Step Away From That Fridge!

It's going to happen.  Suddenly it will strike.  Hunger pangs, boredom, wanting the foods you haven't eaten in awhile.  You'll stand at your refrigerator or pantry staring into the abyss.  Your eyes glazed over focusing on that last piece of cake, that pan of rice krispie treats.  It's as if the food zombies have come to take you away, mess up your plans and tempt you back into being a junk food eating, couch potatoe once again.

It happens to me all the time.  Learning to cope and having strategies to step away and wake up out of your malaise takes practice.  So, step away from the fridge! I'm here to help.  There are things you can do to redirect your attention and get back to reality.

Here are10 tips and tricks to try:

1. Brush Your Teeth - Not only is this great for oral hygiene but it's great for your overall health as well.  Ask Dr. Oz.

2.  Chew Gum - An easy trick I use when cooking dinner so I don't do all that taste testing.  Recent studies also show that it can boost your metabolism.  I'll do anything to get my metabolism going again.

3. Drink Water - Sometimes you aren't even hungry.  If you haven't gotten your water in for the day dehydration sets in.  That hunger you're feeling is really just that.  Once I drink my water my energy reappears and I feel full.

4. Eat Healthy Snacks - Fill up on foods filled with fibre and protein.  I love string cheese, apples, oranges and grapefruit.  The oranges and grapefruit have the highest fibre content in the fruit category. Almonds are great too.

5.  Don't Skip Your Meals - Waiting too long in between meals or skipping them altogether can make you reach for the wrong things.  On my plan I eat a snack or meal every 3 hours. 

6.  Drink Tea -  Green, Black or White Teas are a favorite of mine.  Sipping slowly, relaxing and enjoying a hot cup of tea is sometimes all I need.

7. Journal Something - Maybe it's how you're feeling at the moment. Emotions in your day may prompt you to head for the kitchen.  That stash in the back of the cupboard you tried to hide from your family won't help the situation.

8.  The Kitchen Is Closed -  Close it down.  Remove yourself from the situation.  Get away from the triggers and the food that's visible.  Go to another room in the house and start a new project or just close your eyes and meditate on something else.

9. Get A Hobby -  Boredom produces fatique and hunger.  Have something ready to do that makes you happy and gets you involved.  Gardening, reading, scrapbooking, exercising, walking, painting.  Anything to change your thoughts of food to thoughts of fun and creativity.  Remember when you were a kid?

10. Give In A Little - If you've tried everything and you still can't stop thinking about those freshly baked cookies then go ahead, give in a little.  Take one bite and throw the rest away.  Eat the entire thing but know that the very next snack or meal you vow to get right back onto your plan.  It's like falling off a bike.  You get right back on and try, try again. 

Of course you can just chalk it up as a mistake (we are human after all) and move on.  Just don't give up.  It's not the end of the world.  It's all part of learning how to handle what you will be doing the rest of your life.