Bad habits can really mess with your weight loss goals. But don’t worry, with a few simple tricks to change how you think, eating healthy can be easier than you think.
Sometimes, just smelling a packet of chocolate biscuits might be enough to satisfy your sweet cravings and stop you from eating them all. It might work, it might not, but it’s worth a try and can show you that your eating habits are more psychological than you thought.
Changing how you see food and learning more than just the quick-fix diet tricks will help you live a healthier lifestyle. Here are some top diet tips to get you started:
**Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth**
When we give in to sugary treats, our blood sugar spikes, giving us a quick burst of energy. But soon after, we crash and crave more sugar. To break this cycle, try these healthier options to satisfy your sweet cravings:
1. Balance your glycaemic index (GI) intake – pair sweet treats with nuts to reduce the sugar spike and keep your energy levels stable.
2. Choose lower GI sugar alternatives like agave, raw honey, maple syrup, and stevia.
3. Switch from milk chocolate to dark chocolate to cut down on sugar and fat. Artificial sweeteners can dull the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin and make you crave more sugar and carbs. Instead, eat foods with tryptophan, such as turkey, white cheese, and bananas, to boost serotonin and curb cravings.
**Kickstart Your Metabolism**
Your metabolism is how fast your body burns calories. A slow metabolism can lead to extra fat, especially around the tummy, hips, and thighs. To kickstart your metabolism, try:
– Chilli, black pepper, and ginger.
– Green tea and ginger tea.
– Lemon water in the morning.
– Coconut water.
Also, getting enough sleep and practicing yoga breathing (pranayama) can boost your metabolism.
**Know Your Fats**
Not all fats are bad. Our brains are 60% fat, so we need some fat to function well. It’s important to know the difference between good and bad fats:
– **Good fats**: These lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and include foods like salmon, fish oil, corn, soy, safflower, and sunflower oils. Avocados, canola and olive oil, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are also good choices.
– **Bad fats**: These raise bad cholesterol and are found in meat, dairy, eggs, coconut oil, and palm oil. Stay away from trans fats found in many packaged and fried foods.
**Manage Mindless Eating**
We’ve all overeaten at one time or another. To avoid this, try to eat like the yogis:
– Half your stomach filled with food.
– One-fourth filled with water (as dehydration often feels like hunger).
– One-fourth filled with air.
Hypnotherapist Linda Harr suggests that hypnosis can help stop overeating. According to her, our habits and emotions are tied to our subconscious mind, and hypnosis works well with the subconscious. It can help you change your lifestyle, behaviors, and emotional connections to food and break unhealthy eating patterns.