We’ve all been there. We’re craving something sweet but trying to watch our weight. Maybe we’re at a social gathering and just had one too many drinks. Or maybe it’s been a week since our last cheat meal and we’ve got an important date coming up. Inevitably, this leads to a vicious cycle of wanting something sweet and then trying to avoid all dietary restrictions so we can eat it. That’s what makes this topic so relatable.
The fact is, it’s not easy being on a diet. We want all the food we love without having to give up anything in return. It’s natural to feel frustrated when you’re craving something so strongly that you think there’s no way to have it and still stay within your calorie limits. But here’s the thing: you can! We spoke with registered dietitian and author of “The Flat stomach diet” Emily Bartlett about how to beat a diet and how to eat the foods you crave without going overboard.
Find Your Inner Sugar Threshold
The first step to taking down the weight is finding out your personal sugar threshold. It’s important to do this because, for some people, eating a lot of sugar can cause weight gain. There’s also a point at which eating too much sugar can cause diabetes. So, before you start consuming buckets of maple syrup, you must learn how your body reacts to the sweet stuff and whether or not you’re at risk of becoming diabetic or gaining weight from eating it Too often.
To find your sugar threshold, eat a small amount of sugar each day for a few days. After a few days of this, you’ll notice that your body doesn’t react negatively to the sugar. Instead, you’ll feel happier and more satisfied than you ever have before. From this point on, you can gradually consume more sugar without anything bad happening. When you eventually do eat a ton of sugar, it will most probably be a byproduct of an unplanned, impulsive eating episode. This could be the result of you buying a six-pack solely to drink alone or it could be because you’re bored or lonely.
By taking the time to find out your sugar threshold, you’ll be able to determine how much sugar is OK for you. The key is to not eat too much sugar and to make sure that your body doesn’t get used to any type of food or drink that contains it. If you think that you’ll eventually eat a lot of sugar because you love it so much, then you’re better off not finding out how much your body can take. This way, you’ll at least be aware of how much sugar your system can handle and you’ll have the opportunity to stop when you reach your tolerance level.
The More You Know, The Better
Now that you know how much sugar your body can handle, it’s time to move on to the next step. This is where a lot of the frustration comes from when you’re trying to lose weight. The more you know, the better chance you have of succeeding. So, once you know your sugar threshold, you can start to incorporate that knowledge into your diet. For instance, you know that you shouldn’t eat a lot of white sugar because it’s harmful to your body. So, instead of reaching for a candy bar when you’re feeling frustrated, opt for a handful of blueberries or a few slices of pear instead. You’ll still get that quick shot of pleasure that comes with eating something that contains sugar, but you won’t harm yourself in the process.
Diversify Your Diet, the Flat Stomach Way
When you’re restricted to only eating certain foods because you think they’re good for you and don’t contain any sugar, you’ll lose a lot of nutrition. For instance, if you follow a vegan diet, you’ll miss out on a lot of protein and iron. In addition, there are a lot of nutrients in meat that aren’t found in plants. So, not only are you depriving yourself of nutrition, but you’re also preventing yourself from getting the full range of nutrients that your body needs to function at its best. When you start eating a wider range of food, you’ll start to see results quicker than you would if you were following a monophisticated diet. The key is to find foods that contain multiple nutrients and to avoid those that are devoid of nutrients. For instance, broccoli is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber, but it’s also packed with calories. So, instead of consuming broccoli all the time, treat yourself once or twice a month by eating it. The more you vary your diet, the better. It’ll help your body function at its best and it’ll prevent you from getting sick from eating the same foods all the time.
Reward Yourself
It’s important to reward yourself when you reach a certain weight goal. Just because you’ve decided to take on a new lifestyle doesn’t mean that you deserve to be punished. When you reach your goal weight, treat yourself with a massage or an incredible meal out. Something that will allow you to relax and enjoy life the way you were meant to.
In addition to massages and rewarding meals, you can also give yourself a pat on the back for all the hard work you did. When you set a goal to lose weight and you work hard to achieve it, it’s important to acknowledge and appreciate all the effort you put into it. Remember: this is a lifestyle change and it’s not going to be easy. Acknowledging all you’ve done will inspire you to continue on the path to better health. It may seem like a pain to have to follow a strict diet, especially if you’re used to eating the way you want. But, if you’re determined to make a change, you can find a way to make it work for you. Above all, make sure that you’re enjoying yourself and that the change is for the better. This way, you’ll be more likely to keep on implementing new strategies and changing your ways of eating. And, when you do finally give into your cravings and eat something that isn’t good for you, you’ll be able to identify it as such. Better to know than to guess.