Carb addiction, more commonly known as sugar addiction, is a very real thing. Deciding to cut out your favorite carbs may seem impossible- I mean, research shows all addictions, whether they be carb or more serious drug addictions, trigger the pleasure and reward centers in the brain, leaving you constantly seeking your next “high” or feel-good moment.
So how do you cut out sweets and starchy goodies from our diet? Check out the tips below to stop missing those carbs, and overcome your addiction! Read More
Get Ahead of Hunger
Many keto newbies try to jump in with both feet starting fasting at the same time as keto. However, those struggling with carb addiction may find this drastically increases cravings! Eating small, frequent meals in those first couple weeks will help curb carb addiction fueled cravings, cued by hunger. When you do eat, make sure the meal is rich in protein and quality fat. Both are very filling and will help shut down your desires for sweets and starches.
That being said, eating frequently may cause you to (or make you feel like you are) consuming too many calories. It’s ok. Keep in mind you will only need to this for the first week or so. After you get into ketosis your blood sugar regulates. This helps to naturally curb your cravings and appetite. Soon you will be able to easily reduce how often you’re eating as well as your calorie intake.
Keep Yourself Busy
Truth time- did you gain an extra 10 (or more!) pounds during quarantine? I promise you aren’t the only one! Being home all the time without things to occupy your time paves the way for overeating.
Binging on carbs offers a short time fix for feelings of boredom. Keeping yourself engaged in activities will help distract your mind from useless snacking.
Do something to take up your time: take up (or restart) a hobby, call a friend, read a book, take a walk- anything to keep you from wandering into the kitchen!
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Know what is absolutely jaw-dropping? A study revealed that cravings are not necessarily a result of hunger, but rather your mood! If you’ve ever watched a show like the biggest loser, you’ll find it surprisingly common that emotional well-being is often the trigger that starts a cascade of weight gain.
Commonly known as emotional or stress eating, this overeating is often tied to a period of grief, being bullied or abused, lack of friends, a stressful event/time of life, or even a mental health issue.
Carb addiction means food does improve your mood, albeit for a very short period of time. However, giving in to those carb cravings often just leads to further negative feelings and self-talk.
Of course, you can’t always control the parts of your life that cause emotional stress. What you CAN control is your reaction to this stress. Instead of eating, reach out to a friend, go do something you enjoy, join a support group or enlist in the help of a licensed therapist.
When You’re Ready, Find Replacements
For those whose carb addiction centers around starchy foods like potatoes and rice, you can start searching for your favorite substitute from day one of keto. Easy replacements to try are: cheese crisps for chips, radishes or cauliflower for potato or spiralized veggies or konjac noodles as a replacement for pasta.
Unfortunately, for those with a sweet tooth, I RARELY recommend keto sweets in your first 30 days– Just to clarify, I’m not talking about a bit of stevia in your coffee, that’s absolutely fine! I’m talking about keto desserts and fat bombs. Your goal is to break your carb addiction and change your way of eating- NOT simply quiet those cravings with calorie-dense replacement! The good news is, once that addiction is broken you can happily start trying all the yummy keto-friendly desserts!
Regardless of whether you are replacing sweet or salty carbs make sure you are enjoying your new-found treats in moderation. Overeating in any fashion, even keto friendly foods, is not good for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Freedom From Carb Addiction
All in all, the key to getting over carb addiction is surviving the first two weeks. Before you know it your carby favorites will be a distant memory– especially when you begin to see the wonderful results from your keto lifestyle!