Five Steps to Avoid Carbohydrate Cravings

When I'm out of control in my eating, the root cause is typically bad carbs (white flour, sugar, breads, cookies, etc.). Sadly, once I start down the carb trail, I have a hard time getting off the trail). I found an article online about steps to avoid high carbs. While not directed at WLS folks exclusively, it is truly applicable to us... Five steps to avoid carbohydrate cravings: 1. Incorporate protein in to your breakfast AND lunch. Protein is key to controlling carbohydrate cravings. The RDA of protein for women is 60 grams a day. For women wanting to lose weight, health professionals recommend approximately 100 grams of protein daily. Why? One of the principle advantages of protein is that it creates a feeling of fullness and satisfaction in the body that makes overeating much less likely. Source your protein from ultra lean sources so you don't pick up unwanted calories and saturated fats. Even better, than providing a sense of sustained fullness, protein can block the triggering effect that carbohydrates can have on the brain. If you eat protein with a carbohydrate it will reduce the cravings caused by eating the carbohydrate. 2. Never skip meals. Research has shown that people who skip meals are more prone to obesity than those *****gularly eat 3 meals a day. In fact, people who space their daily food requirements by making appropriate use of healthy snacks do even better. Why is this? When you skip meals you are more likely to get hungry and fill up on easily obtained fast foods which are often trigger foods. 3. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water throughout the day. For some people sugar laden soft drinks are a trigger food. Make sure you don't get thirsty in the first place. Water creates a sense of fullness and has a host of other health benefits. 4. Plan the timing of your meals so that you don't get hungry. Despite having three healthy meals a day, sometimes your work schedule can mean the spacing of those meals still does not guard against the carbohydrate cravings. If you have a long gap between meals, make sure you carry healthy snacks to cover the distance, otherwise hunger will set in 5. Plan your snacks. Plan out your weekly snack schedule with some delicious, healthy snacks. Purchase these with your weekly shopping so that you are fully prepared. If you need to, get up a few minutes earlier in the morning so you have time to prepare and take your snacks to work. Remember, healthy snacks don't live in a vending machine! You are less likely to get hungry when you have a ready supply of healthy snacks. 6. Carry emergency supplies of nutritional protein bars in your handbag or brief case. When you feel a carbohydrate craving, eat the protein bar instead and wait 30 minutes before acting on the craving. More often than not the craving will pass and you will be in control again. This truly works!

Excellent article! Where do you find these things, Denise???? Hugs, Nancy

Some of the articles are from generic "Google" searches and others are from an awesome website called: Life After WLS. Check it out at: www.lifeafterwls.com We can do this!! Denise

Thanks for the info Denise! I have a hard time avoiding carbs & I hope that this info will help! Have a great weekend! Julie 5'3" 248/130 -118