How to Kick Cravings

Step One: Get mad

Cravings don’t give a shit about you. They’re selfish bastards. They want what they want when they want it regardless of how the consequences affect your mood, self esteem and social life.

If you think about it, they’re a lot like that pushy friend who always wants you to go beyond your boundaries so she doesn’t have to make gigantic life mistakes alone. She doesn’t care about your needs; she cares about hers and you’re wasting your time be- ing “friends” with her.

How many craving friends do you have? Are you BFFs with the after-dinner-fridge- raid monster? Or are you attached at the hip with the mid-afternoon Dunkin Donut run queen? Do you give in to her peer pres- sure to avoid confrontation aka discomfort? It’s time to grow a set and stop letting this non-friend rule your food decisions.

Your cravings are toxic if any of these red flags ring a bell:

1. They take, take, take and never give

Quality foods like fruit and veggies have something to give: vitamins, minerals, fiber, water, health and glowing skin. Craving foods don’t. Have you ever had a spontaneous craving for kale or eggs? It’s definitely possible, but those cravings don’t typically pop into your head and consume your every thought until you get a hit. 

A toxic craving comes out of nowhere and sinks it’s claws in deep. You know, the one that “needs” an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s or a whole pepperoni pizza chased by a 20oz Coke. What are binges giving you besides a shit load of calories, a false “high” followed by a major crash and self-criticism for being too weak to stand up to them?? Well duh, they come bearing gifts of low self esteem, spare tires and fatigue, of course. Healthy relationships are about give and take. If you’re not getting anything beneficial from it, the bitch needs to go.

2. They destroy your confidence

Once the initial “high” is over and the crash begins you realize how much damage was done and regret sets in. Constantly feeling powerless and weak over your cravings = constantly feeling like shit about yourself = slowly chipping away at your confidence and turning into an insecure, out- of-control blob with nothing to offer the world… or at least that’s what you think you’ve become. Ever tried standing up to a craving and beating it? Invigorating stuff… I highly recommend it.

3. They don’t evolve

Isn’t it always the same friend wanting you to hang out with the same losers in the same bar every Thursday night? And isn’t it always the same craving trigger with the same raging feelings of NEED with the same “high” and the same crash-and-self-sabotage?? Life is about changing and evolving into a better version of yourself. If you’re stuck in the same binge and regret cycle you’ll never fully evolve and reach your maximum potential. 

Do you dream of having a kick asscareer and looking the part? I hate to say it, but that’s not happening without personal evolution and self confidence.

Stew on this for a while. Think about the craving “friends” you’ve been stuck with for too long. Is it time to let a few of them go so your life flower can blossom? Ending relationships sucks, but sometimes you just have to let go and move on. Once you get past the initial sting of the torn-off bandaid you’ll look back and wonder, “why the F didn’t I do this YEARS ago!?”

Totally pissed? Great. Now for the fun part.

Step Two: Get even

No matter how motivated you are to make your 2019 diet your bitch, you’re going to hit some roadblocks along the way and they’ll probably turn up pretty quickly, say…tomorrow-ish?

Now that you know how to recognize an asshole aka craving, it’s time to put that bitch in her place.

1. Confront it face to face

Is it a craving or a habit? You’ve been going back for seconds at dinner every night for the past 25 years… HABIT. You order a large, extra-butter popcorn and raisinets every time you go to the movies… HABIT. Bite the bullet and just be honest with yourself. If it’s a habit, you’re not going to die without it and it can be changed.

The hardest habits to break are the ones you enjoy the most — and research says you actually can’t “break” them, but instead replace them with another habit. If what you’re currently doing over and over isn’t making you better, it’s time to start brainstorming alternatives. 

2. Come prepared

Let’s head back to those examples from number one. If you know you’re going to go back for seconds why not make just a single serving so there are no seconds? Possibly more kitchen work in the short term, but creating a much better routine for the long term. And about that popcorn… How about sneaking your own homemade trail mix in under your coat (particularly easy in the winter!)? You’ll get that same mix of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, yet you’ll save inches of puff and hours of regret the next morning.

3. Beat it to the punch

You’ve been around the block a few times with these cravings. You know what they look like, when they show up and what happens after they’ve peaced out. So why do you let them get the best of you? You guessed it, it’s a habit.

If you’re serious about ditching cravings you need to arm yourself with some nutritional ammo. Stock your fridge with only good food, make sure you’ve got high protein snacks on hand AT. ALL. TIMES. When a fire breaks out aka you’re going to die without chocolate right this minute, douse it with protein, fat, veggies and water water water! When you’re body’s fueled properly, those pesky hankerings don’t stand a chance!