Sweet tooth: why and how to fight

Question
Hello, I'm 29, and all of my life I have been able to eat all that my eyes desired.  For the past 4 years I have been known to eat especially late at night, lots of munchies (i.e. chips, cookies, cereal, seconds of dinner etc) without conscience.  For about a month now, I have been eating better.  I eat pretty much all low salt foods, low sugar, high fiber, fruits, veggies...and I eat about 6 times per day...at least.  It is very hard though. Why is it that I never seem to be full after a serving?  Not only that, but I'll try eating an apple or something to try to quench the hunger, but I still want a snack.  I think I have a habit of eating sweets, is that possible?  I think about food all of the time, but I am 6'1, 190, very active and in shape.  Sometimes I just wish I could go and grab about 10 cookies and milk and just go at it like I used to.  Any suggestions, thoughts?

Thank you

Answer
Dear William,

It not only possible to crave sweets, it's very common since sweet taste is connected to the centers of pleasure and reward in our brain so it's hardwire, not just a "sin".

However, it's possible to break down the vicious cycle sweets -> reward -> cravings -sweets, etc. To do that, you have to commit to only one week without sweet foods or even sweet taste without calories. To learn why and how to do that, please take a look at the articles below since I cant go into details in a short answer.

Are we eating for reward?
http://atkinszone.com/Tips/2008/10/eating-and-rewards.html

Controlling cravings
http://atkinszone.com/recipes/2007/05/salad-recipe-for-muscles.html

One of the most frequently reported affects of our Banta Diet is reduction of disappearance of cravings. A couple of typical feedbacks:

"I抦 surprised my cravings for sweet things were so easily suppressed."

"LESS hungry NO cravings, a little more energy."

BTW, the diet costs you nothing, why wouldn't you give it a try:

http://bantadiet.com/banta

Tanya Zilberter

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