Cravings? Do they have you in their clutches? Are you able to control them or are you controlled by them? Do you have cravings for chocolate, cookies, or cake? Or maybe you’re a potato chips or french fries lover? What are cravings and why do they drive us to do crazy things like drive to the store in the middle of the night to buy that certain type of ice cream or candy or fill-in-the-blank?
A craving is an intense desire for a certain food that is almost uncontrollable and won’t be satisfied until you eat that food. It is what literally drives your husband, friend, significant other, or yourself to the store in the middle of the night when you’re pregnant or maybe are experiencing PMS or maybe any other time.
A craving is that little voice inside that tells you to get that big bag of Ghirardelli chocolate caramel squares and hide them so only you can eat them later! It’s what tells your husband to save his birthday candy as “emergency chocolate” for his wife. (Not that I know about it from a personal level or anything like that – Ahem! : )
Cravings play a significant role in understanding what your body actually needs. They can stem from a variety of factors including nutritional deficiencies such as low magnesium causing chocolate cravings or an electrolyte imbalance causing a potato chip or salt craving. Hormonal imbalances can also cause cravings during pregnancy, PMS, perimenopause, or menopause causing women to crave salt, fats or sweets.
Sometimes cravings may not have anything to do with the actual food on your plate (called secondary food) but rather due to primary foods like dissatisfaction or unmet needs in areas such as relationships, being unhappy with your career, financial issues, or not having joy in your life. We often use food to fill the gaps in these areas and use food to calm our fears, anxieties, emotional needs, or depression. All of these can contribute to experiencing cravings. But the good news is that you can deconstruct your cravings, figure out what they’re telling you about your body and what you need, and finally have a balanced and healthy eating, lifestyle, and overall well-being.
I know what it’s like and have dealt with cravings. I’ve worked with many clients who have as well. None of us are perfect, but I have learned how to manage the cravings. Would you like some help in deconstructing your cravings? Figuring out how to decrease the cravings, moodiness, bloating, weight gain, and sugar crashes? If so, contact me. I’d love to help you figure this out and how to achieve overall health.
I am a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and a speech-language pathologist who works primarily with women who have brain fog, fatigue, joint pains, weight issues, autoimmune, hormonal, and digestive issues. I’m also an autoimmune warrior, having a thyroid autoimmune disease and IBS, and focus on using nutritional and lifestyle modifications for both myself and clients. Having been in the medical field for over 30 years, I’ve also been helping clients with holistic wellness for over 17 years. I love helping people take small steps towards better overall health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Contact me here for a free 20-minute consult to see if she how we can work together.
