Sugar cravings have nothing to do with your willpower and everything to do with your hormones

Do you give yourself a hard time when you’re reaching for the biscuits or chocolate bar to get you through the afternoon?

You talk so bad to yourself, saying you have no willpower and that you’re weak.  

But did you know that sugar cravings are actually a sign of a hormonal imbalance? Craving sugar is your bodies signal telling you to lean in and listen out for what might be out of balance.  

Sugar cravings and PM crashes are a signal that blood sugar levels are unstable.

What makes your blood sugar unstable?

Skipping meals (there really is a reason why they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day), long breaks between meals (4+ hours), carb heavy meals, lack of protein and fat to name just a few.

When your blood sugar is unstable, particularly when low your brain will be sending out the hunger hormone to get you interested in food again. 

This is how you could have a large sandwich or panini for lunch but then be hungry just minutes later. Whereas more balanced (carbs, protein and fat) nutrient dense meals throughout the day will keep those cravings at bay.

My clients see improved energy and less cravings within 7 - 10 days of taking action to stabilise their blood sugar levels.

This is why my first port of call with my coaching clients is to get them eating more nutrient dense meals and prioritising actual food over a coffee for breakfast. We need to fuel not starve because the starving causes a stress response which leads to energy crashes and the brain telling us to reach for the quickest hit of energy - hello biscuits and chocolate. 

Managing blood sugar levels is something that needs to be done every day with every meal if you want to avoid the PM crashes and cravings.  

Try this blood sugar balancing routine for 7 days to see if you see improvement with your cravings and energy:

1. Glass of hot water on waking - optional -  dash of apple cider vinegar/ lemon or lime juice  (at least ½ pint water)

2. Eating breakfast within 90 minutes of waking

3. Eat protein with breakfast - eggs, salmon, full fat yogurt or adding collagen powder to a smoothie

4. Don’t drink your caffeinated beverage on an empty stomach - my motto for the AM is hydrate -> fuel -> caffeinate

5. Don’t leave it too long between meals to keep those blood sugar levels stable (eat every 3-4 hours). 

6. When you snack add a source of protein or fat to flatten the glucose spike. Snack of organic berries, coconut yogurt OR apple and nut butters.

7. Make sure you’re eating enough (of the right things) and a solid 3 meals a day.

I hope you’ll stop beating yourself up about the lack of willpower around your sugar cravings. Your hormones are sending you a signal, is it time to lean in and listen.

If you want to chat more about any of this or learn more about my coaching and how it could help you - please book in a FREE 60 minute DISCOVERY CALL call with me.