by Cassie in Eating Healthy, Weight Loss
Food cravings are a huge issue with a lot of people. It would be really nice if food didn’t have to taste so darn good! Who can resist a gooey cinnamon bun or a big fat juicy hamburger?
Actually, people who get plenty of rest can resist those things.
Why?
Our bodies produce a hormone called leptin while we sleep. Leptin helps us fight cravings during the day, but if we don’t get enough rest, our body has trouble producing leptin so it’s harder to curb those cravings.
Have you ever noticed that when you get a bad night’s sleep, you’re eating a lot more the next day? I sure have. I can’t seem to stop!
If this happens to you, your task is to start getting more sleep.
Go to bed earlier and do everything you can to get a better quality sleep. Buy a new mattress if you have to. Easier said than done, I know, but when it comes to your health, it’s worth it.
Not only will you fight those food cravings but you’ll feel better altogether.
Permalink | No Comments
by Cassie in Eating Healthy, Weight Loss
Getting into the habit of late night snacking is a serious no-no. It’s incredibly easy to start, and it’s incredibly hard to stop. I’ve started and stopped countless times.
Last year I was dating a guy who owned a pizza restaurant. We would stay up late at night watching movies and he’d order pizza from his restaurant for something to “munch” on. He was a vegetarian and couldn’t put on a single pound if he tried. I’m not a vegetarian and just looking at food will make me gain weight.
Needless to say, the pizza thing got out of hand and I started putting on the pounds.
That relationship ended and my late night eating soon ended as well. My weight dropped back down to what it normally is and all was well.
Now I’m in another relationship. He works late so we end up eating supper really late most nights. Not only that, but we snack after supper which is even worse.
I’ve been working hard to curb those late night cravings and I’m doing well. I’ve gone through this many times before so I’ve had practice. 
Here’s a list of some of the ways I curb my late night cravings successfully.
If you absolutely MUST snack…
It’s important to measure out portions. Grabbing a bag of potato chips and sitting in front of the TV with them is a recipe for disaster. This is mindless eating. You don’t realize how much you’re actually consuming if you do this.
Instead, opt for a healthier snack and put it in a bowl. Once the bowl is empty, DON’T REFILL IT.
Avoid eating carbs for a snack. This will derail your fat burning process. Choose a protein snack instead.
If it’s two or three hours before bed time, do your best not to eat at all. Your body burns fat while you sleep, but if you eat right before you go to bed, your body will be busy trying to digest that food instead.
Learn more about how to stop cravings.
Permalink | No Comments
by Cassie in Eating Healthy, Weight Loss
Did you know that people who skip breakfast have a higher risk of weight gain, obesity and type 2 diabetes?
I know it’s hard to eat a healthy breakfast every morning when you’re in a rush to get to school, work, drop the kids off, etc. but it’s in your best interest to do it anyway!
Wake up a bit earlier if you have to. Get everything ready the night before to help you save time in the morning. You can even cook your breakfast the night before and just heat it up when you’re ready to eat.
You’ll want to skip the sugary cereals and opt for a high protein breakfast. This will curb the sugar and carb cravings later in the day because it keeps you feeling full.
It also kickstarts your metabolism so you can start burning calories. Ideally, you’ll want to eat within the first hour of rising. It may take some getting used to, but you’ll soon get in to the habit and start feeling great.
I like to have eggs most mornings. When I eat eggs for breakfast, I’m still full by lunch time. If you’re in a big rush, a protein smoothie or cottage cheese will do the trick.
Now get your protein on and start eating breakfast!
Permalink | No Comments
by Cassie in Weight Loss
So what’s the deal with water?
There are all kinds of opinions on how it affects our bodies and our skin. Here’s my take based on my research and my own experience.
Water CAN help you lose weight.
I use water to help me maintain my current weight in these ways:
- I drink a glass of water right before a meal which keeps me from eating too much.
- I have a glass of water when I feel the need to snack. In most cases, I’m actually thirsty and not hungry.
- I drink lots of water when I’m feeling bloated. Less bloat means I look and feel slimmer.
Additional unrelated water tip: I drink a big glass of water before bed so that I have to pee really bad when I wake up in the morning, thus forcing me to get my lazy butt out of bed.
Does water make your skin radiant?
Water also has indirect effects on your skin as well. While many people think that water gives you glowing skin, it doesn’t do this directly.
In fact, water is one of the best ways to flush toxins out of our body. Toxins contribute to acne and blemishes, so it makes sense that flushing those nasties out of our body will help our skin look better.
Needless to say, even if water doesn’t directly affect your skin, it does help to lose weight or maintain your current weight. Not to mention all the health benefits that water provides.
In conclusion, drink up!
Permalink | No Comments