To beat your snack cravings, be a stickler

My friends know they can always rely on me for a stick of gum. I have at least one pack in my bag at all times. Research has shown that chewing gum can help suppress your appetite and prevent you from reaching for another serving of food or a snack. And it’s not just dietitians who keep a pack up their sleeves, so to speak. Trainers are getting in on it, too. In fact, it’s one of The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper’s favorite tricks.

Harper has taken it one step further: He’s teamed up with Extra Gum — my favorite kind since the flavor seems to last forever — to create the “3 p.m. Snackdown Challenge.” Why 3 p.m.? Turns out, that’s the time most Americans tend to make unhealthy snack choices. In fact, their survey found that 71% of women don’t even feel hungry at that time; they just eat “because it’s there.” If “it” happens to be chips from the vending machine, cookies, or your coworker’s birthday cake, that could be very bad news, indeed. Pop a stick of sugar-free gum instead — just 5 calories — to keep you from mindless snacking.

And how about a little “Extra” incentive? Extra and Bob Harper are offering some great prizes to help you lead healthier lives, including personal training sessions with the man himself. Check out their sweepstakes at extra3pmsnackdown.com.

Skinny Bonus: We have a great prize, too! Tell us the most challenging “snack attack” you battle and how you’ve learned to stay away from this trigger food. Our favorite response (please keep them short and sweet) will win a 2-year supply of Extra sugar-free gum. Send your responses to contests@skinnyandthecity.com by 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, April 8.

Comments (28)

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Wednesday April 1, 2009 Deb wrote:

... My most challangig is cake if not in the house i'll go get it. I've taught myself how to knit and so know i make many scarfs of different colors.

Wednesday April 1, 2009 michelle wrote:

... I want sweets after every meal. Now I keep Tic Tacs and Gum in my purse. I now can have the sweet finish to every meal and not pack on the pounds.

Wednesday April 1, 2009 Anne Zinnack wrote:

... chocolate is my worst - keep it to one square, one biscuit, & hide everything my husband brings in the house. I will now try thechewing gum instead.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Jeanna wrote:

... My worst enemy is hot brownies from the oven. I have no willpower with the fudgy, full-fat brownies so I make healthy brownies now that are rich (and have some healthy additives) so that I won't finish half the pan in one day. Just use a fat free brownie mix (I like Krusteaz) with one can of pureed pumpkin, mix and bake according to directions on the box.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Tina wrote:

... My weakness is"McDonald's French Fries"! omg , so good! so now I just buy sweet potatoes and make sweet potato fries in the oven. it's trully going to be hard to break this one!

Saturday April 4, 2009 Tonya wrote:

... When I get bored I want to snack. That has been my most challenging. Especially when you have to walk through the kitchen to get anywhere else in the house.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Tonya wrote:

... not buying the sugary snacks has helped.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Jennifer Lucas wrote:

... When my head starts obsessing over something I shouldn't be eating, I find that often means I am just thirsty. I start with drinking cold water and see if the craving goes away. Other remedies: sugar free Icebreaker Sours, chewing gum, hot herbal tea, or even a cup of coffee, depending on the time of day. There are lots of "treats" out there that we don't have to feel guilty about. You just have to do your research!

Saturday April 4, 2009 Peggi wrote:

... I have a very bad back so which means I don't get around as much as I should. Little here and a littlle there. I would really like to lose about 20lb by the edd of july not sure I can do this I really don't eat much thou some mite be the wrong things. Maybe chewing gum mite help. I have fiilings on my teeth so I need fedent gum I think thats the name of it. Thank You Peggi Mowles

Saturday April 4, 2009 Denise wrote:

... I crave sweets (especially chocolate)...chewing gum helps.

I also keep sugar-free chocolate in the freezer and only take out a piece or two at a time. Best way to control my consumption!

