Day 22 of Challenge #1 – Combat Cravings

I ate like complete trash the previous week, so it wasn’t entirely surprising to see my lack of weight loss on Sunday. One cheat meal of pizza and sweets led to days of bad eating and spiraled into consuming mostly junk food on the weekend. On Monday, I decided it was time to reset. Coming off a sugar bend, though, is never easy for me. While science isn’t 100% certain about sugar addiction being a thing, I do feel like I experience withdrawal symptoms.

Of course, when I’m conscious of the need to avoid sweets, it becomes about the only thing I think of. Fear is one tactic I use in an attempt to keep processed foods at bay. I have to constantly remind myself that one taste of sugar will escalate to me wanting more—hi, I lack self-control. And if I really want to scare myself, I think of the adage “a moment on the lips, forever on the hips.” Let’s just hope that one’s not true.

Turns out exercise is a healthier strategy to curb cravings, particularly after a difficult day at work. Mental exhaustion can cause an increase in caloric intake because the brain/body needs to replenish its energy levels. Enter exercise! Aside from physical activity increasing the available energy in the body’s bloodstream and promoting satiety, it can also provide cognitive stimulation to avoid thinking of foods you want to eat. With that said, after I worked out on Monday, I didn’t have as strong of an urge to binge on sweets. After all, they do say “the struggle makes success taste sweeter.”