Dieting sucks and we all know it. Some make it seem like it’s a walk in the park and that you shouldn’t complain. Here’s the truth; whether you say it’s hard or not, it is still hard. You still have cravings, even if you don’t announce them. On the surface, you may say a greasy cheeseburger is gross and unhealthy. Inside you are salivating and wanting the world to shutdown for a few seconds while you devour it. There is a way to cheat, but you have to know how to cheat without cheating.
Whether you diet for 4 weeks or 40 weeks, cravings happen. It’s natural because the body wants what it cannot have and that’s fact. Tell the person next to you, “I know you want this, but it’ll never happen” and simply walk away. If you sold it, they’ll come running, just remember to play it cool. You need to understand your body and get to the core of the craving. What do you NEED? Want and need are two far different things. You can want all day long, but if you don’t take care of needs you’ll wind up lifeless real quick.
Some needs are very apparent but some lie deep beneath the surface. The body provides signals to what it truly needs, but you’ll need to learn how to read them. How do you go about learning your needs? Good question. Keep reading. First, let’s understand the process, then we’ll go about learning how to implement it. Most people hear their stomach rumbling and think, “I must be hungry”. BAM! Your mind begins to focus on what you want to eat and the downward spiral begins. The body passes air through your digestive tract and that is what you were hearing. However, through repetition and being told by others, you thought it was hunger. The same goes for feeling tired and lethargic. These days you cannot walk down the street without something or someone promoting an energy drink or food. You begin to think that a lack of energy means you need to grab a cup of coffee, energy drink, or some form of liquid energy. What you’ve just done is provided you body with an artificial form of adrenaline. The liquid fuel you consumed surges through your system, and you have energy almost instantly. About an hour later, you are even more drained and exhausted.
Learn what your body needs when it needs it. Whatever “it” is you need to understand and find out the exact need. When hunger strikes, your body is low on fuel. What is fuel? Food. What provides the highest quality fuel? High quality food. You need nutrient density from your food. This is where healthy choices come into play. The typical health foods are available, but that’s a very simple way to go about it. If you are craving certain foods, find a way to meet in the middle. Eating brown rice and chicken will get old fast. You want pizza, spaghetti, and ice cream. Well, lucky for you, the alternatives are out there and they are tasty. No more cardboard tasting alternatives, but seriously tasty foods. If you want pizza, find pizza that fits your diet style (i.e. paleo, low carb, ketogenic, etc.). The grease may not be there, but you are still satisfying a craving. The body gets what it needs, you’ve found a tasty/healthy alternative, and you’ve satisfied a craving.
When the body comes calling be sure to answer properly. You’ve had years of experience with your body. You are not a brand new parent trying to learn the right things to do for your child. You already KNOW what it needs, you just have to listen properly. Don’t make assumptions. This process can easily help overcome any dieting obstacle. Dieting will become easier, and less of a hassle. You may even turn into one of those people that tells others to stop complaining. Now that’s winning in my book.
