The Program: Trouble Shooting in OWL

BLOCKING THE URGE TO BINGE

 If you’re at the mercy of the overpowering urges that trigger foods exert over your self-control, take comfort. The Atkins Edge can be your ally in regaining control. The trick is to never let yourself become ravenously hungry. If you’re doing Atkins properly—meaning three satisfying meals and two filling snacks each day, sticking to your carb tolerance level and not going more than four to six hours between meals, the Atkins Edge should put you in the driver’s seat.

 

Recognize Your Carb Threshold

So here’s the test: if you’re at or just below your carb threshold, meaning your Carbohydrate Level for Losing (CLL) it’s normal to feel comfortably empty at times without having to feel hungry. But if you’re above your threshold, feeling empty always triggers hunger. If you feel overly hungry before meals, or if you’re subject to bingeing, try reducing your average daily carb intake until the hunger or urge to binge goes away. In the simplest terms, bingeing can be a symptom of consuming excess carbs: you’re no longer able to burn your own fat reserves and experience the appetite control that comes with shifting your metabolism.

 

Here are more practical ways to head off binges:

• Never shop for food when you’re hungry.


• Don’t wait until you’re ravenous to eat.


• Don’t buy food you know you’ll eat in the car on the way home. (Better yet, don’t eat while driving!)


• Understand when you’re eating for emotional reasons rather than hunger.


• Call your diet buddy immediately when in the grip of a trigger food.


• Ask your spouse or housemate for help when you feel out of control.


• Eat mindfully. Don’t eat in front of the television or at the movies, when you may lose track of how much and what you’re eating.


• Always have suitable snacks in the house. If chocolate is a problem for you, always have a substitute such as an Atkins Advantage Bar on hand.