Any Dietitians??

Question

I have a big sweet tooth. I know my daily diet is not the best but I am extremely active.... workout daily, mountain bike etc..What can I do to stop the cravings for carbs and sweets? This really aggrevates me. Help!! Serious replies please....thanks

Answer 1

JImmy, unfortunately the first poster is on the right track. Carbohydrate overload will lead to wanting more carbs due to reactions within the brain, however I answered a question similar to this earlier and to summarize it, you may be lacking certain nutrients that trigger this response in an attempt that something you eat will contain what you are lacking. I am new to this site so I don't know if its possible for you to read my earlier post, but please check it out if you get the chance, its more in depth and beneficial for everyone, the same principles apply to you.

Answer 2

i guess everyones cravings are different.
like the other posters have said, perhaps it's ideal to eliminate them completely for a while. but in doing so, when you begin to eat them again you're likely to binge.

my advice (from personal experience) is to satisfy my cravings in small amounts. just have small portions. i don't believe carbs should ever be eliminated from a diet because it's unrealistic and you're likely to build up your desire for more carbs and end up binging. the only carbs to reduce (not necessarily eliminate) are refined carbs like white breads and cakes...etc.. they should be replaced with whole grains and muesli bars or something along those lines. carbs are not the enemy in moderation.

as for sweets, chew some sugar free gum, brush your teeth or just have some fruit. maybe even a diet soda.you're right to want to reduce the amount of refined sugar in your diet, but remember natural sugars, like fruit, aren't bad for you and will probably satisfy your cravings.

also remember that often cravings are a sign of thirst. drink some water next time you crave something and wait a few minutes and see if you're still craving. maybe even mineral water (the fizzy ones) will fill your stomach and probably stop you craving, at least for a while.

final word of advice: most cravings last for approximately 14 minutes. if you can get through that time without indulging, the craving will most likely pass you by. it's been scientifically proven. but having said that, those 14 minutes can sometimes pass by like an hour!!

Answer 3

I've done some reading on the South Beach Diet, and it says that to eliminate cravings, you have to eliminate sweets for a while.
(it recommends 2 weeks)
If you don't want to follow a diet, just cut crap out of your diet for a while.

Answer 4

don't eat sweets, eat fruits