Is there a way to beat food cravings?

[jwsthe3rd]

I am a male, 5'9" at 160 lbs, which isn't so bad, but I want to be lean, weighing somewhere between 145 to 150 lbs. I have a few problems that are keeping me from that.

When I get a fast-food craving it is intense, and I don't know how to stop myself from going to buy it. I hate to cook and we don't own a microwave, so it's sooo easy for me to go pick something up. I think I have a hamburger addiction! It cuts into my funds overtime. I also crave Chinese food, and we know how bad that can be for you. I think I am more addicted to the tastes of food than the actual amount I consume. I make food WAY too important, and I enjoy it too much. There has to be a way to think less of food, and somehow only eat to survive, instead of eating for instant gratification. I wish I had an owner, like dogs/cats do, that would ration out my food and water daily with no exceptions, that way I'd eat like I was supposed to, instead of how I want to. LOL!

I just quit smoking again, for the final time hopefully. I've been quitting for the past year and I am finally ready to let go of it. I gained 15 lbs. last time I quit, and now I have lost it again. I don't want to gain it back, but food starts tasting even better and all I want to do is eat everything in sight. What are appetite suppressant alternatives to smoking? I bought these Hydroxycut Hardcore pills, and they are alright, but they still don't keep me from overeating. Ephedra was my best friend years ago, but I haven't found ANYTHING that is remotely close. I was taking Ephedrine Plus tablets, and that helped me lose 10 lbs, but those things aren't good for you after an extended period of use.

I want to feel sexy and confident again, if I could only gain control of myself. It is one of the hardest things I have EVER done in my entire life guys! It's like I have NO self-control whatsoever. I'm surprised that I am not 300 lbs. by now. I was thinking about forcing myself, with absolutely no exceptions, do or die, to eat healthy at home (without sodas, fast-foods, junk, alcohol) for a full 30 days to clean out my system and to overcome my addictions. It's an absolutely terrifying thought though, but if I could do it I might feel okay at the end of the 30 days and see some progress that would keep me motivated. What do you think? Too extreme? Thanks for reading!

[aggiegrad05]

Are you hungry when you're eating the junky food, or do you just want to eat something? When I know I'm not hungry and am just craving something, I just chew gum and drink water. It usually helps.

[old_school_soul]

Dude, you're skinny already. You can be healthy and trim at your current weight, you need to eat better and exercise. I weigh 5 lbs more than you and I'm 5'7", but I'm in shape. It's more about appearance and less about weight that should make you happy.

[wordsmith]

That really is pretty proportionate for that height. I'm a girl, and a touch taller than that, and that's right about at my target weight. As a guy, you're likely to have a big more in terms of muscle mass than me, so I wouldn't sweat it.

In general, though, for boredom eating, the drinking water/ chewing gum thing really IS pretty helpful.

[arrow]

Sparkling water is good for that. It's better for you than diet soda (it's water!), and the carbonation makes it filling.

[ebruening]

I have become a total gum fanatic lately, and I try my best to drink 64 ozs. of water per day. I completely understand what you mean when you're talking about food cravings. I have a horrible time resisting sweets and carbs. I'm not one of those people who can control the munchies, and I could honestly eat an entire loaf of bread in one sitting :redface: The only way I can deal with my cravings is to chew gum, drink water, and avoid buying any sort of easily munchable, processed food. I absolutely do not buy bread or microwave popcorn. Some people can control themselves around that stuff, but I can't.

I force myself to stick to fresh fruit, baby carrots, and mozzarella cheese for snacky/craving foods. I'm not going to tell you that I'm free of cravings, and mealtime for me is not always a fun affair. However, since I have stopped buying any sort of junk food, my cravings have become more manageable. I'm not advocating that you cut the foods you love out of your diet completely. Do whatever works for you. However, I know that I overeat whenever processed foods or starch-laden foods are around. I also have no willpower around those foods, so I chose to cut them out of my diet completely.

Good luck!

[dengeist]

Yeah, your slender and you weigh about as much as I do and you're my height. It even sounds like you have the same type of metabolism as me. Weighing less would start to look strange on you.

But if you really want to lose weight, you can always start running a few days a week.

[jwsthe3rd]

Thanks guys. I guess I just have this ideal of how I want my body to look. I want my face and neckline to be more defined. I'd like for this extra baby fat around my mid-section and chest to disappear. I have a small frame and I can wear small tees and 28-30 jean sizes when I am lean. As much as I'd like to get some muscle definition, exercising is not for me and never will be. I've tried adding it to my lifestyle many times and I hate it. So, it would be easier for me to adjust my eating habits, little by little, overtime until I get slender.

[GoogleGirl]

I've figured out the best way to avoid picking up food at fast food restuarants. And even controlling how much you eat. It's called being poor with a lack of funds. lol If you don't have the money to spend, you can't eat as much, esp. junk food! lol

[PenforPrez]

This is something I have trouble with too. I just try to avoid feeding my cravings through sheer force of will. If I'm driving home, and I'm craving a fast food hamburger, I just keep going.

Paul

[beeblebrox]

I'm hoping there's a way too because I've been walking to work since early May, working out as much as I can, and eating right and I'm still gaining more weight instead of losing. I'm starting to follow the Volumetrics plan.

