Finally getting the photos up from the Meal Plan I posted on Monday. This was all very filling food. This is a great “blue print.” From hear I can mix and match other food with similar nutritional values.
I pay close attention to my body. If I’m craving; it’s for a reason, and i don’t ignore it.
Emotional Cravings: The best thing for me is to exercise more, and add a little more cabs to cover the extra calories burned, and to help release some serotonin to help calm the brain and help me think more logically not emotionally.
Hunger Cravings: A lot of days I end up burning more calories then I had planned…and of coarse i get hungry. I try to plan ahead to prevent this from happening or not stay up to late so i don’t need to eat more. However i will not go to bed hungry. It’s just not natural.
Nutritional Cravings: There are those random cravings that signal something is missing in my diet…Iron, Magnesium have been the ones of late. When I’m low on magnesium i usually crave chocolate and a small handful of almonds or a magnesium supplement will usually fix it. Iron…is usually when I’m inhaling my spinach salads, and craving a nice juicy stake. I just pay attention and a lot of it is trial and error but I’m starting to understand the signs.
Pain Cravings: I get head aches and then i get migraines. They come in waves and they usually hit at the same time each night. Sometimes they’re dehydration induced and often they’re stress and muscle tension induced. As soon as i sense one coming on i drink a ton of water, eat a little sugar, or drink a little caffeine. Studies show that based on the way sugar reacts in the body it could be categorized as a drug just like caffeine. So, why not use it as a drug. For me caffeine tends to trigger more headaches, but one day of using sugar, and Tylenol to calm the migraine and the cycle usually ends. Oh, and the biggest way to get rid of them is also to stop, put my feet up and relax (when possible).
“What you resists persist” – Eckhart Tolle
I’m not saying I just give into all my cravings. I simply recognize why I’m really having them, and make sure the body gets what it needs.
Anywho, there’s my ramblings on cravings. Hope you enjoy.
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
January 23rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I think for women emotional eating is #1. If you happy, sad, going to a birthday party, there is always an excuse to overeat!
There are always going to be circumstances where food is the focus, its learning how to deal with those situations that is half the battle.
Good post – Happy Friday!
January 23rd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Biz: So true. For me. I just enjoy, but try not to make myself sick from overeating. My biggest thing is jumping right back to my healthy meal schedule whenever I’m home…which means not taking home leftovers from those parties…or giving away or tossing all the unhealthy food after a party at my place.
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:38 pm
That is fantastic that you’ve managed to identify your cravings likes that! How did you do it? I know that I crave salt a lot and that means I need more minerals and leafy greens… I should try that on my next chip craving. I’ll also try your fix for chocolate =) Have a GREAT WEEKEND!
January 24th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
That’s great that you’re recognizing and identifying your cravings- you’re so much better equipped to handle them that way!
January 26th, 2009 at 5:17 am
In the past cravings are part of the reason that I always failed at losing weight, so while I’m still in the process of figuring out what the cravings mean, I still indulge. If I’m craving chocolate I’ll just eat 1 small piece instead of a whole bar. The same goes with anything else from ice cream to veggies. I found this has worked because I’m not feeling as though I’m missing out on anything and I can see myself keeping up these habits years from now.
January 26th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Yes, I’m alive =) and even about to write a short post to catch up.
Stephenie: I’m still not sure on some days…and then there are just “those days” and i just get thru the day and cut myself some major slack=)My favorite snack lately is cottage cheese with a little cinnamon sprinkled on it, then i dip apple slices in it. Yummy!
Sagan: So true! Being prepared, and understanding more about nutrition has made it easy to handle.
Kim: Totally agree, and when I’m really craving chocolate i skip the almonds and go straight for the chocolate, or have a hot chocolate with 75% less fat.
Thanks every one for reading, and for your great comments. Look forward to reading your posts…as always =)