When the once a month cravings kick in. Topic
U1192262408
05/15/22
How do you curve those monthly cravings if your an all or nothing type of person? I have certain trigger foods (mainly sweets) that if i take a bite I lose all self control so I have to completely go without. Tried many times with moderation and it never worked for me.
CanadaAnne
05/17/22
I too am a sugar addict & once I stop, I can’t stop. I have had success by cutting sugar altogether. It sounds overwhelming but it can be done.
And these type of cravings make sense since sugar is an addictive drug.
I started by snacking on dark chocolate (70% or higher). It is satisfying & unlike milk chocolate, I find just a little bit is more than enough.
I don’t have candy or pastries or other sweets in the house, intentionally to try & prevent myself from eating them to excess.
If you do slip, it is not the end of the world. It’s all about doing your best.
Good luck.
U1190524560
05/17/22
I agree with you on the dark chocolate satisfying versus the milk chocolate just making you want more. I am trying to come off diet drinks too because they drive up a sweet tooth. I had already given up caffeine.
CanadaAnne
05/17/22
Artificial sweeteners really do mess with your body’s signals & there are some studies that show they actually lead to weight gain, not prevent it. They can also cause bloating & digestive issues.
Best of luck on your journey.
U1192093153HoneyG
05/17/22
Moderation doesn’t work for me either. I found if I eat 5 almonds and 1 oz of dark chocolate in the afternoon I do well until dinner. I can’t keep ice cream in the house but go out for an ice cream every week or two and enjoy a baby cone or a mini blizzard with fruit instead of candy. When the craving hits I remind myself of our ice cream date coming soon!
Dietician
05/18/22
replied to U1192262408
Hi there U1192262408-
I wanted to add to the awesome tips already provided-
1. Make sure to eat regular meals to help prevent cravings. Some folks skip or delay meals in hopes of losing weight. And yet this can actually fuel a craving later in the day.
2. If you have fueled yourself in a healthy way, and yet continue to have a craving, perhaps you are eating outside of physical hunger? Here are some things to do besides eating: https://www.mynetdiary.com/what-to-do-instead-of-eating.html
3. You are not alone in finding that if you eat just one bite or piece of something, it triggers you to want more and more. This is very common. Many clients I have worked with in the past find there are certain foods they can't keep in their home. Honoring your trigger foods and preventing them from making their way into your home is an important step to get a handle on cravings.
Kathy, one of our in-house dietitians wrote a piece on tips to curb nighttime food cravings. You can check it out here: https://www.mynetdiary.com/late-night-food-cravings.html
Let us know what helps you! Best, Joanna (MyNetDiary Dietitian)
When the once a month cravings kick in.
