Dear Tessa

Go see a qualified nutritionist and change your relationship with food. You see it as a form of control towards your body and yourself. The truth is, food is simply meant to give you nutrients and energy. Please allow yourself to eat treats once in a while in small portions. Even I have a sweeth tooth but I am prone to weight gain and have a family history of diabetes.

So instead of wolfing down sweets when I am happy, upset, outside, inside house, bored, I go and buy a tiny, expensive dark chocolate bar once a week or a good gelato. The rest of the week I eat and workout to make my body healthy and an energy powerhouse.

This means a diet with enough calories, proper macro-nutrients and at proper intervals, portions rather than crash dieting, going hungry for hours which makes me crave sweets. Keeping busy will stop the thoughts on in and out, sweets. See this as a life long commitment to stay healthy rather than a weight loss regime.

Opting for low GI foods and cutting out added sugar helps most. A cheat meal once a week is fine to stay sane.

Instead of preparing a big portion of oroes, buy a small packet and enjoy it for the taste. You are restricting too much and after a point, you will get fed up of it.

Try flavoured herbal teas like Apple cinnamon, pomegranate which are sweeter in flavor if you are craving a sweet drink during the week.

Work on your relationship with how you see food and exercise. Doing yoga sounds like an awesome idea actually. You can supplement it with a quick walk and isometric exercises to stay in shape.

Don’t despair. This craving problem is very normal actually and can be worked on.

Regards

Nina