I saw an article in today's newspaper on how to stop a ravenous appetite. It came originally from the McClathy Tribune via The Houston Chronicle. When I read these so called ten tips I nodded with agreement on some and giggled at others. I thought some of you would get a kick out of reading the list if you didn't get a chance to catch the list in your local paper.

1. Brush Your Teeth : Toothpaste affects taste buds in mouth; neutralizes craving for sweets or fatty items
2. Chewing gum : Absorbs hungry feeling; sweet-tasting gum keeps craving for sweets down
3. Warm water : Drink a glass of warm water and swallow slowly; detoxes body
4. Freezing Sweets: Freeze sweets before eating; taste buds get numb and craving for sweets decline
5. Important Breakfast : Without a healthy Breakfast cravings come latter in the day
6. Eat Slowly: Feeling saturated begins 20 minutes after eating;eating fast = eating more
7. Acupressure: Press for 10-20 seconds on a point between nose and upper lip; stimulates brain signals to stop hunger
8.Diary:Analyze your cravings: when they occur,what you eat, how you feel afterward
9.Distraction: Take your mind off food and do something else, such as exercise, start a conversation
10. Food in Black and White: When you look at black and white photos of food items you like,they don't seem so appealing anymore

Ok, some of these I read in the Beck Diet Solution. Number 10 and 7 where new to me and I don't agree with 2. 2 makes me hungrier so far. Even my anesthesiologist might disagree with this one because gum chewing stimulates the stomach juices which in turn can make you hungry. This works for me. They tell me before an operation not to chew gum so my stomach won't think it's going to get fed. Which is why I know you chew the gum in the first place, but to me that only makes matters worse. I would prefer that warm glass of water to calm down those stomach juices that are telling me I am craving something instead. I do see though if you give yourself some "legally" sweet like sugar free gum instead of eating that candy though, this idea would work. If you do like this idea don't forget then that tic tacs are also good.
The acupuncture one I will have to try. I don't know if I have the technique down correctly yet though. It doesn't seem to be working yet on me. I do have a camera that can change my photos to black and white so I will have to take a picture of the home made trail mix and post it on the frig door and see if that works. Let you know.
I want to welcome Merle ( SVELTSIS ) who joined CK this past weekend. I met Merle at the gym last weekend and told her about CK. She helped me work out after my surgery by keeping my mind off the ouchies not having exercised in a week. We had a good time. Now I have someone to meet at my own gym and share CK stuff with. Woopie !
I have another friend who came over yesterday who I am teaching about food. She is as she states " special ed ". Well, I don't think she is all that slow, but she does need someone to spend one on one with her when it comes to explaining things that get a little complicated. Her doctor told her she needed to go on a diet but didn't tell her how. She needed someone to show her how and to teach her how to prepare food. All she can do is open cans. ( Literally ) Well, I told her I would teach her what she needs to know.We had our first lesson yesterday. We started with what are carbs, veggies, fats, how to read labels, how to hold a knife. Now, I don't have a degree in this stuff nor do I feel I'm as talented as some of you all here at CK in explaining things, so pray for me. It's just I am available for this person and she needs the help. I am very humbled that the Lord has put me in this situation and will probably be calling upon some of you all expertise over the next few months for help when I can't figure out what to say or where to go next. One thing for sure, it has put me in the spot to be an example. Wow, what an awesome responsibility.
Have a good day.