Snacking is something most of us do and it can really impact our ability to achieve our goals if we don’t take steps to reduce it.  So many people struggle with this, regardless of thier goals, but for those with fat loss goals, snacking can be deterimental to progress.

I wanted to give you a tangible tool, something which you can use to help yourself with this and something you can action STRAIGHT AWAY.

Before you mindlessly grab some snacks, next time, think about these 4P’s…

• PAUSE

Just take a second to think about what you are doing and ask yourself if eating those snacks will take you further towards or further away from your goals.

Is the short term pleasure you will get from this snack GREATER than your desire to achieve your longer term goals?  If the answer is no, step away from the snacks!

• PROBLEM

Are you snacking to escape something?  A feeling?  Try and really understand the reason you’re wanting to snack.  Loneliness?  Stress?  Boredom?  Grief?

Whatever the reason is, I’d like you to just acknowledge it.  Will food make it better?  Perhaps, for about 30 seconds, but it won’t make the feeling go away.  If anything, it’s likely to make you feel worse as it’s taken you further away from your goals.  You will feel so much better if you put the snacks down (saying NO to the snacks is saying YES to your progress) and resist.  And you can allow yourself to feel smug and happy about doing that!!  HIGH FIVE!

• PIVOT

Change your surroundings!  Find something else to help alleviate the feeling which is driving you to snack.  Lonely?  Can you call a friend / your Mum?  Stressed?  Can you do something to actively relieve your stress?  10 mins stretching / breathing can really help.  Bored?  Can you go for a walk outside?  Can you clear out a draw / cupboard?  Listen to a podcast while you do something productive?  Grieving?  Can you write down your feelings / memories or talk to someone else going through similar?

• PRAISE

Give yourself some recognition every single time you steer yourself away from the snacks.  Feel smug and happy about it!  It’s a WIN!!  Resisting is challenging – it requires some will power, but remind yourself of the long term benefits of reducing that snacking and think about the 4P’s net time you’re tempted.

Pause, Problem, Pivot, Praise.

The more you do it, the easier it becomes, the more calories you save over time, the quicker you will reach your fat loss goals.  YOU’RE WELCOME!  Hope it helps.

And good luck!

Kaye x

The post The 4 P’s – A strategy to help with snacking appeared first on Kaye Louise Fitness.

I have personally employed some of these strategies to help me control my snacking and like anything, the more you do it, the easier it becomes…. I promise!  (And – spoiler alert – YOU CAN STILL HAVE SNACKS!!)

1. Drink water – staying hydrated is important to help you feel fuller for longer, so you are less likely to experience cravings.  It’s also really bloody good for you, so try and drink lots of water every single day, regardless of your snacking habits!  
2. Introduce a NEW RULE!  One snack per day. Limit it. Set yourself a rule. If you are serious about achieving your goals, you’ll understand why this is important!  If you are tempted by a snack after you’ve already had your daily allowance, save it for the next day.   You’ll probably enjoy it even MORE if you wait!  Delayed gratification!  
3. Only have it if you REALLY want it. Make it a ‘HELL YES!’ snack!  If there are biscuits in the office which you think are ok, but aren’t your favourite, just say NO!  Practice it!  Remind yourself that saying yes to the biscuits is like saying no achieving your goals.  Or flip it – saying NO to the crappy office biscuits is like saying YES to your goals!!  Get serious about it – nothing changes if nothing changes.  
4. Enjoy your snack as you eat it, take the time to savour every bite. This is important, let yourself enjoy it, guilt free, especially if you’ve factored it into your calorie intake (which I encourage you to do!)
5. Create a barrier or remove the stuff likely to tempt you. Don’t buy it, or if you do have it in the house, or move it somewhere else to interrupt the automatic habit of opening the snack cupboard (or your equivalent!).  Create a barrier, or do something which makes you pause before taking action.  

Hope this is helpful and you’re able to take some pointers away to help you take control.  Snacking isn’t ‘bad’, but having some strategies to implement will definitely help you achieve your weight loss goals!  Please let me know how you get on!

The post Don’t let snacking be your downfall! appeared first on Kaye Louise Fitness.