I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles (Sour Cream ‘n Onion flavor). My determination weakens every time I think about munching into one, hearing the crunch, and getting that first taste of its yummy flavor. Pure heaven. Although you may not flip over chips, there's probably another food that lures you into the refrigerator or the pantry cabinet. According to one study, 97% of women (compared to 68% of men) experience cravings for food.

How do you control these urges that drag you in an intoxicated shape away from your diet plan and down into the swirling vortex of pleasure? I researched this topic to give you expert advice on how to enjoy that art called eating without turning it into a feeding frenzy. Read on - and never again feel guilty about eating a chocolate chip cookie.

Take Charge of Your Eating Habits.

Try to control the number of food cravings you experience. It appears to be impossible for humans like us, but if you psyche yourself and develop fewer cravings, then slowly you'll submit to fewer cravings.

According to one study of nearly 500 women, researchers found that women who received a daily 1,200 milligram calcium supplement reduced their number of premenstrual food cravings by 54%. To reach the same result by getting the needed calcium intake from food, rely on skim milk and yogurt. Sounds a bit difficult for all those lactose intolerant? Try some calcium-fortified foods or juices like cheese and calcium-filled orange juices. If you don't feel you can get sufficient calcium from food, make up the difference using a supplement of calcium carbonate or calcium citrate.

How about something relaxing? When you're anxious, the body produces more of the hormone cortisol, which may increase the amount of carbohydrates you want to eat. Sweets or carbohydrates temporarily increase our levels of serotonin, making us feel calm and relaxed.

Thus, one way of helping curb your sweet tooth, is to rent some videos, text your funniest friends, or schedule a spa weekend. Why not have a bit of chocolate once in a while? When you begin including small amounts of these forbidden foods into your diet, a funny thing happens: You don't crave them anymore.

Distinguish specific cravings from hunger. Suppose you drive by a fast food joint and all of a sudden, you develop a deep craving for french fries. Rather than rushing down the drive thru section, resist your urge. Turn on your favorite music and switch your attention away from the fries idea. Suppose, on the other hand, you feel the need to satisfy not the urge but your hunger, select an apple pie or salad as a substitute.

Cut Hundreds of Calories.

Sure you can cut down hundreds of calories with what you eat every day! How? By making the appropriate choices on replacing high-calorie with low-calorie foods, such as cheese, creams, whole milk, butter, etc. Here are easy tricks to keep you cooking and eating minus the calories.

• When cooking, use a nonstick pan to eliminate the use of butter
  and/or oil.
• Remove the fat from the meat.
• Remove the skin of chicken before serving.
• Use butter-flavored seasoning on vegetables instead of
  sprinkling butter.
• For casseroles, desserts and sauces, use evaporated skim milk
  (12 cal./tbsp.) instead of heavy cream (51 cal./tbsp.)
• Cook stews and other casseroles ahead of time. Refrigerate.
  Remove congealed fat before serving.
• Choose a real orange (71 cal.) over an orange juice (90 cal./6 oz).
• For snacks, low-calorie fruits (cucumbers, asparagus, carrots,
  apples, pickles) are good replacements for crackers and breads.
• Use bottled chocolate extract for milk shakes instead of
  sweetened cocoa.
• Use two egg whites (34 cal.) for cakes instead of one egg
  (82 cal.).
• Choose diet margarine (50 cal.) instead of the regular
  margarine (100 cal.).
• Choose cereals with the least calories then add fresh fruits
  to be more nutritious.
• At parties, good substitutes for snacks are carrot strips,
  pickle slices, and raw mushroom caps.
• Drip away fats by cooking hamburgers on the rack.
• Avoid chips with dips.

Staying in healthy shape depends on the right attitude.  So how strong is your will power to control the urge?

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