After the bliss often come the pangs of guilt and thoughts of how to give up sweets. During these cosy festive days spent at home, culinary temptations begin to outweigh our motivation to stay in shape. It’s not uncommon, even on weekdays, for us to reach for chocolates, ice cream and all sorts of sweet treats to take our minds off the stress. We often forget that come summer, we’ll regret having overindulged. What’s more, we neglect the health aspect of things, which is actually what really matters.
We’re all human and we all need to treat ourselves. However, if you feel things are getting out of hand, there are five little tricks you can use to (almost) trick your sweet tooth. We at laser centre At Body Aesthetics, we’ve brought them all together in one place for you.
This is the first step when we’re wondering how to give up sweets. If every tasty treat is just an arm’s length away, you’re more likely to find it hard to resist. So don’t stock up on chocolate and desserts. Clear out the „sweet“ cupboard in the kitchen and don’t stock up on anything unhealthy or high in calories. That way, if you really fancy a treat, you’ll have to make the effort to pop out to the shop. You know that, especially in winter, it’s very hard to bring ourselves to get out from under the warm duvets and out of our slippers. Perhaps that will put you off, and you’ll simply have an apple or a cup of fragrant fruit tea with honey instead.
Try buying healthier versions of the sweet treats you love, as they’ll be far less tempting. This is a great way to cut down on sweets. For example, instead of double-chocolate-coated biscuits, have a dessert made from raw fruit or oats and chia seeds. You’ll be far less likely to reach for these desserts – we’re convinced of that (from personal experience).
3. Make healthy snacks and desserts more temptingAdd some lovely flavours to healthier snack options. With yoghurt and oats, for example, you can take the enjoyment to the next level with a few small but delicious additions. Throw in a few fresh raspberries, a spoonful of honey or agave syrup, a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla, and some dried apricots or figs. That way, instead of dreaming of milk chocolate with a biscuit and hazelnut filling, you’ll be craving your healthy snack. It’s a surprisingly delicious way to turn down unhealthy sweet treats.
This trick is as old as the hills. When you really fancy eating a tub of ice cream or a whole packet of wafers, reach for the water instead. Pour yourself a large glass and drink it: your stomach will feel full and it will buy you some time. That way, even if only for a short while, you can resist the urge to consume 1,500 calories in one go in the form of a dessert that provides your body with nothing of nutritional value. There’s another important point here. If you are dehydrated, especially after exercise or sport, your body will crave sugary, high-calorie foods. So keep drinking water and you’ll be fine.
This could turn out to be an unexpected treat when we’re wondering how to cut down on sweets. Unsweetened oat milk with a frozen banana and fresh strawberries is an absolute delight. What’s more, as well as being sweet, it’s also very healthy. And have you tried a smoothie with pear, banana and a little cinnamon – a real winter treat! Or skimmed fresh milk with a dash of coffee, a slice of orange peel, honey and cinnamon? This drink will undoubtedly put you in the mood for a spot of reading by the window, especially if fluffy white snowflakes are falling outside.
Here at Body Aesthetics, we’re certainly not fans of extremes, and we don’t spend all day thinking about how to give up sweets. This is even more true when we imagine what life would be like without chocolate, brownies and cakes. We ourselves find it hard to resist the sweet temptations that our lovely visitors often bring as a token of their gratitude. Nevertheless, we do our best to maintain a balance and ensure our daily diet includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. This helps us stay healthy and strong throughout the winter, and in the other seasons too.
That’s why we advise you not to deprive yourself of treats altogether. Simply limit your intake, take part in sport and, for the most part, eat a balanced diet. And to tackle the problem of excess fat around your hips, tummy and thighs, do come and see us for cryolipolysis with CoolTech.
The material How to give up sweets: 5 ways to (almost) avoid temptation was first published on Body Aesthetics.
