I’ve done it!
How about you?
I’ve been blindsided by my cravings.
Let’s talk about it.
What are food cravings? Yummylicious items that cause an instant, seemingly overpowering, desire. I remember this one time, arriving at a wedding shower. One of the first things that my eyes beheld was the amazing spread of delectable delights. The beautiful cake. The pretty cookies. The cute tiny cupcakes. Oh, and the chocolate! Captivated, I wondered if there was a human magnet hidden in the centerpiece, because I couldn’t stop circling. At first, I had will-power. I went for the carrots and hummus. And the calculated cupcake. Then I began thinking, “Of course I should have a piece of the celebratory shower cake”. And what followed was a total surrender to the battle. Giving up and giving in. Do you relate? This commonly happens at social events; pretty much anywhere there are people with something to celebrate.
Most of the time in these situations, I bet, like me, you hold on pretty well at first. Then you get worn down and can no longer resist your diet kryptonite. Diet, not necessarily the, “I am on a diet”, but the, “THAT is not allowed in my diet, because I can’t stop at just one, or two”. Many times you pay the price for it physically. Bloating. Aching. Insomnia. Added weight. Booo!
What follows is surely familiar to anyone who relates to the above scenario. I have labeled it, The 5 Stages of Grief After a Craving-Crash.
Stage One: Denial. It goes something like this. Ok, it’s no big deal. I chose to eat that. So, I want to drop some unhealthy weight, but one night won’t ruin anything. It’s totally ok for me to eat what I like sometimes. Four of those tiny cupcakes together only make one regular size! Everyone else does it. And anyway, I have a slow metabolism.
Stage Two: Anger. Reality starts to set in. Nooooooo! What was I thinking? Sure, I ate the home-made chocolate brownies…. But the boring store bought cookies too? All my hard work trying to get in shape- erased! And for what? And, btw, why are there always desserts and unhealthy food at every event? How insensitive. How unfair! They have no idea what it’s like to struggle with this. Haters.
Stage Three: Bargaining. I’ve got this. I have calculated the damage, and if I skip the next 3 meals, only drink water or juice for three days, and fit in three high-intensity work-outs, I will be back on track. You know, this seems possible! I can do it!
Stage Four: Depression. It’s hopeless. Why bother? I’m afraid to eat. I’m stuck. And I don’t even like to eat that stuff. It seems easy for everyone else, they don’t have the same battle with food that I do. Can I just go to sleep? My poor body. And no more wedding showers or parties or happy hours for me, ever again.
Stage Five: Acceptance. It is what it is. And it is work for me. Sure, it seems easy for some others, but that’s ok. Watching people pass over the sweets for the vege platter and one cookie.... ok, so I don’t relate. But I don’t have to. I just need to work on myself. I can’t do it alone. I need support. I need a plan. That’s what I’m going to get. No more doing this alone. Here I go! Bring it on!
Cravings are a reality for so many people. Surveys show that 100% of women have at least one food craving. This leads to binging for some. Compulsive eating is a primary symptom not the primary problem. Here are 4 top reasons why we crave:
1. Unbalanced Primary Life Needs:
These can be a variety. Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little, or the wrong kind), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice can all cause emotional eating. Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment or to fill the void of food. Ok. That’s a mouthful. It is important to first evaluate these areas and identify issues and then focus on changing or improving them. Help and support are needed to do so.
2. Dehydration:
Lack of water can send the message that you’re thirsty and on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest as hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water. How many times when I feel lacking and want to ease comfort, I realize I haven’t had any water in hours. (Uh oh, like right now. Excuse me while I get a glass. J)
3. Familiar and Recent Foods:
Often, cravings come from foods we’ve recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors, or foods from our childhood. A clever way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier version of your ancestral and childhood foods. An example may be eating brown rice instead of white rice. Or a sourdough whole grain instead of white bread.
4. Lack or Nutrients:
If the body has inadequate nutrients, it can produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels trigger salt cravings, and overall inadequate nutrition leads to cravings for temporary sources of energy, like caffeine. Learning to balance your diet is a solution. Sometimes I get to the end of my day and I have skipped a meal or eaten very randomly. Then evening comes and I crave. It’s like my body is screaming to fill all the voids. A huge nacho platter later and I’m ‘satisfied’. When I eat diet balanced through the day, I end the day feeling even.
Cravings are teaching us about ourselves. They can reveal secrets about our mind, body, and soul. Listen to them. Sometimes it is as simple as a glass of water. Other times it is healing a ‘primary life’ issue. Many times, I have had to face and deal with my unhealthy craving. You can do it! Don’t just battle cravings, learn from them. And in doing so conquer them. That is what healthy is.
xo, mk
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