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Kick Your Carb Habit in 28 Days

Added to Articles on Fri 08/10/2012

Week #3: In week 3, you will be cutting back to 1 unhealthy serving of carbs per day, so you will need to find other ways to deal with triggers.

 

Cut Back to 1 Unhealthy Serving of Carbs Per Day. Find Non-food Activities to Treat Your Triggers.

Two of the most common triggers of eating unhealthy carbs are loneliness and stress. Remember, unhealthy carbs release feel-good serotonin in the brain, but there are lots of healthy ways to get serotonin as well.

 

If you’re lonely, it’s as simple as picking up the phone and calling your sponsor or a friend. Have a great conversation, get some support, or make plans to do something fun like see a movie or have a healthy meal together.

 

If you’re stressed, soothe yourself by doing something relaxing. Take a bubble bath, light a candle, or take a soothing stroll around your neighborhood.

 

Week #4: You will cut out all unhealthy carbs from your diet. You will need to focus on adding activities that boost your feel-good hormones.

 

Cut Out All Unhealthy Carbs. Replace With Hormone-boosting Activities.

Here are some ways to get three of the most important feel-good hormones:

  1. Serotonin: Sleep your way to busting your unhealthy carb addiction! Lack of sleep interferes with serotonin production. When you don’t get 7-9 hours of sleep per night, your brain releases ghrelin – a hormone that makes you crave unhealthy carbs.
  2. Oxytocin: This is also called the cuddling hormone. Get intimate with your significant other, rock your baby, or cuddle with a pet. All of these activities will release oxytocin which will make you feel happy, peaceful and connected. When we feel this way, unhealthy carb cravings all but disappear!
  3. Vitamin D: This is an important hormone for overall health – including mood! Get your daily dose of vitamin D with 20 minutes of exposure to the sun. If you’re getting more than that, be sure to put on some sunblock. Create a double mood-boosting whammy by exercising while you’re getting this sun by walking or riding your bike. If the sun’s not out, eat foods rich in vitamin D like salmon or tuna, or take a vitamin D supplement.