Shayne Rowland specialises in fat loss
A weight loss coach has said that craving foods may have nothing to do with your actual hunger – and instead be to do with lifestyle factors. Trying to help people stop putting on the pounds, the expert replied to a TikTok user who asked him how to deal with cravings.
Shayne Rowland aka @proflex.health explained that: “When it comes to dealing with cravings, it’s usually because our bodies, as the word suggests, [are] craving something. It’s our bodies signal of letting us know that maybe something is missing.
“This could be a sign that your body hasn’t had enough sleep. We know that when we are sleep deprived the hormone, ghrelin, goes up which is one of our hunger hormones making us feel like more food and getting more cravings. Or you could be dehydrated and just need a drink of water. Even being slightly dehydrated can be confused as hunger, leading to cravings.”
He says that you may not be having enough protein and if this is the case, then you “may not feel satiated or full – or you may not be consuming enough nutrient dense foods and your body is craving the vitamins and minerals that it needs in order to process and function the way that it should.”
The fat loss coach says it may be nothing to do with food at all and instead all about resting and recovering – especially if you’ve been stressed. “So if you are noticing these cravings, make sure you’re looking at these thing first cause if we jump straight to having the chocolate bar in order to satisfy the craving we’re not actually solving the problem.”
If you’ve done all of this, the coach says at this point “you can have whatever you feel like in a small amount.” But don’t be too hard on yourself the coach says as this is the wrong way to go about it.
He adds: “Don’t feel like you are being restricted or deprived from that thing. But remember when you’re craving that something it’s usually because is missing something that it needs.”
According to the NHS’ CUH if you can try one technique – try something called ‘urge surfing’. They explain that this is “the name sometimes given to ‘riding’ a craving or an urge. This involves riding out the feelings of desire. Some people find it useful to observe the intensity of their craving. If left unsatisfied the craving may intensify at first but with time it diminishes.”
“Your cravings may come in waves – which is where the name comes from with the NHS suggesting to find alternative activities can help to pass the time until the craving or urge diminishes. Discovering what works for you will be invaluable.”
Alternative activities include:
- completing a task
- watching television
- going on the internet
- calling a friend
- going for a walk
- playing a game
- doing a crossword
- reading the paper
- spending time on a hobby
