The winter holiday festivities are over, but alas another holiday is almost near —Valentine’s Day. Soon your sweetheart might be handing you heart-shaped chocolates, red and pink frosted cookies, and chocolate covered strawberries. With so many temptations it can be easy to stray away from your New Year’s goals. So how do you ward off your sweet tooth cravings? Start with these tips:
1. Understand your cravings. Why do we crave sugar? Sugar signals the body to release serotonin, which in turn boosts your mood, and gives your body a short-term energy boost. That feel good feeling causes you to want more, resulting in overeating. Other times, we eat sugary products because our body is dehydrated.
2. Rehydration is essential. Shakes are a great way of rehydrating and you can make up for the nutrients your body is lacking. Try replenishing with one of our Premium Protein Shakes.
3. Replace your sweet urges with nature’s sweets. Trick your taste buds into thinking they’re getting something sweet. Try adding mango’s, pineapples, or your favorite fruit to grilled chicken.
4. Substitute urges with healthier options. There are temptations everywhere but if you monitor what you eat, weight loss can be easily achieved. We understand it’s hard to give up sweets entirely, that’s why we have created healthier options which come in a variety of flavors.
5. Rest up. Other times we crave sugary products, because sleep deprivation affects our hunger hormone. However, by getting a good night’s sleep you can easily avoid this.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be an exhaustive examination of the subject matter nor a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your primary care physician or healthcare provider before beginning any diet or exercise program.
Active Medi-Weightloss® patients should consult the experts at their location on whether the foods and recipes mentioned are appropriate for their phase of the program.