Dealing with Cravings: Why am I eating this?

Being "hungry" is usually not a challenge for me on active days, or even many days when I work from home. I began to realize, however, that I would feel "hungry" more when travelling, onsite with clients, or anywhere out of my mental comfort zone. Most times, I know for a fact that my need for fuel has been met, but I still felt "hungry."

I generally eat well for breakfast and lunch, so the in-between-cravings that occur even after I've had a snack are what I question.  To combat this, every time I would reach for an extra piece of food, I would ask myself, "why am I eating this?" This is a multiple choice question, and the answers are below. Pausing and asking this question gives you a minute to think about what you're eating, and subsequently make a better decisions.

Emotional Stress - Am I stressed out? If yes, then I'm probably not hungry, I'm just looking for a distraction. Don't eat it, and instead focus on fixing what is causing the stress.

Thirst - Have I drank enough water today? If not, or if I'm not sure, drink some water, and wait it out.

Tired - Did I get enough quality rest to keep up with my workload? When my eyes dry out, and I'm having trouble focusing, I won't reach for the coffee, but I need to do something to keep from falling asleep. When this happens, I'll seek out some fat (almonds, or brazil nuts) and possibly fruit (like an apple).

Because something looks delicious - Do I just want a tasty treat? It's OK to answer for me to answer yes - but in moderation. One challenge for me is when the office surprises everyone by bringing in tasty Indian food, after I've already eaten my own paleo-style lunch. I've gotten good at turning down these surprise meals by telling myself I'll make up for it on the weekend. During my slow, fat burning training rides on the bike, I make it a point to seek out high-quality (i.e. delicious) pastries. To be honest, as I continue to eat healthy, even the thought of these treats is becoming less appealing. I'm learning to control my cravings.

Not Paleo: This donut was one helluva a cheat, during a slow, easy ride to Nyack , NY.
Maple Bacon donut courtesy of  The Gypsy Donut.

Dealing with cravings is very challenging. But if you want to achieve your goal, you need to find a way to face them, deal with them head on, and learn to control them. I think it's OK to enjoy a little junk now and again - I just make sure I enjoy it on my own terms, so I don't second guess myself later on.