Whenever people meet me, take one of my programs, do private or group coaching with me, they invariable immediately ask me: “Connie, how can I kick my sugar or carb cravings?”
One of the simplest, but most powerful strategies is so easy you’ll be shocked by its effectiveness.
Let me introduce you to my Delay Away Your Cravings Tactic™, which I also call Creative Procrastination™.
In short, Just Delay before you put any sweets or carbs into your mouth–even if all you plan to do is nibble. (As you may know, your good intentions to have just a taste or two can lead to a binge.)
I hit on my Delay Away Your Cravings Tactic back in 1998 when I was reluctantly kicking sweets and refined carbs on doctor’s orders. To this day, I continue to be amazed at how easy, effortless, and darn effective it is.
Think about it: If you mindlessly nosh on fast-acting sweets or much-like-sugar carbs™ (my phrase for processed carbs), you’ll become headachy, wiped out, spaced out, moody, depressed or even angry at yourself, as you’ve revealed in surveys you’ve taken with me.
But what you do in that minute or two after your craving hits can make or break your diet.
In short, if you cave into cravings, it may be bye-bye, weight loss; hello, weight gain.
But I’m determined to help you get over that “Must-Have Sugar Now! hurdle.”
Let’s delve into this Delay Before You Cave into Cravings.
Just think about it: What’s one of the things many, if not most of us, do when we don’t want to do something? We procrastinate.
Usually people think of procrastinating as a bad thing, but you can make it quite powerful, positive and health enhancing.
So when you want to Crush Your Cravings, the starting point is to procrastinate.
Here’s the simple seven-part process to Delay Away Your Cravings.
- When a sugar or carb craving strikes and you begin fantasizing about how to get your favorite sweet treat or processed-carb snack, just Delay.
- First, set a timer for 15 minutes.
- Then, pick a project you’ve been avoiding — something like cleaning the kitchen, clearing off your desk, helping your kid(s) with homework, donating old clothes, organizing your CD collection or working out. Now devote the next 15 minutes to your task. (Make sure that any tempting sweets are far away from you. Ideally, you won’t even have any at home.)
- It’s time to get moving! Do your project while you play one or more uplifting, high-energy songs. Some of my favorite boogie tunes are:
Dare to Live by Andrea Bocelli
Don’t Stop Believin‘ by Journey
Sorry (PURPOSE : The Movement) from Justin Bieber
Limbo by Daddy Yankee
Bounce Back from Big Sean
Don’t Stop Me Now from Queen
Dare You to Move from Switchfoot
On the Floor from Jennifer Lopez
Eye of the Tiger from Survivor
The Lion King’s Circle of Life
Return to Innocence from Enigma
Livin’ on a Prayer from Bon Jovi and
Can’t Stop from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. - Keep moving, organizing or or cleaning for the full 15 minutes.
- When your timer goes off, breathe in deeply three times while you envision a beautiful rainbow filling your entire being, especially the parts of your body you want to slim down.
- Now think about how grateful you are that you used my Delay Away Your Cravings tactic. Also, visualize how happy you’ll feel tomorrow, when you can pat yourself on the back that you didn’t let your cravings get the best of you.
What’s so cool when you Delay Your Cravings is that you’re making this process fun, clever and healthful. Plus, if you boogie at the same time, you’ll feel more in tune and pleased with your body.
If you still feel cravings after 15 minutes, then Delay Away Your Cravings for another 15 minutes while doing your project. If you like, just delay over and over again until you’ve stepped into your power.
Also, if you have children, bear in mind that you could do this fun, super-simple tactic together. That’s because Delay Your Cravings works well for people of all ages.
Share this easy, breezy Cravings-Crushing tool with your friends, loved ones and colleagues.