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Readers Respond: How do you control your food cravings?
Responses: 8

By Christine Luff, About.com

Updated April 05, 2009

User responses are not monitored by About.com's Medical Review Board.

After a long run or a hard workout, it's tempting to indulge your cravings. So how do you keep your cravings from turning into out-of-control binges? Share Your Tips

Get out of the kitchen.

The closer you are to the food, the more likely you’re going to eat it. I go upstairs and get busy with something else, or else I’d be opening pantry and fridge doors.
—Guest Sharlene

exercise

When I'm craving something and I'm not hungry, I go for a run, do some sit-ups, squats -- anything to keep my mind off of food!
—Guest rebecca

keep tempting foods out of the house!

If I know my favorite foods (cookies, ice cream) are in the house, I have no willpower! So I just don't buy them. If I'm having company and I have tempting desserts in the house, I send them home with guests. I don't trust myself!
—Guest Shannon

beauty treatments

When I feel a craving coming on, I try to give myself to a manicure or pedicure -- anything to keep my hands busy and my mind off of food!
—Guest mandy

toothpicks

I see if I can make all the spaces between my teeth clear - it takes longer than flossing, so it gets me through those warm summer evenings when cookie dough ice cream is knocking at my door!
—Guest Jenny D

healthy snacks

I get massive cravings for chocolate..but over the past months I ate fruit or a fruit salad instead when I had the craving, and it worked! The cravings went. If you vary the fruit salad a lot it won't get boring, try exotic fruits, adding oats or raisins or gogo berries, add a low fat yogurt occasionally.
—Guest becky

hot liquids

I like to have a hot drink when I am really craving something-tea, hot chocolate, whatever (as long as it isn't something with more calories than what I'm trying to avoid!). Seems to make me feel fuller faster so I don't indulge, or at least eat less than I might otherwise.
—rbrubacker60

gum!

I keep packs of gum everywhere and pop a piece when a craving hits.
—Guest ronnie

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How do you control your food cravings?

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