I was a bad bad girl today. I found myself wanting a sugar fix so bad, and here I am in Vermont with it being sugaring season, so after I had already eaten the banana bread and the little piece of cake, and had a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth :(, I finally gave up went out a bought a small box of Maple candy ate one of the little pieces and through the rest of the box away, and now I feel better :(. I have no idea why I just didn't go get candy to begin with. I should know better by now...

What do you guys think, are there times when we just have to give in our cravings? Is that sometimes the smarter way to go?

Yup, yup and yup!! Many times my cravings are for bizarre things (like an avacado, last week) or it may be an ice cream craving. I find, if I try to bury the craving and substitute, often it festers and grows til it erupts in a binge!! What I have discovered, is often my cravings signal a nutrient need in my body (Like when I crave fish or bananas)--other times, my body is just saying, uh, hi! can I have a treat? and by getting a quick small ice cream cone, I can avoid that later pint of Ben and Jerry's...

(ps--you weren't a bad girl, you just needed sugar:D )

I guess I am lucky in that i rarely get cravings. Once I cut back on refined food and sugar products and concentrated on fruits and veggies, my cravings went away. I agree about cravings being a signal that your body needs a certain nutrient. I have tried to plan ahead and balance my meals and snacks so that i get everything i need. I also think that its important to eat at regular intervals and eat enough during the course of the day so that you arent going crazy by mid day. That used to be my problem time. I would recommend a good balance of healthy foods thru out the day..so your blood sugar stays even. That should help with the cravings. If I would have had that candy I would have gone crazy for the rest of the day looking for more. I guess you have to find that balance for yourself within your plan.

Have a super day. :x

i def think if you are craving something you should go have some of that and not try to put it off with something else..it will only get worse and you will eat more of the something else AND the thing..i agree cravings get less and less as you eat good food but sometimes you just have to have something..crazy bodies!!! :o

You know guys I'm not sure that what I had today is exactly like a craving in this case. You know I think my need for Maple candy was more a habit. It's spring here and everyone around is boiling, and we used to make syrup too. So I wonder if my body isn't just programed to think it needs maple at this time of year.

Lucky for one piece seems to have take care of the need :D

I say go for a craving... just don't go overboard. I'm a chocolate lover... but when I want to treat myself to some candy... I get some really good chocolate and not just those candy bars from the grocery rack. :)

Also remember.... you didn't lose the weight overnight... so if you have that ice cream one evening.. you're not going to gain it all back by the next day!! :)

Another thing, sometimes if I know I'm going to be taking in more calories than usual (going to a party,concert, etc.).... I usually do a longer workout, or eat a lighter meal during the day... I'm not sure it evens out exactly, but it makes me more satisfied in my mind.

okay i'm done now.. .

Funny. I never thought about this until this very post .. but I guess it's true. Often I will get a craving for something ... push it off ... ignore it ... suffer inside ... all my mind all day!! Finally I go crazy and BINGE!! Perhaps I should set a realistic rule that if I am craving it have a little or a day a week to have my treat ... interesting. I am learning so much about my body!!

I read somewhere not to long ago that if your craving a food you should get up and take a ten minute walk, or shower, or what ever would keep you busy for about ten minutes and not thinking about that food you are craving. Than if after that ten minutes you find you still want that thing your craving, you should go ahead and have a small amount.

It's good advise, but hard to fallow. You know I'm one of those "I want what I want when I want it" kind of people 8-|