porkscratching
Silver Member
I've been doing SW since June and lost 4 stone so far but I'm still struggling with some cravings and emotional eating. I've been reading up and flirting with a paleo type eating plan for a while now but have decided to commit and give the whole 30 a go.
I love the idea and it's more the chance of failing than not wanting to do it that has stopped me. I've been using the excuse of Christmas and my birthday to stop myself from commiting to this but what the hell - I'm going to give this a go.
So - 2 days to make my shopping lists and eating plans, then let the 30 days commence. If I fail anyday then going to start again straight off.
Here's the main reason I'm doing it - plus a month of no weekly weighing and measuring & hopefully some fat loss.
One of the most important and life-changing goals of the Whole30 is to change your tastes, change your habits, and change your emotional and habitual response to craving. The worst thing to do when you’re craving something sweet (and actually hungry) is to satisfy that craving with sugar, even if it is from an “approved” source. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between a Snicker’s bar and a dried-fruit-and-nut bar… All your brain knows is that it threw a sugar tantrum, and you gave it sugar.
Here are 5 ways to fight food cravings:
Enlisting help from 2 friends - only think one of them will really hold me accountable, the other thinks I'm getting "faddy" but hopefully this diary & other primals will make me accountable too.
There's no hoping, trying, wanting with this - I have to do it. I will do it.
I love the idea and it's more the chance of failing than not wanting to do it that has stopped me. I've been using the excuse of Christmas and my birthday to stop myself from commiting to this but what the hell - I'm going to give this a go.
So - 2 days to make my shopping lists and eating plans, then let the 30 days commence. If I fail anyday then going to start again straight off.
Here's the main reason I'm doing it - plus a month of no weekly weighing and measuring & hopefully some fat loss.
One of the most important and life-changing goals of the Whole30 is to change your tastes, change your habits, and change your emotional and habitual response to craving. The worst thing to do when you’re craving something sweet (and actually hungry) is to satisfy that craving with sugar, even if it is from an “approved” source. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between a Snicker’s bar and a dried-fruit-and-nut bar… All your brain knows is that it threw a sugar tantrum, and you gave it sugar.
Here are 5 ways to fight food cravings:
- Delay or distract. We’ve already talked about this—tuning out a food craving for just a little while can actually make it go away, as will finding something else to do.
- Chill out. Since cravings are often triggered by stress, boredom, anger, and other emotions, find other ways to calm down. Exercise has been shown to ease stress and release endorphins, so go for a walk, do some office-chair yoga, or drop and give us 10 (push-ups). Other ways to let out the stress are meditating, journaling, or even calling up a friend to vent.
- Eat. If you’re legitimately hungry (use the techniques we described above) and craving something sweet, skip the sweet stuff—no snacking on fruit. Instead, eat a meal or snack focused on protein and fat. These two macronutrients together pack a huge satiety punch, letting your brain know that your body is full, well-nourished, and happy.*
- Drink Up. Thirst can easily masquerade as a craving—that feeling of, “I need something…” is often hard to pinpoint. The next time you have a food craving, drink a glass of water first. Then wait about fifteen minutes. If you’re still hungry, it’s probably legitimate, but this method is a great way to make sure you’re not just dehydrated.
- Nap it. Food cravings and sleep deprivation go hand-in-hand. When you’re sleep deprived, your body releases a hormone that makes you crave sugars and carbohydrates. If you think you might be reaching for food from sheer exhaustion, go to your room (or out to your car) and take a fifteen minute cat-nap. Giving your body what it really needs will be a more effective way of making yourself feel better.
Enlisting help from 2 friends - only think one of them will really hold me accountable, the other thinks I'm getting "faddy" but hopefully this diary & other primals will make me accountable too.
There's no hoping, trying, wanting with this - I have to do it. I will do it.
