If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent a lot of time searching for ways to gain control of what you eat. If you’re trying to lose weight, get stronger, think more clearly or simply prove to yourself that you’ve got what it takes, then maybe it’s time to set yourself up for success!
Here are 7 ways to boost your appetite control and give yourself the necessary tools for a careful diet!
1. Don’t go to the grocery store hungry, EVER.
I mean it! If you go to the grocery store when you’re ravenous, you’re going to want whatever you see in sight. Grocery stores carefully place their food items in locations where customers will FIND the most visually stimulating foods. Take for instance the vegetables, meats and dairy. You have to walk ALL the way around the store to get to them! The unhealthy, snacky foods like sugary cereal, chips and soda are right smack in the middle aisle, across from the entrance of the store, which is where you’ll probably walk first. If you eat before you go to the store, you won’t throw whatever you see into your cart. You’ll spend time looking at ingredients, paying attention to prices and most of all, picking healthier foods.
2. Take your vitamins
This one seems obvious but you’d be surprised what people crave when they are nutrient deficient. That’s right. You eat random (often unhealthy) foods when you’re missing key nutrients. See below for samples of certain cravings and what could be causing them:
- Sugar: dehydration, Magnesium or Chromium deficiency
- Cheese: Essential Fatty Acid or Calcium deficiency
- Red meat: Iron deficiency
- Soda: Calcium deficiency
- Alcohol: Calcium or Potassium deficiency
So pay attention to your cravings. See where they lead you and practice balance by taking your vitamins every day. If you need a great, reliable brand to start with, go with the doTERRA Lifelong Vitality Pack:
To buy from me directly, comment below!
3. Bring snacks with you EVERYWHERE
I’m not kidding when I say that I eat ALL DAY LONG. I do! No matter what, I keep a bunch of different snacks with me. Salty cashews from Trader Joe’s+ RXBARs are a current favorite. These foods last me no matter where I am or what I’m doing. If you let yourself go hungry and build up that diet frustration, you’re going to end up stopping at Taco Bell or something to grab a Crunch Wrap Supreme. Not worth it! So whatever your healthy snack is, just throw it in your purse or gym bag.
4. When in doubt, chug water
Okay so you think water is boring, I’m sure. It’s hard to drink it all day long. But truthfully, if you never leave the house without your HUGE (large Smartwater size) bottle, you’re going to mindlessly drink it all day. Leave it in the cupholder of your car and take a swig whenever you hit a stop sign or stop light.
You’ll quickly feel happier (because water actually lifts your mood, instantly), and you won’t crave nearly as much!
5. Give yourself a break
This is one of the biggest tips I can give you. Completely ditching particular foods for an unnamed length of time will lead to eventual failure. Don’t just stop cold turkey and expect it to last. Sometimes, you need to let yourself eat 3 cookies that your sister made when you went to visit her. (Yes that happened.) I basically inhaled 3 huge chocolate chip cookies because I KNEW that I stay on track every other day. It was a trust I developed with myself. It had been a long time since I had one chocolate chip cookie, let alone three, and here I was dipping them all in unsweetened almond milk and chowing down. Guilt didn’t overwhelm me because when I got back home, there weren’t any desserts in my house. I have established a solid habit of eating well and because of this, I can eat whatever I want sometimes. It’s called BALANCE.
6. Substitute dirty foods for clean foods (of the same flavor value)
Substitutions are a great way to balance your diet. I am going to give you some of the best substitutions I use to combat unhealthy fatty foods, carbo-loading and those desperate late night needs for sugar.
Rather than eating a bucket of ice cream eat this: (or any of Hail Merry‘s other delicious desserts.)
Rather than drinking sugary milks, drink this:
Rather than eating a regular greasy pizza, add your favorite toppings to this:
Rather than buying a Starbucks Lemon Loaf or pastry, drink this:
And finally, rather than eating ANY other power or protein bar packed with sugar and artificial crap, eat this:
7. Embrace small victories
It’s very important to congratulate yourself for conquering a sugar or unhealthy food craving. When you win, genuinely acknowledge how great you are and how difficult it is to smash these habits. After all, our “needs” are BIOLOGICAL after all! Take baby steps when creating a better diet routine. Don’t expect to have the same results as someone else, just take your fitness and health journey step-by-step until it’s manageable 100% of the time. Every time you go to the store and leave the chocolate cookies or caramel ice cream on the shelf, you win. YOU’VE GOT THIS.
By following these 7 methods for diet success, you’ll begin to build the foundation you’ll need to live your entire life from the seat of someone who’s killin’ it at life. That’s you.
Comment below with any questions or successes you might have!
T.