[shimma]

I try to eat a little bit of whatever it is I'm craving, that way it gets sated. Eating around a cracing doesn't work for me.

[Helmel]

Try and find healthier versions of the food you crave. if its chinese and hamburgers/fries then find some stir fry recipes you can do at home and maybe try experimenting with some veggie or turkey burgers with sweet potato fries. I used to crave chocolate alot but I found that if I substitute something else for it (like a protein such as a mozzerella stick or nuts or something) then I have an easier time riding out the craving. Experiment with healthy recipes and snacks and stock your kitchen with things that are not only good for you but things that you like also. And don't deprive yourself. I still eat chocolate and junk food but not every day like I used to, I try and stick to about once a week or so or on special occassions. I have also tried to eat as many fruits and veggies as I can which tend to fill you up more due to the fiber content. If you fill up on good stuff you may find you dont have any room left for the junk! :) Plus I am sure once you do start eating better you will eventually not want the junk as much because the good food makes you feel much better!!

[bananananafish]

What works for me to beat sugar cravings is to eat nutrious meals full of good fats (meat, butter, milk, cheese, etc.). When you have a strong junk food craving, grab a bottle of water and guzzle it all down. It might not be that you are craving them, maybe you are simply thirsty.

[southernlove]

I completely understand what you are saying!FAST FOOD ADDICTION. Its a habit that we get into. For me, I always went by chick fil a for breakfast. Now that I'm trying to get healthy I can't stop thinking about it until I go to chickfila. FOr me it wasn't even about the food so much as the action. So now- in the mornings when I get those urges I drive through the parking lot and ask myself do I really want to get something to eat or is this just habit? Most days I just keep driving but because I fulfulled the action of going there in the morning- my routine was complete and the need for it goes away. I also had a thing about going to get something late at night. I put a few small bags of chips in my car. And whenever I get that urge for fast food, I jump in my car- drive around the building and go home. When I get home I take a little bag of chips to my apartment and I"m happy. I save money, get rid of the need, and kill any hunger I had. I know it sounds kind of crazy but it works. I have lost 10 lbs since starting this! Good luck hun!

[southernlove]

I completely understand what you are saying!FAST FOOD ADDICTION. Its a habit that we get into. For me, I always went by chick fil a for breakfast. Now that I'm trying to get healthy I can't stop thinking about it until I go to chickfila. FOr me it wasn't even about the food so much as the action. So now- in the mornings when I get those urges I drive through the parking lot and ask myself do I really want to get something to eat or is this just habit? Most days I just keep driving but because I fulfulled the action of going there in the morning- my routine was complete and the need for it goes away. I also had a thing about going to get something late at night. I put a few small bags of chips in my car. And whenever I get that urge for fast food, I jump in my car- drive around the building and go home. When I get home I take a little bag of chips to my apartment and I"m happy. I save money, get rid of the need, and kill any hunger I had. I know it sounds kind of crazy but it works. I have lost 10 lbs since starting this! Good luck hun!

[allwellbeing]

I make sure that I have to put a check in my calories and if I go for the foods that I crave I am sure going to get a lot of them as I have a particular weakness over the sweet dishes. My policy is simple I just take a very sour food which automatically kills my taste and I have no desire left to have food. This has worked so far for me and I have managed to restrict the sweet intake to the minimum. Now it remains to be seen how long I can pursue with this.

[WorkInProgress]

In general, though, for boredom eating, the drinking water/ chewing gum thing really IS pretty helpful.

Agreed.

[redav]

I'm 5'9" and my 'in shape' weight is around 145-150. It all depends on body type.

A lot of people confuse hunger with thirst since you get water from food, eating will also relieve thirst, so the misinterpretation is understandable.

Another good way to avoid buying junkfood is not to carry money. If you can't buy it, you can't eat it.

[coll214]

I'm a sweets and carb nut; but like others mentioned try a lot of water to help fill you up. Also, I try if i'm going to buy junk get it in preportioned amounts like single serving bags of chips or the 100 cal packs... not great for you but better than chowing down. And when i get a bad fast food craving, i'll try to eat something else and if i still have it the next day, only then will get it. Usually i forget all about it that way.

[dulcie]

I find that tea is often a good "boredom hunger" problem solver. It's essentially water (if you don't put in any sugar or other additives) and it has antioxidants! Also, I think another reason that tea is a good fix for me is that it takes a while to drink (hot!) and is supposed to be savored. Therefore I don't gulp it down and then go looking for my next food &/or beverage victim.

I admit that am a huge sweets and salty craver though. I have to work hard at watching what I eat. When I'm running or working out I am much better about my cravings. Most of the time though I just try to just eat a small amount of what I am craving with something else that is healthy, ie) have a nice big salad with it.

[g8ergal83]

My dr. has told me that when you have a craving, satisfy it. Don't over indulge or eat until you're sick, but if you're craving fast food, go get some fries. (Instead of the fries, hamburger, shake, soda and anything else you want at the same time.) That way, you'll get the fatty food you were craving and you'll be satisfied, instead of eating all of this other stuff to try to satisfy your craving and when that doesnt work you go eat the fast food anyway. :) (ps.. im a woman on birth control so I have A LOT of cravings.. but I think i have a nice body so i guess it works?)