Mindful Monday: Conquering the Craving

I believe a lot of our diets are sabotaged simply because we can't master our cravings...okay so I know at least my diet gets sabotaged. I'm worse then a 9 month preggo when it comes to cravings. They happen suddenly and without warning.
'Hot dogs. Yes! Oooh! Put them in Mac and cheese, even better.'; 'M&M's peanut butter, no chocolate, no, with pretzels. No! Dark! NO! ALL OF THEM TOGETHER!' (Insert cookie monster noise here)
So how do we overcome our cravings? A few things I've learned to do over the last couple of months/years are to only have a bite. Or rather a portion size and drink a full glass of water with it.
When I was really counting my carbs and still figuring out gluten vs gluten free, if I got a major craving for chocolate I would go to the store and get chocolate milk. Delicious chocolatey expensive organic milk. I would drink half or at least until the craving was gone and feel so much better.
Froyo has been an ice cream substitute. But I've recently found some awesome ice cream that is gluten free and/or soy free at Bakers or what other parts of the country call Kroger. Just make sure to not eat it out of the tub. Put it in a bowl and put the ice cream back in the fridge.
Sometimes I'm to lazy after I have a serving size to fight with the frozen ice cream again. Because really and truly one serving is all you need.
I also would/will eat grapes for a sugar craving. They're sweet and tart and. magical if you have a sugar craving. I always pair mine with a cheese stick though so it doesn't impact my sugar levels to harshly.
Or I would eat berries with Philadelphia Chocolate Cream Cheese. That's also a very magnificent combination!
I don't often crave salty stuff but again make sure you portion out one size into a bowl and shut the bag and walk away. You (I) have the tendency to go back for more if it's still sitting on the counter open.
Here's a chart that also might help...


I have a bible app on my phone that has daily reading plans you can use as meditation or as bible study. I believe its just called the bible app? Little brown book with gold lettering Holy Bible scrawled on the front.
Any who..the plan I picked up was Made to Crave: 21 Day challenge. (Get it? Cause it takes 21 days to create a habit.) By author Lyssa Terkeurst. 
Here's the basis of the plan.

Made to Crave: 21 Day Challenge

21 Days

Has food become more about frustration than fulfillment? Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman’s desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. In this 21-day challenge, you will be equipped with scripture and brief devotionals, helping you take your next step today.

For more info you can go to her website here.

Day 1 of the devotional content she says 
"The process of getting healthy has to be about more than just losing weight and focusing on ourselves. It’s not about adjusting our diets and hoping for good physical results. It’s about recalibrating our souls so that we want to change for the right reasons. I’ve realized that a healthy eating plan can be one of the most significant spiritual journeys I’d ever dared to take with God." 
The scale and your jean size has nothing to do with beauty. NOTHING! 

There are no scars, no wounds, no stretch marks, or flabby thighs that will take away from the beauty and power of your soul. 

This is just simply a better/healthier way to live. A way to honor ourselves and the 'earthly bodies' we live in. 
Your body is your temple right? Where else are you going to live if you don't honor it? 
It's not to say you can't have a cookie, after all Jesus came so that we may enjoy life! Eat the cookie, enjoy the cookie. But you can also make smarter choices for your body. For instance healthy eating, conquering our cravings! I know you can do this! 

You can, you will, you are. 

Enjoy your Monday everyone. 

A

Comments

Anonymous said…
Her book is really good! I am not done yet, but so far it is amazing!