Food cravings can claim the will power of anyone for many reasons, at any time. Most likely, they seem to come out of the clear blue. While it is completely normal to experience food cravings, the frequency of them could be potentially harmful to your diet and health. The biggest reason for food cravings usually has to do with a person's serotonin levels. When our serotonin levels drop, cravings start pouring in. People usually crave things like chocolate, candy, and ice cream. It is a known fact that eating these foods does provide a slight mood lift. However, the mood lift is only temporary in nature, an hour, or two at best. There have been several claims that certain people can actually be addicted to high-fat sugary foods. When indeed this may be true to an extent, the cravings can also signal a need for further nutrients.

Many of my Boot Camp Corona clients tell me that stopping food cravings can be a real challenge. Going on a diet that eliminates all foods high in fat and sugar are usually going to fail. People usually will give way to their cravings more so than someone would who is not trying to resist them. Cravings can strike a lot harder if you are working full-time hours. Cravings most always wind up winning the battle for people who have to work long hours. When our energy drops, our moods tend to go right down with them. This causes the body to feel that it needs a lift, and that lift most always comes from foods high in fat and sugar. This is clearly not a good choice. This type of behavior can send anyone on a physical and emotional rollercoaster. How can we stop these food cravings?

1) Give in to them, but not completely. By allowing yourself something small here and there, you can still rest assured that you will not overindulge and fall away from your diet.

2) Give yourself a time out. If you feel the urge to overindulge in a high fat and sugary food, take a walk instead and then see if you are still craving it. If in fact you are, allow yourself just a small portion.

3) Try snacking on something high in protein and fiber, such as a meal replacement bar. These healthy treats will satiate you far beyond what that chocolate chip cookie or bag of potato chips ever could.

4) Drink a glass of ice-cold water. Water creates the sensation of a full stomach, so try indulging in some fullness instead of that sugary snack.

5) Try to avoid caffeine. Caffeine has been known to intensify cravings for sugars and foods high in empty calories.

These tips should provide you with some positive direction on how to beat those pesky cravings. Just remember to reward yourself every now and then with a sweet treat. Binging is often a result of being too strict while on a diet and frequently leads to diet failure and even more weight gain. Try to avoid binging while at work, and for those of you attend Boot Camp Corona – just think of what your trainer will say if you don’t avoid the candy machines when you find your energy levels sinking. Keep healthy snacks on hand such as whole-wheat crackers and muffins. The fiber inside of these healthy and very tasty treats will get you through to your next meal time, and that is what snacking is all about -- providing energy so we can keep our sugar levels at bay and moods from crashing. So have some faith in yourself that you can make better choices for yourself and emotional well-being.

Dr. Sam Bakhtiar's amazing boot camp regime continues to astonish health enthusiasts. For more information on Boot Camp Corona, check out http://www.fitconcepts.com/corona-boot-camp.html.

Tags: wellness, diet, fitness, food, energy, water, level, positive, reward, cravings, snacking