7 Tips on How To Defeat Cravings

Don't let a sweet tooth or carb craving sabotage your healthy eating and weight loss efforts.

Here are 7 practical tips to help you manage the craving gremlins and reach your weight loss goals.

Remember, we all get cravings - it's how we manage them that determines our outcome. You can do this! 💪

1. If you know you have a weakness that you tend to give in to, create a plan for what to do any time that you’re tempted. Establish your plan of attack beforehand, so you are prepared and don’t have to rely on willpower alone. Don’t be caught unprepared when temptation strikes. Willpower is a fickle friend who often abandons us when we need her most.

2. Get some healthy substitutes and keep them on stand by in your cupboard or fridge.

• Craving sugar? Have a piece of fruit and Greek yoghurt with a little honey. Or a smoothie. Or try our delicious guilt-free Salted Caramel Fudge Protein Bites.
• Thinking about chocolate? Enjoy a Chocolate Brownie flavour In Shape Mummy Health Shake instead a fattening chocolate bar. Or use the mix to make a slimming hot chocolate or make your own chocolate lactation balls (here's a recipe)
• Can’t get fast food off your mind – Make some home-made potato wedges in the oven with a little salt

3. Healthy substitutes are always best, but if worse comes to worse you can always still eat the "naughty" food you crave, but just eat a smaller amount. For example, don't eat the whole bag of chips. Only have one square of chocolate. If you find portion control hard, keep things like chocolate and cake in the freezer in small portions and only take out one portion at a time so you're not tempted to eat more.

4. Remove temptation. Throw all the chocolate in the house into the bin or give it to a friend. If it is not there then you can't eat it! And it is better in the bin than on your hips! Think of it as an investment in your health. Keep healthy substitutes on standby. Replace the routine of a bad habit with the routine of a good habit. Never go shopping hungry so you're not tempted to buy junk

5. Tell yourself "later". As you face each craving or challenge, don’t think about giving it up forever, just think about saying “no” right now and do something positive in its place, e.g. go for a short walk or call a friend. You can create good habits just as you created bad ones. Before you know it, healthy living will become your new habit.

6. Be sure to pack a healthy lunch box if you’re heading out. Or have a snack before you leave so you don't get too hungry and make unhealthy choices. Be armed and prepared!

7. To reduce cravings in the first place, eat a wall balanced diet so your nutrient needs are met. If your body is not getting enough nutrients it will signal for you to eat more food so that your nutrient needs are met. If you find it hard to cook healthy food all the time, the In Shape Mummy Health Shake can come to to the rescue. It contains the nutrients of a balanced meal including high quality protein, 25 vitamins and minerals and more. 

Remember, if you do give in to a craving once and a while, it is not the end of the world. It's more important to look at the grand scheme of things. It's what you do for 80% of the time that will bring you results.  

Guilt Free Treats Pack

In Shape Mummy Health Snacks

Salted Caramel Peanut Fudge Protein Bites