Cravings in general do not have to necessarily be “bad” things. It’s all in how you respond to them. In this post, I’ll explain how to healthfully handle cravings.

Identify Your Type of Inner Voice – and Squash It!

Reflect on the last time you had a memorable craving, what “voice” did you hear?

The Seductive Seller

“You know you want me. I’m sooooo good. You deserve it. You worked so hard.” The seductive seller accentuates all the positive aspects of the food and none of the negative. It preys on the food-as-reward mentality (which is a dieter’s trap). The problem is responding mindlessly to the food seduction rarely gives you the satisfaction you are actually looking for. Maybe you don’t even need food. Maybe you need a hug or a kiss – or some sleep! Don’t let the seductive seller sweet-talk you. Make sure when you choose to eat something you take your time and enjoy each and every bite.

The Inner Critic

“You are so weak. You fail at everything you do and you’re going to fail at this, too.” The inner critic is all about demoralizing and sap motivation techniques. The self-hate it perpetuates is toxic to your well-being. Listening to these messages makes you more vulnerable to them. Next time you hear the inner critic come out, confront it. Be aware that these are just words flowing through your mind. You don’t have to follow them.

Respond to Cravings with Awareness and Mindfulness

As I said at the top of this post, cravings don’t have to be a bad thing. You are in control. Recognize a craving when it comes on, squash the voice and choose to take a mindful approach. Ask yourself “am I hungry or do I need something else?”. Maybe you need some rest, a hot bubble bath, or a chat with a close friend.

If you do feel hungry or if you just want to respond to the craving even though you know you’re not, it’s OK. Giving yourself permission to respond to cravings can be very liberating. But make sure you choose a reasonable portion size of your food and really take the time to slow down and enjoy each wonderful bite. Notice the taste and the pleasure it brings you. Experience it with all your senses. You may not even finish it before feeling completely satisfied. So stop early.

Taking the mindful approach to cravings is a healthy way of living a life you deserve. Next time you have a craving, embrace it!

It’s All About Control

The reason social engagements may make you feel uncomfortable has to do with control; how much control you think you have over making “the right” choices so you won’t leave feeling stuffed and regretful of your actions. Some people get “nervous energy” and tend to ease the nerves with the comfort of food. So if you’re attending a wedding where you don’t know too many people, eating can give something for your mind and mouth to do rather than (gulp) chat with strangers.

Have a Plan, Have Control

The best way to convince yourself that you do have control of your food choices in social settings is to make a plan that builds confidence. Make sure your plan is realistic and achievable. For example, do not tell yourself to skip breakfast and eat a salad for lunch so you can “bank” your calories for food and drink. You’ll end up feeling tired, starved, and ready to eat the table.

Here are some realistic tips:

• Eat before you go. You don’t want to get really hungry early on at the party. Who knows when food will be served? I recommend having a healthy meal two hours before the occasion begins or a 200-calorie snack within an hour before the event. A healthy snack might be one cup of watermelon and one cup of fresh cut veggies with a glass of water. A healthy meal looks more like a cup of salad greens and three ounces of salmon with a tablespoon of dressing.

• If possible, delay eating. If you can eat “anytime” at the party consider delaying eating until you start to feel hungry. Skip the appetizer round of food and drinks and instead sip on some carbonated water with lemon. Make a pass at the food table and take a look at what looks good. Think about what you would enjoy eating that would also nourish you.

• Make one reasonable sized plate. When it’s time to eat, choose foods that come close to the foods on your eating plan. If there are fresh veggies or salad greens, be sure to grab some of those to balance out other high calorie foods. Enjoy every bite of what you choose. Try to make the meal last 30 minutes and stop when you are full.

• Choose between desserts and drinks. You probably don’t need me to tell you that desserts and alcohol are sources of empty calories. But it’s a party so you should be able to participate. By skipping appetizers and sticking to one plate, you do have a calorie budget to enjoy one or two drinks or a dessert, but try to keep from participating in both. You don’t want to offset all your positive efforts with this slip up.

What makes them the experts? Life experiences! (that’s where “nurture” comes from – the nature vs. nurture theory, where nurturists argue people learn behaviors from their environment).

Bernie and Rebecca have had their fair share of ups and downs with health and wellness. At an unhealthy 300 pounds, Bernie’s body-age was years older than his actual birth date. Being chosen as a contestant on NBC’s The Biggest Loser was his lifeline. Losing over 100 pounds on the show, Bernie went through a physical and mental transformation and hasn’t looked back. Rebecca’s health issues are “a family affair” – with most of the women in her family struggling in the high 200’s, smoking, and disengaged with wellness. Although she taught 9 aerobics classes a week, Rebecca weighed nearly 170 pounds, as she ignored the need for “balance and moderation” with her food and alcohol intake herself.

Now, Bernie and Rebecca stay fit and healthy by trying new things (like marathons and triathlons) and choosing nourishing foods - most of the time. The Nurture Principles represent the top mantras that drive their daily wellness decisions.

The duo has “book smarts” too. Becky is a registered dietitian (RD) and ACSM certified health fitness specialist. She has a master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University. Bernie has a master’s in education and is currently studying to become a personal trainer through American College of Sports Medicine.

About Rebecca

Rebecca Scritchfield, RD is a nutrition and exercise expert specializing in weight management. Plagued with a family history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity she realized at a young age that she needed to develop her own healthy behaviors or suffer the consequences. Life came along and she ended up gaining 40 pounds between college and her early career. One day while noshing on a muffin and building a website, she realized she was not where she needed to be physically, mentally, and emotionally. She eventually found her wellness through moving more and putting healthy foods first. Today, she regularly competes in marathons, half marathons, and triathlons. Passionate about the feel-good power of healthy habits, Rebecca now knows her true calling is in helping others reach within to achieve real change. A graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, Rebecca is a practicing dietitian and American College of Sports Medicine certified Health Fitness Specialist.

About Bernie

“Bernie” Bernardo Salazar is a loser! After a decade of eating his way to illness while his brother ran marathons, he decided having a cupcake named after him would not go down as his greatest life accomplishment. He was fortunate enough to be chosen as a contestant for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”, where he took home the prize for most weight loss at home – in the real world! Bernie shed an amazing 130 pounds. He attributes losing nearly 46% of his body weight to four personal principals: motivation, information, perspiration and most importantly, self-appreciation”. Realizing that his experience on “The Ranch” saved his life, he is now dedicated to sharing his perspectives on wellness with others so  “we can all get healthy together”. Now a marathoner, Bernie stays fit by “playing more” and participating in dozens of races a year. He received a Masters degree in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and currently resides in Pleasant Hills, California.

www.nurtureprinciples.com