Eating healthy for weight control: Is it really all about willpower?

From the coaching couch... Question:   “Why is it that some people give in to food cravings and some people don’t?  Is it just a test of willpower?” Answer:   IMHO, No.  Willpower isn’t the magic bullet.  If we could all “will” our way to health, we would all be height/weight proportionate and have the correct Body Mass Index.  Obesity wouldn’t be the number one health concern of our time.  We are all human and very capable of putting extreme expectations on ourselves and others.  While we are busy expecting certain results from our efforts, most often we get back something different.  Not bad, just different.  And instead of adjusting our expectations, we see failure to achieve.  But was the goal measurable and attainable?  Was it even reasonable?  Most of us set ourselves up for failure by setting the bar too high in the beginning.  It’s important to start off slow and treat ourselves well along the way.  If your body is craving something, listen and learn.  Your body is telling you something important.  Read on….  WHAT IS A CRAVING?   Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself.  - Cicero   Deconstructing Cravings  The body is an amazing source of intelligence. It is always there for you, pumping blood, never skipping a heartbeat and digesting whatever food you put in it. Is this reliable, intelligent bio-computer making a mistake by craving ice cream or a hamburger or chocolate? Are cravings due to lack of will-power or discipline?  A craving is not a weakness.  Actually, a craving is a critical piece of information that tells you what your body needs. The important thing is to understand why you crave what you crave. Perhaps your diet is too strict, devoid of essential nutrients. Perhaps you are living a lifestyle that is too boring or stressful. Your body tries to correct the imbalance by sending you a message: a craving. A craving for something sweet could mean you need more protein, more exercise, more water, or more love (sweetness) in your life. The key to stopping the sugar craving is to understand what your body really needs.   Your body knows best and is always trying to create balance. However, products like refined foods, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and drugs, which have little or no nutritional value, are confusing to the body. They throw it off balance and can create serious cravings, as your body tries to get what it needs to restore internal harmony. The more your food is whole and healthy, the easier it is for your body to stay in balance, giving you a happier, healthier life.   No book or theory can tell you what to eat, only awareness of your body and its needs. Of all the relationships in our life, the one with our body is most essential, and it takes communication, love, and time to cultivate. As you learn to decipher and respond to your body's cravings, you will create a deep lasting level of health and balance.   The next time you have a craving, treat it as a loving message from your body instead of as a weakness.  ANSWERING YOUR CRAVINGS   "Does being healthy mean I have to give up ice cream and potato chips forever?"   So many people come to me fearing they will have to be deprived of their favorite foods or demonstrate extraordinary willpower to "beat" their cravings. Not true! In fact, when we hear "don't", the little kid in all of us wants to rebel. Sound familiar? This is why diets don't work. Tuning in to your cravings is NOT about depriving you of the pleasure you seek from food, it's about gaining a better understanding of our bodies so we can answer our cravings properly. What I'd like to suggest is that a craving is not the enemy to be defeated, but instead more like a misunderstood friend.   The lesson is to look at your eating patterns and behaviors for the underlying cause of your cravings. This may require a radical shift in perspective because many people view cravings as a weakness where in reality they are important messages meant to assist you in maintaining balance. When you are experiencing cravings, deconstruct them by asking yourself, What am I feeling? Why is it that my body is asking for (insert craving)?     Try these steps to respond to your body:   * First have a glass of water and wait ten minutes. Sometimes we have a craving when we are actually just thirsty.  * Eat a healthier version of what you crave. For example, if you crave sweets, try eating more fruit and sweet vegetables such as yams, squash, & beets.  * What is out of balance in you life? Is there something you need to express, something being repressed? What happened in your life just before you had this craving?  * When you eat the food you are craving, enjoy it, taste it, savor it; notice its affects. Then you can be more aware and free to decide if you really want it next time.