My family and I were in Lafayette for a CrossFit competition this weekend. It was an all day event and we were starved.   Grub Burger Bar was where we headed afterward. I debated on that burger and fries. Was it really worth it to me? The brussel sprouts and tuna was the winner. It was delicious. Now, here is where I lost it. On the menu are these fun, kid, like, milk shakes. The temptation of one of those was my weakness. My kids wanted one, as well as my husband. This led to me thinking that of the 3 of them, one of them would not finish theirs and I would drink the rest. Yes, I completely preplanned that. Sure enough, Elli drank half of her “Dirt Cake Milkshake” and I drank the other half.   Totally worth it to me.

Cravings happen to everyone. You are not alone. The fact is some know how to control them and some don’t.

“Only those who try to resist temptation know how STRONG it is… You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down.” C.S. Lewis

Hormones, stress, depression, eating disorders and lack of self-control are a few reasons of food temptations. How to deal with them are what we could all use a little insight on.

• Be mindful – When you have a craving (temptation), stop and ask yourself: Why do I want this? Is it worth it? What am I feeling right now that is causing this? These questions may not always talk you out of it, but it will cause you to think about what else you’ve eaten this day and if you’re truly hungry. It can definitely trigger your brain to feel a little more satisfied. Break your snacking routine.
• Consequences – Think about the negative consequence this will have on you. Will you regret it? Will it set you back on your goals? Visualize yourself 5 pounds heavier, or not being able to fit in that dress you are wearing soon, exaggerate the scenario. The goal is not to make you feel bad about yourself but to make better choices.
• Postpose your temptation – Instead of eating at that moment, tell yourself you’ll eat it later. More times than not, your craving will pass. Cravings only last a couple of minutes. If you can distract yourself for a few minutes, you will hit the safe zone.
• Substitutions – Curve that craving with a healthy option. Some food cravings may suggest you are lacking something in your diet. Chocolate craving – magnesium deficiency – eat fruits or nuts or raw cacao. Just do a little research on the foods you crave, you may be surprised. It really may all boil down to a balanced diet.
• Cook your own meals – You don’t know what restaurants, especially fast foods, put in your food. EEEEKKKKK! I love going out to dinner. It’s a treat, not because I’m flying through life. Preplan those family meals and do you and your family a favor.
• Sleep – Sleep deprivation can trigger those food temptations. What else do you have to do while watching TV late hours, popcorn, pop tarts, bowl of cereal, chips, etc.?

Hunger is controlled by the stomach, but cravings are controlled by your mind and how your body communicates with you.

I am a nibbler. The girl that just grazes. Are you with me here? The chips and dip, finger foods, grapes and cheese, olives, and the list goes on… I’m there dipping and nibbling. This is not even temptation. It’s downright gross and pathetic of me. I don’t want the food. It’s there. It’s good. I am all over it.   I’m still standing there telling myself to back away, put the chip down, don’t pick up that cheese cube, and ignoring the signs of over eating. This is something I am mindful about and trying hard to fix.

Many people know that I am a “409” believer. I may have even blogged about it in the past. When I toss extra treats in the garbage or if I know that I could be tempted to continue to eat something, I take out the 409 bottle and saturate those cookies, cupcakes, temptations with it. My dear friend, Kathryn, hooked me up with that idea years ago and we still stand behind it. It works.

I will leave you with this…

The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed. If you wouldn’t have given in to sin and continued to stay on track, would you be at your goal right now?

STRONG – Mitzi