Let’s face it; years of on-the-go meals, easy access to junk food and excessive stress have trained our brains to expect a shot of sugar, fat, or salt at certain times of the day.
The more often you do this, the more the reward centers in your brain light up when you eat these foods, and the harder it becomes to resist the urge.
Any time you eat foods that are high in refined carbs or sugar, you experience a blood sugar spike. Your body responds by flooding your body with insulin, which triggers your cells to store that sugar as belly fat.
I know that many diets call for you to avoid bread, pasta, and other comfort foods. But wouldn’t it be awesome if you could beat cravings and shed belly fat without giving up your favorite foods?
Yes, it is possible to break your junk food addiction just like any other unhealthy habit. Even better, you don’t have to feel deprived.
What’s more, as you break your junk food addiction, you will learn how to crave healthy foods.
We asked our readers about their favorite tricks to curb their cravings to provide you some excellent ideas to reach your goals…Enjoy!
WHEN YOU WAKE UP – EAT PROTEIN
Protein is digested more slowly than carbs, so your blood sugar stays consistent, keeping you from grabbing a donut or other sugary foods.
If you don’t eat breakfast, it’s time to start. No need to eat a huge meal, an egg will do.
PLAN YOUR DAY
Make a list of the five most important things you want to accomplish today and keep it where you can see it.
Don’t try to pack too much in, or you’ll start feeling overwhelmed and scattered. This can leave you vulnerable to cravings for sugar and fat.
MIDAFTERNOON – RAID YOUR STASH
Keep a stash of healthy snacks for those midafternoon cravings. Consider almonds, fruit, veggies, and hummus. All of these foods will help keep you going until dinner.
AT DINNER – EAT AT THE TABLE
It’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve eaten when you’re eating in front of the TV. Instead, eat at the table and focus on enjoying your food. You’ll eat less and get more satisfaction out of your food.
IN THE EVENING
Research conducted at Brigham Young University reveals that our brains don’t get as much satisfaction from food eaten late in the evening. This is why it’s so easy to overeat when snacking in the evening.
Instead of eating dinner at 5 or 6 and a snack at 9 or 10, consider having a healthy snack first and dinner around 8.
When bedtime rolls around, you’ll still be content from dinner, but you’ll have given yourself enough time to digest your food that it won’t interfere with your sleep.
