The 5 Ds of Dieting
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Do you struggle with food cravings? This is a giant barrier to weight loss success. It sets up a negative cycle of initially “battling” the craving, giving in, overindulging, feeling like a failure, and giving up. Sound familiar? I’d like you to try my easy “5 Ds” to help manage your food cravings. They really work! DELAY – DISTRACT – DISTANCE – DETERMINE – DECIDE. Delay: Postpone eating for 10-15 minutes when you feel an urge. You’re not saying “no” – just stopping to think before you eat. You’re not ignoring the thought but dealing with it. While you’re delaying your decision, the next D makes it easier… Distract: Try a non-food activity to give you something to do (so you don’t watch the clock for 10 minutes!). Often the wave of desire to eat disappears in a few minutes when you keep your hands busy without food. Clean out a drawer, call a friend, brush your teeth, surf the web, or even learn to knit! Distance: It’s important to ...