Saturday April 4, 2009 Stacey Benedon wrote:

... All food is my enemy. I sometimes don't feel like eating, but when I do... I tend to binge. So when I start binging, I take my dog out for a long walk or to the park! (Hard to eat with no food around :-) )

Saturday April 4, 2009 Kristy wrote:

... my weakness is potatoes I love them.I snack on veggies when i want potatoe chips or something.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Connie wrote:

... going shopping, sometimes you are offered free samples.. Yummy food that is free!! sticking a piece of gum in my mouth keeps my hands out of those samples

Saturday April 4, 2009 Roxy wrote:

... i tend to have a snack attack late at night before I go to bed. I make it a point to brush my teeth and floss, look in the mirror and smile to avoid giving in to those cravings.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Catherine E Rospotynski wrote:

... My downfall foods are potato chips and anything chocolate.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Jane Schultz wrote:

... Well, I guess you would be less tempted to take a bite of something if you have gum in your mouth. I'll try it!

Saturday April 4, 2009 Jasmine wrote:

... Pizza is my downfall. The scent of rich cheese and spicy toppings are like magnets to my appetite. I like a nice, strong peppermint gum to help put a shield between me and pizza.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Merissa wrote:

... I'm a sucker for candy bars. So I freeze them - I basically have to wait for them to thaw or hurt my teeth gnawing away at them. I usually decide it's not worth the hassle.

Saturday April 4, 2009 Sherriann wrote:

... I don't know if someone already mentioned this but brushing my teeth always takes my appetite away.

Sunday April 5, 2009 Chris V wrote:

... Every workday I experience a chocolate snack attack at around 2pm … so I immediately grab a handful of mixed raw pumpkin seeds, raw sunflower seeds, raw almonds and roasted unsalted cashews, and eat each nut ONE AT A TIME, savoring each piece! I then drink a full 8 oz glass of bottled water. This ALWAYS calms my choco craving!

Monday April 6, 2009 Lisa Vance wrote:

... When I want something sweet after lunch, I have a cup of jasmine green tea sweetened with equal. It's sweet and I get the benefits of green tea too!

Monday April 6, 2009 kj wrote:

... I often get the snack-a-roos at work, especially in the afternoon. Often times I will head to the gym next door to work, even if it is only for a half hour- so free weight, ab workout- whatever. This makes me not want to eat sweets, except for maybe an apple when i return to my desk ESPECIALLY when someone brings treats into the office. And, honestly, I have a drawer of gum at work. Different flavors for different moods.

Tuesday April 7, 2009 Michelle wrote:

... Definitely the afternoon sugar craving. It hits me hard no matter if I have a big or small lunch. I've got a number of counter attacks that do the trick: 1) No cash. I'm not going to use my credit card to buy a candy bar. 2) Cans of Coke Zero in my office. Sweet without the calories. 3) When a soda won't do, I have a stash of oatmeal raisin Gnu fiber bars (50% daily fiber in 1 bar and tastes like an oatmeal raisin cookie.)

Tuesday April 7, 2009 Keyomi wrote:

... most challenging snack?: skittles and m&m's in my work desk drawers!!
how i tackle them? : keep drinking water and think of all the germs crawling on my candy treat inside the confines of that drawer! :) That thought surely keeps me away from them..until i decide to share them at lunch(read..give them away to all colleagues)

Wednesday April 8, 2009 MS wrote:

... I always satisfy my cravings when I have them. I had a habit of eating a piece of chocolate in the morning when I wake up, it helps getting me into a good mood. Yesterday I had a large thin-crusted pizza all by myself. Yum! I find that having what you crave makes the craving go away, rather than intensifying it. Most days I eat muesli, porridge and soy milk for breakfast. My meals are mostly lean meat stir fried with vegetables and brown rice on the side, and I have fish at least 3 times a week. The trick is to eat healthy all the time, so you can give in to your cravings occasionally and not have any impact on your health or waistline.

Saturday April 11, 2009 Laura wrote:

... Boredom and anxiety! First thing I do when I walk in the door,I start stuffing food in my mouth.To beat it, change into work-out clothes and head for the treadmill asap!!!!!!!!

Wednesday August 11, 2010 sugaraddiction wrote:

... Sugar addiction strategies to stop sugar cravings and binge eating, by breaking sugar addiction through a healthy – all natural, sugar free diet.

Wednesday August 11, 2010 sugaraddiction wrote:

... [http://7daysugarfreediet.com/]Sugar addiction strategies to stop sugar cravings and binge eating, by breaking sugar addiction through a healthy – all natural, sugar free diet.

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