We have been made to believe that cravings are a bad thing…but really they are our body’s way of talking to us! If you haven’t heard me say it before…OUR BODIES ARE SUPER COOL! Our bodies know when we are low in nutrients and cravings can be a way of our bodies telling us what we need to eat to help replenish those nutrients!
Now that you know your body is talking to you, it’s time to start listening.
In the Hello Nutrition Coaching Program, I teach clients how to listen to their bodies and start focusing on loving food for how it makes them feel! Many of my clients start off their journey by telling me that they experience sugar cravings…and if you’re reading this post, you probably are as well!
Now let’s talk more about those sugar cravings…
Here are 6 reasons why you might be experiencing sugar cravings:
1. Not Eating Consistently
Our bodies require energy to function. If you are not eating consistently throughout the day (i.e. skipping meals or snacks), your body is looking for a boost in energy, and has learned that sugary foods will give it that quick energy it needs.
2. Not Eating Enough Carbs
Carbs convert directly into glucose and glucose is the easiest energy source for our bodies to use (not to mention that our brains ONLY run on glucose). When you restrict carbs, you are forcing your body to use protein and fats for energy. This process of conversion is very lengthly and the body does not like this – remember the body is smart and wants to work smarter, not harder. Hence the sugar cravings! Your body knows that sugar will give you that glucose that you need to run like a well oiled machine.
Dietitian Hint: If you’ve been restricting carbs and feel like you are experiencing “brain fog”, this might be why!
3. Not Sleeping Properly
Sleep is one of the 6 foundational pillars in my coaching program and is probably one of the things we take most for granted. Sleep is a crucial means of how our bodies rest and recharge. When we don’t sleep properly, we need extra energy to keep us going the next day, and so the easy to absorb sugar cravings kick in. Are you noticing a trend here?
4. Feeling Stressed Out
When we are stressed, we are often looking for comfort, which can come through as emotional eating. Emotional eating can stem from childhood, such as having been given a cookie when we scrap our knee. We have been conditioned to expecting sweets to make ourselves feel better. Stress is not a good reason to turn towards foods, so I do work closely with my clients to help them undo this connection.
5. Not Refuelling After a Workout
Workouts use our glucose stores and our bodies like to replenish them. If we don’t have a snack or meal post workout, this can lead to sugar cravings.
6. Believing in “Bad Foods”
Those of us that believe in “bad foods” will likely try their hardest to restrict them….and guess what – we want what we can’t have! These foods will live in your head rent free and torture you day and night (i.e. cravings!).
🔥 Dietitian Truth Bomb: Food does not have a morality!! Food is food – there are no good foods or bad foods. Some foods are more nutritious and others that are less nutritious. That’s it! Plain and simple.
Unfortunately, diet culture has made us believe that eating less is what we need to do to lose weight. That’s what diets are all about – RESTRICTION – but diets don’t work because you re-gained the weight….
What works is you learning how to fuel your body in a way that feels right for you. You are not a robot – you are UNIQUE and your nutrition plan should be just as unique as you!
💕 You can lose weight while eating all the foods you love! Eating without restrictions! Enjoying your journey towards better health! And most of all – maintaining that weight loss FOREVER! 💕
If you want to learn more about how the Hello Nutrition Coaching Program might be the right fit for you, I’d invite you to book a free 30-minute Discovery Call with me. Send me a quick email with the word “READY” and let’s get started! 🙌🏽
Your Nutrition BFF,
Anisha Gupta, MS
Registered Dietitian & Nutrition Coach
