A few weeks ago my older son turned 16. It still feels strange saying that. As cliche as it sounds, it amazes me how fast time has gone.
To help celebrate his birthday, my younger son, announced to me; "Mommy- we are going to make a real cake from scratch with sugar and real flour. And none of your almond flour business."
It made me laugh when he said that. I realize it can be hard to have a Health Coach for a mom and I don't want to be overly rigid when it comes to special events.
I played along and bought all the ingredients for the cake and frosting. We worked together, and then he decorated the cake on his own.
The cake turned out awesome, and we all loved it.
The day after his birthday, I noticed I was craving more cake. It had been a while since I had eaten refined sugar and it surprised me how quickly my sugar cravings returned.
It was as if my inner sugar monster woke up and said "Hey- that was some good stuff. FEED ME MORE!"
I'm very familiar with this experience since I have struggled with sugar cravings for years. I also know it's dangerous for me to give in to these cravings because just like for most people, the more sugar I eat, the more I want it. And the more I eat it, the worse I feel.
Luckily, after years of experimentation, I have the tools to easily get my body back on track.
Here are a few strategies I use when the sugar cravings strike:
Go back to your "WHY". Know what your personal "why" is for cutting back on sugar. My general "why" is my desire to feel my best and have the energy to do the things I love to do. In addition, I know cutting back on refined sugar is crucial to my health. I have PCOS, a hormonal condition related to insulin resistance, and eating refined sugar makes it worse.
Eat fruit and/or root vegetables to help with the cravings. Fruit and root vegetables such as sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and help satisfy the sweet tooth without spiking your blood sugar and setting you up for another sugar craving. If you are concerned with the sugars in fruit, berries are a great option since they are lower in sugar and full of antioxidants.
Drink more water than usual. When we eat a lot of processed foods, our body has to use more resources to digest. Getting proper hydration helps balance out your body and lessen sweet cravings.
Make sleep a priority. While this is always essential, I find it crucial for getting sugar cravings under control. When you don't get enough good quality sleep, the body tends to crave more sugar for energy. However, when you are well rested, you have more energy naturally and are able to make better decisions when it comes to your health and well-being.
Eat meals that balance your blood sugar. Create meals with protein, healthy fats, and fiber. By focusing on eating a combination of protein/healthy fat and fiber, you will feel more satiated, and your blood sugar will be more stable. This helps you get off the sugar craving roller coaster and get you back on track.
I hope you found at least one of these tips useful. If you are experiencing out of control sugar cravings, know that you have the power to make a change.