The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

As Glasgow gets ready for the arrival of the Commonwealth Games, we may find ourselves being swept up in the sporting atmosphere and encouraged to improve our own health and fitness by getting involved in sport and aiming to exercise and eat healthily. However, this can be difficult when we are constantly exposed to temptation in our everyday lives, and we may find that our cravings can overtake our good intentions.

The OlympicsOfficial Sponsors of The Olympics and Commonwealth Games

Events like the Commonwealth Games are big business for all involved, and companies will be keen to place their brand alongside these events to encourage fans of the games to buy their products. There have been instances when sporting events have been sponsored by companies who do not necessarily resonate with the healthy lifestyle promoted by the athletes. Most notably in recent years, the London 2012 Olympics listed Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Cadbury as sponsors of the event. Indeed, one of the official supporters of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is Barr, who are the company behind Scotland’s most famous fizzy drink, Irn Bru. Barr also make other flavours of drinks, all of which star in one of the television advertisements for the 2014 games.

While this may seem harmless, there is some cause for concern with the selection of these companies as sponsors for events which promote health and fitness. Through advertising, we will be constantly exposed to these companies, which could make ignoring our cravings difficult.

Strawberries at WimbledonGuide to Surviving Cravings

If all the advertising does make it difficult for you, here is our guide to overcoming your cravings and embracing a healthy lifestyle throughout the games and beyond.

  • Drink plenty of water: often when we feel hungry we are actually dehydrated. If cravings hit, drink a glass of water instead.
  • Make sure you get plenty of sleep and exercise: a good night’s sleep and an active lifestyle will help you curb your cravings because you will have enough energy to sustain you throughout the day without having to rely on snacks.
  • Know your cravings: by understanding when your cravings are likely to occur, and what kinds of foods you crave, you are already in a better position to be able to deal with them. For example, if you know you always crave a sugary snack whilst watching television in the evening, consider healthy alternatives like fruit or natural yoghurt with honey. Having a plan of action will help you to substitute your cravings for a healthier alternative.
  • Develop an eating routine: if you find you are snacking a lot, it may help to set some ground rules about when and where you eat. For example, make a rule to only eat at the dinner table. If you can get into the habit of only eating when you are sitting down at the table, you may find you will be less inclined to snack whilst out and about or sitting in front of the television.

If you find your cravings are controlling you and you feel you are struggling to cope with them, The Green Rooms can help. We offer Neuro-Linguistic Programming which can help you have control over your cravings. We also offer Weight Loss Psychotherapy if you would like to lose weight and need extra support and understanding of yourself.

In the meantime, we hope you all enjoy the games!