things (organize internet bookmarks), orangize shelf..yea

Wait at least 15 minutes before you indulge your craving. Then decide if you still want it.

Write about your craving. You might be satisfied after thinking and talking yourself through it.

Drink a big glass of tea - the warmth and volume make me feel full so I don't want to eat anything else

I also go for a walk with my ipod - the exercise makes me feel great and I hate ruining that feeling by cramming junk in my mouth lol

Eat a mandarin orange (when they're in season) - they're so sweet and yummy I don't crave anything else

Read a book - I get so involved in my books I'm lucky if I remember to eat my regular meals, nevermind snacks!

Start a project that keeps your hands busy, like a craft or organizing a closet - the focus I need for that keeps me from thinking of food

Hope that helps. :)

I also drink herbal tea. I have many different flavors and they all contribute flavor without calories or caffeine. I'd also like to suggest putting on nail polish....specifically the kind that takes a long time to dry. That makes it harder to open bags and boxes...at least temporarily.

Best wishes for your success!

Fat free bio yogurt with chopped fresh fruit. Allow yourself this tasty low calorie treat between meals and it will cure cravings fast EVEN PMT cravings! It will help with bloating as well, in ADDITION this lovely treat could even lose you tummy fat. I eat this 3 times a day with different fruit as an inbetween meal snack. FABBO!! While you are eating it, imagine eating strawberries and cream. LUSH.

Oh and clean your teeth. Food tastes horrid after cleaning teeth!

Seconded on cleaning your teeth! Or at least have a good swill of strong mouthwash, that usually does the trick.

Other things I like to do include boring housework that needs to be done - with my reward for doing so my snack after! (such as sorting out the sock drawer, or papers or taking the bin out, or cleaning the oven, very boring).

The one that works best for me is standing on the porch (patio) and just stretching my arms out, breathing in deep, and feeling the wind/air (no matter cold or hot) on my face and skin.

There's just something so refreshing. AND it gets you out of the house.

Teeth brushing helps too :)

There are definitely some great ideas in many of the posts here.  I use the brushing teeth method & drinking tea.  I also use this website to help me deal with cravings and urges to overeat.   When I feel a craving taking over in the evening while watching TV, I go online and update my calories or checkout the posts in the forums.  I sometimes want to snack in-between getting home from work and dinner.  Therefore, I usually take a shower as soon as I get home and after that the craving subsides and I am able to wait until dinner. 

liftercatcher - I agree with you about liking the challenge and liking the reaction people have when they see how you resist the bread, desert, etc.  Also, lately I feel like it is getting easier to stay on track.  That's not to say that I don't give in sometimes, but it is less often than it use to be.  I feel like I'm starting to see food more for what is; nutrition, instead of seeing it in an emotional way like for celebration or as a stress reliever, etc.   

I like surfing the net for clothes and shoes that I want, but really can't get until I reach my goal. I have my heart set on a really nice, hand made corset since I love the vintage look... but they're very expensive and it's something I don't want to get until I'm at my desired weight... it helps me to plan my future wardrobe I guess :D

Yea, I know what you mean!  I work at a store and yes, I have to buy the food I eat there, unless I bring food from home, and I do that a lot, because I do not have the money! 

But there is this one lady that comes in every so often, (a temp job recuriter) and she brings in stuff, sometimes a box of glazed donuts.  Now, these are the GOOD donuts, from a bakery.  I am like, I don't have that very often so I eat one!  Usually I can stay with only one, because I wait til later in the day, but I still eat one and maybe at times, I shouldn't.  (But I think it's better to sometimes have one every now and then then to completely banish it from yourself and then you get SOOOO hungry for it, you go overboard!) 

There has been a lot of talk on these forums lately about donuts..........especially Krispy Kreme..........I am holding on but just barely!  Glad we don't have one in my little town but the next time into the city..........watch out!

I'm just getting back on the wagon.

The last two days I've drunk a cup of coffee, milky and sugary, in around midday. It just fills me up and I don't get hungry till after I've exercised. Yay.

the basic crunches etc really help with preventing later cravings.

I think that's something I've learned about myself. If I exercise and drink coffee and lots of water and just not let myself get hungry except at mealtimes rather than deal with cravings when they hit, I'm a lot better.