Despite eating very healthy, I still seem to have cravings to binge-eat, even though I clearly know it's terrible for me and my long-term health.

It's been more intense since the start of my internship in January. The place I work at buys weekly grocery in industrial quantities. It does include fruits and cheese (and sometimes milk), but it's mostly just like toaster pastries, doughnuts, chocolate bars and chips. In the beginning I just skipped it altogether, but about a month into my internship I started having urges to basically empty out the cup boards - it started when some employees started buying boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

When I started noticing the problem - around the end of February - I remember an article I read in Weight Watchers Magazine. I despise their methods which I think are wrong and based on shaky science, but they do give good advice like "try to isolate your craving and find out when and why it happens."

In my case, I found out - and confirmed today - that those cravings seem to come when the main room is mostly empty starting after 4:30 on Fridays. Because I know it's wrong for me I'd rather be hidden; I always hide in the kitchen and binge of sweets. So the fewer people there are the easier it feels to eat sweets and still keep my healthy-eating image. Now that I've clearly identified the problem I will find ways to fight those cravings like leaving earlier, drink water or maybe walk around the office and talk with people around.

Do you have other tricks to fight such unhealthy habits that seem to be too much to cope with?

I keep a bottle of flavoured water with me at all times, and if I start thinking I'm craving something sweet, I'll drink on the water. Usually it's just the taste  that I'm wanting, and the water will satisfy it. If I actually am craving sugar, to the sweet peppers or a banana I'll go, and voila, fixed!

Another unhealthy habit I have is hunching over. A lot of it is because my back is crooked naturally, so I hunch regardless, but I know I make it worse. I've been putting a pillow in the bottom of my computer chair and a rolled pillow at my back, which seems to help keep me a bit straighter. I've also started crossing my legs underneath myself in the computer chair, which for SOME odd reason, seems to make me sit up straighter whenever I'm down. The 15 minute stretch rule also helps.

Yunimori : Hum, how is your sweet water sweetened? Those usually pack a lot of calories and carbs. If it's with an artificial sweetener, still be careful.

As for hunching: I have a similar problem too as I'm all-day long in front of my computer. I've learned a few trick to help you sit properly
- Don't sit all the way to the back of your chair - as if there were a knife on the seat. It's not an exaggeration: I heard that servants in England learned to sit straight by having sharp objects on the back support.
- Contract your shoulder blades together. That should straighten your position right away.

janus : I usually sweeten it with either a single drop of Mio or with honey and lemon, depending on what I have with me. It doesn't take much for me to get the taste.

As for sitting tips, thank you. I think I'm doing alright right now, but that may come in handy whenever I'm able to afford a new computer chair that doesn't tip. :3

Yunimori : Yes, having the right computer chair is essential. At work, it's as if they got their chairs in the 1990s (about 30cm square of support and metal handles, or worse wooden chairs) giving me no choice but to have an "overly straight" posture.

As for your water: I though you drank those commercial bottles like Vitamin Water. If ever you have it at your local market, you should try maple syrup. It contains some vitamins and minerals.

janus : Haaaah. My chair is this ancient, broken down executive chair that tips forward if I don't sit at the VERY back. Reason I'm using a roll pillow to help me stay straight.  I don't want to end up in the floor, and it is a real possibility. I've done it twice already. XD;

Oh, ew no, those are disgusting. I wouldn't touch them with a 50 foot pole, every single one I've ever tried tastes horrible. And I have to be careful about my sugars anyway. Diabetic since I was a teenager, which is one reason I use honey more than anything else. A little goes a long way and that little bit doesn't make my sugar go bonkers.

Do you like salad at all? If so, then maybe you should try eating more of those and other veggies instead of eating all of that junk food. Also as far as drinks go, if you like tea, that would be great to drink. Also like Yuni said, flavored water is also a great thing to drink. As far as other healthy alternatives go, I wish you luck on your goal of fighting those cravings.

gamerforlifeforever2 : I do eat salads (well, I eat 10+ servings of veggies per day so I don't eat a "salad" per say) and that's the worst part. I guess the temptation is just too tempting - my husband told me he had similar urges at a previous job too. I guess my body doesn't like the fasting on the day after...

I will try the flavored water trick as the place has run out of tea, and they only have overly sweet/artificial coffee creamers.