Dieting and Cravings

Most people sometime in there lives decide to try and lose some weight. Martial artists sometimes need to lose weight (mostly fat) so as to compete in there chosen weight category. Bodybuilders also need to lose weight (fat again) so as to look very “ripped” and toned. Every time a diet does happen you will always get cravings.

To some, cravings can be a good thing. If you crave, it means your hungry, if you stay hungry you shall lose weight. But to some cravings can get very bad, and that is when they start nibbling at little things. Maybe opening the fridge, staring inside for around 15 minutes, taking tiny nibbles of different foods. Before they know it, they have eaten a meals worth of food consuming extra calories. When you deprive yourself of certain food types, you will always get cravings. As a martial artist it is a good way of training your self discipline, but not everyone are martial artists. For those who are not, there are a couple of things that may work.

Add extra calories WISELY!- If you feel you have a craving (which is usually at night), have ONE table spoon full of something like peanut butter, just to give you a little taste of something different to your usual chicken, tuna and salad.
Perform some light stretching – I have always noticed that if I perform some light stretches for about ten minutes, my cravings disappear. It may work for you.
Drink water – Fill yourself up with the one thing you consume with no calories, water. Drink lots of it so it fills you up, expands your stomach and makes you think that you are full. Sometimes seeing a bloating stomach is enough to give you the motivation not to eat anything.
Stay within your meal consumption every 2-3 hours – Cravings will always appear, but as long as you are having your meals every 2-3 hours without skipping one, it SHOULD keep your cravings to a controllable level.
Build motivation – Watch a Bruce Lee film, check out Internet websites, read inspiring books. Whatever builds your motivation to succeed and not sway of your diet, do it.

Dieting is one of the hardest things any one can do. It is a true test to see whether you have the guts and determination to succeed at something. Cravings are just one of the things that life throws at you to try and make you fail, but with everything, you just have to keep on going. Dont stop and you shall succeed.

Marks

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