Not the enemy: Understanding your cravings

One of the key aspects of breaking free from the exhausting and demoralising battle with food is understanding cravings.?

Contrary to what you might think, cravings are not your enemy. They are powerful signals that your body uses to communicate with you.?

You can choose to embrace cravings as messages from your body rather than problems to be controlled.?

By changing your perspective on cravings, you can boost your self-belief, confidence, and effortlessly work toward achieving your goals.?

One of the most important things to grasp about cravings is that they are your body's way of communicating its needs.?

When you experience a craving, it's not just random or irrational; it's your body's way of telling you that it requires a specific nutrient, flavour, energy source, or emotional lack. In other words, cravings are your body's way of asking you to eat consistently and in a way that honours its unique needs.

Cravings as Nutrient Signals

Cravings often occur for a reason. When your body craves certain foods, it's usually because it's in need of specific nutrients.?

For example, if you find yourself craving chocolate, it might indicate a need for magnesium.?

Cravings for salty foods could be a sign that your body is low on sodium or other electrolytes.

Ignoring these cravings or trying to suppress them can lead to feelings of deprivation and, in some cases, overeating.?

When you consistently deny your body the nutrients it's signalling for, it can create a cycle of restriction and overindulgence, which can negatively impact your overall relationship with food and your health.

Listening to Your Body

Instead of viewing cravings as something to be controlled, consider them as an opportunity to listen to your body.?

Embrace the idea of eating consistently by honouring these cravings in a mindful way. It's helpful to differentiate between cravings that come from genuine physical hunger and those that stem from emotional triggers or stress.?

There’s no shame in turning to comfort foods to soothe unpleasant emotions, but eventually the source of that discomfort will need a more sustainable solution. While food is a quick, cheap, and effective coping mechanism, it won’t allow you to process what you’ve been avoiding.

Manage Self-Critical Thoughts

While understanding the physiological aspects of cravings is crucial, it's equally essential to address the psychological side of the equation. For many people, cravings are accompanied by self-critical thoughts and guilt.?

Learning to manage these negative thought patterns is key to changing your relationship with cravings and, in turn, growing in self-belief and confidence.

Self-Compassion and Mindfulness

Self-critical thoughts often arise when we perceive our cravings as weaknesses or failures. Begin by acknowledging that cravings are a normal part of being human. They don't make you weak or undisciplined. In fact, they make you incredibly human and relatable. And they are a rich source of information too about how your mental and emotional landscape are doing. Instead of shunning them to change your mindset, it's important to cultivate self-compassion and mindfulness.?

Practice mindfulness when cravings strike.?

Rather than reacting impulsively, take a moment to pause and tune into your body and emotions. Ask yourself what might be triggering the craving and what your body is trying to communicate. When you approach cravings with curiosity and without judgement, you'll start to recognize that they are not your enemy but a source of valuable information.

Changing Your Inner Dialogue

The way you speak to yourself during moments of craving is crucial. Instead of harsh self-criticism, try changing your inner dialogue to one of self-encouragement and positivity. Remind yourself that it's okay to have cravings and that they don't define your worth. Self-acceptance and self-belief are the building blocks of confidence and empowerment.

Some find it helpful to have a toolbox of positive affirmations and coping strategies that they can turn to when cravings and self-critical thoughts emerge. These might include phrases like, ‘I am in control of my choices,’ or ‘I am worthy of nourishing my body.’

Emotional Eating and Self-Care

It's essential to recognise that emotional eating is a valid response to our emotions and life experiences.?

Instead of berating yourself for emotional eating, consider it an opportunity for self-care. F

ind alternative ways to cope with your emotions, such as journaling, talking to a friend, or engaging in a soothing self-care ritual. Self-compassion plays a significant role in managing self-critical thoughts and, in turn, changing your relationship with cravings.

By changing your perspective on cravings and managing self-critical thoughts, you'll start to experience a profound transformation in your self-belief and confidence.?

You'll no longer view cravings as something to be feared or controlled, but as valuable signals from your body.?

This shift in mindset will empower you to consistently take the necessary actions to achieve your health and wellness goals with ease.

I'm here to remind you that you are in charge of your relationship with food. By eating consistently and managing self-critical thoughts, you'll not only improve your physical well-being but also nourish your emotional and mental health.?

So what do you say? It's time to embrace cravings as allies on your journey to becoming the best version of yourself, inside and out.

Until next time,

Denise