How to Break Carb Addiction

So you have decided to try the Keto Diet. The hardest part though, and the part you are dreading most is having to quit your carbs. You have probably been used to eating carbs all your life and many of your favorite foods are all carbs. Here we will look at how to break carb addiction.

Of these carbs, sugar it probably the most difficult one to quit. After all, sugar addiction is a very real problem. You might think that it is a made up condition but some studies have concluded that sugar is as addictive as cocaine. This is because it stimulates the same pleasure and reward centers in your brain as other addictive drugs. Therefore, your brain will end up looking for its next sugar hit to feel good.

On a more positive note, sugar addiction is not as difficult to break as drug addiction. If you can make it through the first two weeks then you should be ok and also free of cravings and extreme mood swings.

So, what is the best way to break your dependency on carbs? The following are some tips which should make the ordeal a lot easier for you:

 

Find Alternatives

 

The carbs which you miss will often be comfort foods. The good news it that there are many comfort type foods which are ok to eat on Keto.

Fat rich meats and protein are an option such as bacon, pork rinds, sausages or beef jerky. These can be eaten for a meal or just for a snack to fill the gap until your next meal. Obviously its not a good idea to eat these all the time as they are not the healthiest alternatives but they take the place of comfort food with taking in carbs.

 

 

Healthier options are bulky vegetables or fatty fruits such as olives or avocadoes. There are many recipes which can turn these ingredients into delicious snacks like kale chips or pickle rollups.

There are even a lot of options for desserts and sweats using ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa powder, and some good sugar alternatives.

Check out our Facebook Group for daily Keto recipes for plenty of ideas.

 

Prevent Hunger From Occurring

 

Your body can be quite good at confusing you when it come to feelings of hunger. Sometimes you may think you are hungry but in fact you are just craving something. You can probably relate to this with sometime in the past when you were not hungry but then when you say somebody eating one of your favorite foods. All of a sudden, you felt hungry. There were none of the other typical signals indicating that you were hungry such as a rumbling stomach.

The best way to prevent these sudden cravings it to eat at regular intervals throughout the day. Do this in whatever way suits you the best so that you do not find yourself getting hungry between meals. For some people that might be three meals a day. For others it could be five smaller meals a day. Make sure the meals are rich in protein and quality fat because this will keep you feeling full and prevent you from craving starches and sweets.

The protein and high fat which you consume on the Keto Diet will leave your hunger satisfied and as a result you will end up eating less.

MCT Oil will also a great way to reduce your appetite. A good way to take MCT Oil is mixed with bulletproof coffee.

You will also find that blood sugar spikes will be eliminated when your body starts using fat for energy. This also helps to control your appetite causing you to eat less.

 

Keep Yourself Busy

 

Why does it always seem that people put on weight during vacation or holiday times? It seems that with the extra free time we end up eating more. Often this extra eating comes from being bored and looking for something to do.

Bing eating might help you fill in a little time while you’re bored but obviously the effects can last a lot longer. It is similar to the way smokers have a cigarette to fill some time.

 

 

The common theme here is having time that you don’t know what to do with. The key is to not allow yourself to have these moments of boredom by keeping yourself occupied with activities. This will help prevent you from snacking and eating just to have something to do.

 

Keep Yourself Happy

 

Surprisingly, there was a study done which found that hunger is not caused by craving alone. It was also be brought on by mood. It is not uncommon to hear stories of people who started to gain a lot of weight during a period that they were depressed.

The depression could have been brought on for any reason such as bullying at school, a family bereavement, loneliness, or plain boredom.

Food can be a quick fix for improving ones mood but as already mentioned it is only a short term solution. To maintain the good feeling will mean having to eat more and more.

 

 

Food does improve your mood, albeit for a very short period of time, but then just leads to you wanting more and more, frequently that bag of chips or candy. This is obviously not going to help anyone with losing weight.

Therefore, it is best to try to keep yourself in a good mood and maintain a positive mindset. This goes not only for losing weight but for life in general. Regular exercise can help with this as can doing things you enjoy and being with family and friends.

 

Conclusion

 

The main goal you should set yourself for getting off carbs, is to make it through the first two weeks. If you can achieve that then it should be a lot easier to stay off them.

An important tip to reach this goal is to make sure you clear your environment of carbs as best you can. If you have boxes of cookies or cakes lying around when you start then you are just going to make it harder for yourself to stay away from them. This along with the other tips above should help you make that transition and see success. Best of Luck!