The road to hell is paved with good intention.
Dealing with temptation requires strong will-power.
We all have good intentions when it comes to eating healthily.
But dealing with temptation can be difficult.
Imagine – you have become very hungry and the only food available is a packet of chocolate biscuits. What happens – you promise yourself you will eat only one or two … however … soon half or even the whole packet has gone. So has the feeling of hunger, only to be replaced with guilt !
This is just one situation where temptation wins in the battle to get or stay healthy and slim.
The good news is that we can overcome temptation. Read on to learn how…
Reduce the Temptation to Eat Unhealthy Foods
We all have days when our willpower is not enough to resist the temptation to consume unhealthy food. Don’t be too hard on yourself or feel guilty. Instead, commit to changing and design a plan to deal with the situation. Small, but committed definite and conscious changes in your daily habits will renew your strength and help you reduce the temptation to eat unhealthy foods.
If the problem occurs at home, then the first step is to avoid buying unhealthy tempting foods like chocolate biscuits. Instead buy snacks such as nuts or fruit to eat when food cravings start.
Don’t get too hungry and eat when you are hungry.
When you allow yourself to become extremely hungry, the need and strong desire for food puts you at risk of making unhealthy choices. If you let hunger develop too much, it’s easy to be tempted by the chocolate biscuits at home or doughnuts in the office lounge or a bag of crisps from the vending machine. If you begin to feel hunger coming on, don’t deny yourself the opportunity to eat. Grab something healthy right away.
Be prepared.
This is the most important action and worth repeating – be prepared. You cannot eat healthy food if it is not there. Very obvious, but true.
Don’t let hunger take you by surprise. Keep your cupboard stocked with healthy snacks. Also, take healthy snacks to work and have a space at work for seeds, nuts, fresh fruits, yogurt, or fresh vegetables with hummus or bean dip. Be organised and disciplined. Pack individual servings of snacks at the start of every week and carry some with you at all times. Having healthy foods to hand, you’ll be less likely to eat an unhealthy option when hunger starts.
Use distractions to control hunger
A distraction is a great way to reduce temptation. When you cannot get your mind off an unhealthy food, change your focus. Make a phone call, deliver a message personally, or take a quick walk around the block. Drink a glass of water. These tricks allow you to displace the thoughts of hunger and food. You are able to revisit your goals and think twice about giving in to temptation that will divert you from your goals.
Move away from the food and serving table.
An excellent way to resist temptation is to move yourself away from easy access to unhealthy foods. At a gathering the worst place to be is next to the food table. Standing near the tempting food – appetizers, snacks, and desserts can lead to uncontrolled, mindless munching.
Consciously select a seat or a location to stand that is across the room and away from the food. You will enjoy the gathering just as much and will leave having eaten far fewer calories and without the unpleasant sensation of guilt.
Purchase treats in single servings or if very disciplined – not at all !
The old saying, “Out of sight, out of mind,” doesn’t always work. If you know there are chocolate biscuits or cookies in the cupboard or ice cream in the freezer, it’s often difficult to resist when you crave something sweet.
Rid yourself of the temptation and keep these foods out of the house. When you want to enjoy a treat, buy just one, not a whole box. Get one biscuit or cookie from the bakery, a single snack bag of chips, or a single-serve ice cream. Once you’ve enjoyed your treat, there won’t be any more to tempt you again later. Or even better, avoid buying these treats at all. Just buy healthy snacks !
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