The 6 steps to beat sugar cravings the right way and lose weight fast
WE'VE all experienced it - those couple of hours after lunch when all you can think about is a trip to the vending machine.
Or when you're sat in front of the TV watching a movie and you're gripped by the compulsion to eat a whole tub of Ben & Jerry's.
For some these intense sugar cravings strike most days - which can be especially harmful if you're trying to lose weight.
As top dietitian Susie Burrell says: "Often sweet in nature, it is intense food cravings that can see our dietary goals fly out the window as we are completely overcome by a desire to eat foods that are high fat, calories, salt and/or sugars.
"While cravings can tell us a lot about our base line nutrition, how we respond to our cravings is also important, as eating more of what you are craving can actually make the cravings worse."
Here, the Sydney-based expert takes us through some simple strategies to help you take control of your sugar cravings and maximise your weight loss...
1. Go for a walk
Doing something different at the time you would usually have a sweet snack or treat such as going for a brisk walk is a great way to curb sugar cravings.
Not only will it distance you from the food you're craving but it will help to release endorphins - the 'feel good' chemicals in your brain - which can help turn the craving off.
Writing in her blog , Susie says: "Cravings are largely behavioural and can easily be broken when we work to alter the neural pathways that we have previously established."
A study published in the journal Appetite found that a significant number of participants lost their craving for chocolate altogether when they had to go for a walk before they could indulge.
2. Avoid large servings
Slimmers should try to avoid any large servings of intense sugars and high fat foods such as chocolates, biscuits and ice-cream - as these will be virtually impossible to stop yourself from overeating.
Susie urges people to go for individual portions of ice-cream or chocolate so you physically cannot overeat them.
3. Practice food combining
Susie recommends practicing the art of food combining - and putting protein rich foods with something sweet to help balance out the flavours you are exposing yourself to.
Here you will avoid the frenzied feeding that can occur when you are quickly eating sugary foods, whilst still satisfying the need for something sweet.
Susie says: "The foods higher in fat – hummus, cheese and peanut butter will give you the rich mouth feel you are looking for, as well as offering protein which will also help to keep you full.
"Some of my favourite food combos include – apple slices or celery dipped or spread with peanut butter, Greek yoghurt with berries, chopped nuts and a spoon of honey (this can also be made into frozen yoghurt, or rice cakes or corn cakes topped with peanut butter and banana."
4. Stop eating by a certain time
We're all guilty of reaching in the biscuit tin or munching on a bar of chocolate right at the end of the day to give us a boost.
However, Susie urges slimmers to set a time when they stop eating to ensure they don't gorge on sweet treats.
She says: "Aim to stop eating by a certain time, and brush your teeth to help to shift the desire for sweet food.
"Or if cravings take hold mid-afternoon, try and preempt them with a healthy snack and keep gum or sugar free mints or vegetable sticks on hand to take the place of sweet foods when you want to mindlessly munch."
5. Have one sweet option
Factoring in one sweet, but healthy option each day will help to take the edge off the craving before it takes hold of you.
You could have one Jaffa Cake which contains 46 calories or one two-finger KitKat which contains just 106 calories,
6. Eat well throughout the day
Hunger is one of the biggest reasons why people experience cravings.
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To avoid these, it may be a good idea to make sure you're eating regularly and have healthy snacks close at hand.
By being prepared, and avoiding long periods of hunger, you may be able to prevent the craving from showing up at all.
Susie says: "Eating well throughout the day can go a long way in keeping your blood glucose levels well controlled and ultimately preventing extreme cravings long term."