If you've had a hard day at work, you may not know why you want two pieces of pie after dinner (or FOR dinner). Your mind is not on why you have those sugar cravings. We know sweets taste good but we don't know why we have such a craving for them. We know it's bad for us but we continue to eat them. It's almost like our body needs that sugar... because it does.
Sugary sweets and the sugar cravings for them can be a sign that our neurotransmitters are in distress. Neurotransmitters are the brain messengers that carry information between brain cells. When we are in stress our neurotransmitter levels drop, especially serotonin, known as the happiness transmitter. Our body attempts to correct this problem by doing something that feels good. Such as have a piece of lemon meringue pie or that chocolate bar.
Most of us have subconsciously buried memories where we associate sugary food with relief. From the first time grandma made us chocolate chip cookies, we began to associate sugar with feeling better. When we get those sugar cravings, our subconscious is attempting to boost endorphins and to stimulate neurotransmitters in the way it remembers with a sugary treat.
If you are trying to control your sugar cravings, it's helpful to know why you want those treats in the first place. You can stop yourself a little easier if you realize that you don't really want the pie so much as you want to feel better.
You can slow down sugar cravings when you're stressed if you take time to examine what you can do to lower your stress levels. Find ways to feel better emotionally so you can feel better without reaching for a candy bar. A little trick that I have been using for years, that works real well: stop what you are doing, and take three huge, deep breathes... and then exhale very slowly.
This gives you a chance to "clear your head" and to think about what you are about to do... and ask yourself if that is what you really want to do. I make myself give 3 reasons why it is OK to go ahead and eat the food AND 3 reasons why I don't want to have that food. Usually by the time I think of those 3 reasons, my mind has gone elsewhere and I do not feel the urge to have that decadent indulgence. It just doesn't seem quite so worth it... or certainly not the consequences.
Next time you find yourself faced with a sugar cravings when your stressed, give this a try. I think you will be pleased with the result.
With 10 years experience in the weight loss industry, in my opinion, the one component that was really missing from many weight loss programs is fighting the cravings for sugar. People need to find ways to fight their sugar addictions by using real world, affordable behavioral modification techniques. I have found that: "When you conquer the sugar...you conquer the pounds!" And then you enjoy vibrant health!
If you wish to help yourself to prevent illnesses, such as adult onset diabetes, excess weight and you want your control back, then check out my blog. I deliver fire tested, people tested strategies that work in real life.
For more tips from Gretchen, check out her blog: http://conquersugarcravings.com/ or get her free report: http://crushsugarcravings.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gretchen_Jack
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