Mar 5, 2012

Five Ways I Like to Sweeten Up My Life

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Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a faaaabulous weekend! I know I did—I spent it in California! Don’t worry, I’ll give you all the details in a post later this week.

In my post about controlling cravings, one of my tips talked about finding sources of sweetness in your life that don’t come covered in chocolate. Since I’ve been sugar-free for almost two weeks, I’ve definitely needed to use this tip in my own life! For a long time, if I was feeling sad, lonely or bored, I’d turn to food (and most often, sweets) to comfort myself or occupy my time. Now, however, I’ve found new, better coping mechanisms, and I want to share them with you!

Keep in mind that these are what work for me; what works for you could be completely different! The five items below are simply ways that I like to take care of myself that don’t involve cakes and cookies. These alternatives give me the same feelings of happiness or stress relief, and they’re WAY healthier!

Massage

(Source)

  1. Cuddle Time – This is one of my favorite things to do, yet I never seem to get enough of it! Instead of reaching for a package of Oreos to give myself that warm and fuzzy feeling, I slide across the couch until I’m practically smothering my boyfriend. Hey, sometimes a little human touch is all we need! Besides, I know he likes it, haha.
  2. Exercise – Though a tough workout can suck the life out of me while it’s happening, the natural high I get afterward is SO worth it! If you ever need a little pick-me-up, I think exercise is the way to go—even if it’s just a walk on a beautiful day. For a more relaxing experience, try running or yoga.
  3. Massage – One of my favorite things in the world, a massage can always make me feel better! Though the “real thing” is awesome, a shoulder rub from my boyfriend or self-massage with my foam roller can do the trick, too!
  4. Reading – If you’re like me, a good book can be the perfect escape when you need to get away from reality for a minute. I love being able to immerse myself in another world and forget about anything that might be stressing me out, even if it is just for an hour or so. Though fiction is great, there are some fantastic non-fiction books out there about health and wellness, and sometimes I find those ones are even better at helping me overcome cravings!
  5. Comedy – Laughter is the best medicine, right? Watching television shows like New Girl or The Office never fail to make me laugh, and often times that’s just what I need! If I’m not in the mood for TV, DYAC never fails me.

There you have it! Those are just a few ways that I like to add a little relaxation, laughter and sweetness to my life! These alternatives are more fulfilling, fun and satisfying than any kind of sugary treat you could eat—I promise. Next time a craving strikes, give one of them a try!

What are some of your favorite ways to sweeten up your life?

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Mental Health · Tagged:
Feb 27, 2012

Cravings: Three Tips for Controlling a Control Freak’s Worst Nightmare

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I’ll be the first to admit it: I can be a control freak. When it comes to my life, I like things to be put a certain place or done a certain way. Is that a crime? Not necessarily, but it can be a pain in the ass. This is an especially annoying trait when I come across things I can’t control, like the weather, other people’s grammar or the drooling that happens when I come within a 10-foot radius of any type of baked goods.

CT ct-cookies-0126 red

In college, I would actually change my route to avoid a Girl Scouts cookie table for fear of coming home with a box… Or three. I just couldn’t say no to a nine-year-old with a box of Samoas! (Source)

Despite my type-A personality and slight OCD tendencies (Does anyone else need the TV volume to end in a zero or a five?), my cravings for sweets have almost always gotten the better of me. I’m the queen of swearing off sweets, only to succumb to a late night binge-fest of the closest chocolate-covered something I can get my hands on. But no more!

Emotional triggers aside, one of the reasons I’ve struggled with cravings for so long is because I never knew how to deal with them. Sure, I’d chew sugar-free gum until the cows came home and will my cravings away until my head hurt, but nothing ever worked. Whenever these didn’t work (read: every time), I’d dive into a downward spiral of overeating because I felt like a failure. Though I didn’t recognize it at the time, I wasn’t a failure at all—I just failed to handle my cravings in a healthy way.

Since I’ve started my education at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, I’ve learned ways to cope with cravings, especially ones related to sugar. Are you ready to work toward overcoming your cravings? Check out these tips to get started!

  1. Reduce your caffeine intake. I know, I know… What are you supposed to do without your coffee fix!? Though it might be a rough ride at first, reducing (or eliminating, for the brave souls out there) caffeine will help with problems like dehydration and unstable blood sugar. Since both of these are associated with sugar cravings, reducing them means reducing cravings!
  2. Eat fruits and sweet vegetables. Debating whether or not to have dessert? Go for it—just make it something healthy! Fruits are a light and healthy way to satisfy a sugar craving. Plus, the more you eat, the less you’ll crave the white stuff!
  3. Find other sources of sweetness in your life. Though you might think you’re craving a slice of cake, sometimes what you really need is a little bit of lovin’! Next time you have a strong craving, try to take a step back and think for a second. What do you really want? Often times, your craving can be satisfied by catching up with an old friend, getting a night of restful sleep or de-stressing with a yoga class.

I hope these helped! The best part about them? They’re healthy.

Do you struggle with cravings? If so, how do you deal with them?

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Nutrition Tips · Tagged: ,