Weight loss journey is one that is most difficult given the dietary restrictions it places upon an individual. The hassle of changing your diet as well as incorporating exercise in your daily routine takes significant courage and strength. I know this for a fact because I began my weight loss program in October, 2020. The dietary discipline required during this journey is most crucial in attaining the set weight objectives. Studies have shown that creating a calorie deficit program requires consuming certain types of food, that also foster fat loss. While majority of men and women know the dietary adjustments they need to make to lose weight, it is quite hard given the ease of access to unhealthy foods.

I know that one of the challenges I faced during this period is managing my cravings. Obviously, majority of these cravings were not healthy foods by any chance. Since I have a weakness for wheat – and any product made from the same – I would find myself indulging in cakes, chapatis and bread. After indulgence, I would end up feeling guilty and make myself swear not to repeat the same mistake. However, the cravings found a way to win every other time, and a significant number of people struggle managing them during their weight loss program.

While cravings are not bad, giving in to them causes us to fall back in our pursuit of targeted body weight. In most cases when we are craving something, we want to consume that product there and then, and believe by doing so we will not do it again. Many times one falls prey to them. Do you find that after giving way in to the craving you somehow never stop?. Hence, you find yourself caving again and again; resulting in the behavior of crave= eat =weight gain. The tendency somehow sticks with you but after a while you realize that you’re not achieving the results you hoped for.

So how do we tame our cravings? Here are three simple pointers to do so;

Abstain by considering that whatever you’re craving for will always be there

Considering that abstaining and staying disciplined is difficult, I used the mind-trick of constantly telling myself that the cake, bread, and chapatis will always be there. This works on the principle that there will be a never-ending supply of these stuff – now and later. Thus, ensuring that you stay disciplined and indulge in them after a week, two- weeks, four weeks,or year based on the dietary program you have chosen. It is psychologically convincing yourself based on the realization that you can consume them later because they will always be accessible. You can then get by until your cheat-day and consume it then.

Substitute with something healthy

In situations I felt deep urges to indulge in my cravings, I considered substitution. For example, if you have a sweet tooth, rather than taking candy eat raisins or dates, for cupcakes take oat cookies, and rather than drinking sodas take a smoothies sweetened with honey or bananas. In other words there are many healthy food options that one can consider taking as substitutes. Such substitutions aid an individual to stay on course within their dietary program. Of importance is to make sure that dietary discipline is maintained at all costs.

Moderate the portions of the cravings you consume

Of course there are times even when we try to employ the two tricks above, the urge to indulge is always stronger. I have been there and done that so many times. In such cases, one can indulge in the craving but in moderation. Moderation in this case applies to limiting the quantity of the craving you ingest or consume. As compared to taking a whole bottle of soda, take 1 glass instead, have a piece of cake rather than half of the cake, eat one piece of fried chicken than three pieces or take 2 slices of bread as compared to 5 of them. Moreover, one can slowly reduce these portions as you wean yourself into a healthy eating habit.

While these are not scientifically-tested measures, they provide a means of curbing my cravings. As you progressively march towards your targeted weight, you can embrace your dietary flaws and make positive changes one step at a time. Slowly tame your cravings as you march towards dietary freedom.