1-You crave sugar first thing  in  the morning-

Have oatmeal with brown Swerve sweetener and Saigon cinnamon. Swerve is a natural, sugar free  sweetener that doesn’t  cause gastric distress. It’s 60-80% as sweet as sugar and has 0.2 calories per gram as compared to 4 calories  per gram for sugar. It’s  considered zero-calorie and non-glycemic and safe for diabetics. When you mix it with Saigon cinnamon it will crush any sweet craving that you might have and the fiber in the oats is very filling. You’ll  be satisfied, much more so than if you had eaten pastry, cake or sugar sweetened cereal.

2-You crave a sundae.

I learned this trick a long time ago. Start with Plain Greek Yogurt, regular, not fat free or low fat, and add anything  from Crystal Light, in a rainbow of flavors, to peanut butter powder. If you use the Crystal Light you can add a complimentary fruit. When you add peanut butter powder and a zero calorie  sweetener to the yogurt you will get a reasonable  facsimile of peanut butter pie. Add some nuts of choice to make it rock. Make it taste like lemon pie with lemonade Crystal Light.

3-You really want a sweet coffee drink.

Brew some good coffee and add a sugar free flavored creamer. You can even add whipped cream if you like. Whip it up and add some Swerve to make it sweet.

4-You want brownies and pizza.

Search “Brownies ” in the search box at the end of this article. We have at least 2 recipes, sugar free. We also have a Lava Cake. Seriously…sugar free. You really just have to  make  the “Pizza Casserole” I guarentee that it will kill a pizza  craving.

5- You really want to skip your workout.

Do it anyway. Yes, sometimes  you  will look forward to it but honestly, probably not too often! You have to decide to do the right thing simply because  it’s the right thing. What kind of body do you want to live in?

6-You feel like crying.

Smile, force it. Our brain “reads” our facial expressions. We can change our mood by changing our expression. This is not to discount clinical depression. That is something  that you must discuss with your doctor but if you are just in a bad mood, fake it til you make it. Keep smiling and you will make it.

Get some sunlight. Just 15 minutes can brighten your mood.

Get busy with something important so that you have to get into flow to do it. The feeling of accomplishment that you get from tackling  and conquering  a difficult  task will release feel good neurotransmitters.

7- You’re furious.

Consider the cause. Is your fury justified? Are your feelings based on facts or are they based on what you fear or believe to be true? Quite often our most negative emotions are based on imagined offense with little to no evidence. If you stay mad at someone all the time you don’t need to have them in your life.

8- You don’t  like your body.

Change it.

9- You’re so tired.

Rest. Count your calories and eat them all. Make sure that you’re  getting enough protein. Read David’s article,  “Protein Supplements” for guidelines. Search for it in the search box at the end of this article.

Make sure to stay well hydrated. Read “How Much Water Do I Need?”

10- You want to give up.

Don’t. “Can’t” never did do anything. Decide what life you want and create it. You have everything  you need. Just find it.

We have the power to make our days good or bad. So much of our experience is based on our perception. Be proactive and change your life and the lives of all that you encounter.