Stop Your Addiction To Sweets - written by Sarah Elena Elliott

Losing weight can be very difficult if you are someone who has a raging sweet tooth. You know how it goes, you ate well all day long and then you get a hankering for just a little something extra after dinner. Or other times you just want a piece of cake or cookie and will eat everything else in sight to fill that vote. Sugar habits are tough to kick, but not impossible.

The big problem with sugar is that the more you eat it, the more you want it. And sugar isn't always in the most obvious places. That white bread you had for lunch good be the cause of your mid-day craving for a candy bar. Pasta you have for supper could be to blame as well. Every time you give into a craving, you contribute to the habit. You can only temporarily quiet your sugar animal by caving in to your cravings. It will always want more.

There is not just one single way of solving the problem of the sweet tooth. You just must be aware of the effects of sabotaging yourself by eating too many sweets. There may be times when you think you want to eat something sweet but in actuality you don't really want it. How many times have you indulged in sweets only to eat so much that you stop enjoying it? Chances are you could cut back with just a few tastes until you are satisfied. If you tell yourself "no, you can never have sugar" then you will only want sugar. You have to change your mindset to "I can have sugar, but I don't want it right now" once you allow yourself to have it you are much less likely to want it.

Each time that you start a new diet you are excited and dedicated to losing weight. You're going to be strict this time and make it through to the finish line. Then, as soon as it starts and you're momentum is going, you want sugar right this second! You cave and then get derailed. And the cycle begins. Instead of killing yourself with guilt for eating an occasional small dessert, learn to really taste and savor your desserts. Learn to eat them slow. If you do this you will find you really only need a much smaller portion than you would normally eat.

Typically cravings only last for a couple of minutes so all you have to do is wait it out. Sometimes you will have a quick craving right after eating. You should always give yourself 15 minutes before you eat anything more after a meal because it takes that long for your body to feel full. Every craving that you learn to ignore you will become stronger, instead of caving every time you will learn that they lessen over time.

Learn to talk yourself or distract yourself out of a craving. Every time you want something sweet just tell yourself "I realize that this is my body's reaction to stress or what I just ate and it will pass, I don't really want something sweet" and reward yourself everyday for not eating a sugary treat. You could give yourself a dollar a day and use that money to treat yourself with a new outfit or a pedicure at the end of the month. Save your sweet indulgences to no more than once a week and you will find that you are less likely to have cravings.