by Eliza Ceci
Cravings are so fun to me, you want to know why? Well, I’ll tell you. They are like the key to a forgotten treasure! They are these complex and fabulous secrets our bodies are whispering to us when we become irritated, busy or off-center.
Many of us at one point in our lives or another have experienced late night binges or negative self-talk beating ourselves up for not ‘sticking to the diet’, or restricting ourselves from the simple pleasures of a complete and delicious meal.
But I’d like to offer some techniques that work to notice the cravings, change our perpetual negative thinking around feeling ‘powerless’ around our favorite treats and invite you to take cravings for what they are: messages from our body to perk up and listen!
- Drink Water We hear this so often but it is so important. Spring water is amazing and the best
water you can feed your body. It comes straight from the source of Mother Earth and replenishes us more completely than any bottled water could ever do. If you aren’t sure where the closest spring might be to you check out http://findaspring.com This is actually a great experience for you and your family! Drinking freezing cold water from the Earth is so gratifying. But, if you do not live close enough to a natural spring have no fear just make sure to keep hydrating by drinking filtered water. In the case of cravings often we are dehydrated and the body will react with a message of hunger. Sit down with a glass of water and if you don’t like the taste of plain water add a drop of essential oil such as peppermint or grapefruit which is known to keep cravings at bay.
- Become one with the present moment. The more we can be here and really experience our lives, (rather than listening to nagging worry thoughts that take us away from who we really are) the less likely we will be to find ourselves devouring our scrumptious homemade raw chocolate at 8pm! We will be aware as we are eating every morsel, every bite and make our dining experience a sensory one honing in on tastes, textures, aromas and this certainly helps to keep us satisfied longer. When being centered, present and in our bodies that in itself is an experience. Taking a regular inventory of our thoughts, feeling, emotions and physical feelings of stress, hunger and pain such as headaches really help us to gauge if we are stressed out and reaching for a snack or if we are genuinely hungry. I do this a few times a day and it has greatly improved my sense of peace with how I feel in my own skin and taught me a great deal about how my own food cravings are often related to emotions ups and downs in my own life.
- Create New After Meal Rituals The cleaner and healthier our bodies feel by feeding them luscious green smoothies, morning green juices and balanced healthy vegan, vegetarian and raw meals the easier it becomes to notice cravings and have the tools you need to deal with them. If you have a night time ritual of eating something sweet then while you are ‘reprogramming your system’ create a new ritual that lovingly supports your new healthy habits. Take a moment to think about what you really take pleasure in doing? It could be any number of things from playing in the yard with your kids, taking the dog for a walk, meditating, reading a book, soaking in a warm bath or making love! Experiment. It might surprise you have quickly turn from going to food for comfort to taking a detoxifying soak in the tub.
Cravings can seem complicated but when we slow down and take some time for ourselves to listen to the messages our body is sending the answers we receive can be quite powerful and clear. What is your body trying to tell you today? Listen and respond with fabulous love of your body and life! Self-care is a great healer, enjoy!
Eliza Ceci is a holistic nutrition and wellness coach, motivational speaker and blogger. She is the owner of Peace on My Plate and enjoys providing support to her clients around detox, emotional eating, PMS and pre-pregnancy preparation. Eliza’s passion is empowering women to understand their worth, creating passionate lives and taking control of their health one green juice at a time. http://peaceonmyplate.com