Why Can’t I Crave Exercise Instead of Chocolate?

Sometimes I believe I am missing a gene. Why can’t I crave exercise instead of chocolate? I do not think I have ever enjoyed exercising, and it doesn’t seem fair! I would love to get the “high” runners talk about after a long jog. If only I were a jogger!

Do you ever wish you had a healthy obsession? The word obsession connotates something negative, making a healthy obsession an oxymoron. Nevertheless, let’s pretend that you can have a healthy obsession. What would yours be?

Do You Crave Exercise?

I want to crave exercise; I do. However, I believe that’s impossible at this point. There were various points in my life when I belonged to a gym and exercised. However, I never liked it. I switched to walking and found that more tolerable. Exercise has never been my thing.

And therein lies the problem. Hence, the reference, as mentioned earlier, to a missing gene.

In high school, you had the “jocks” and the “smart kids.” I didn’t fit into either community. I was athletic enough that I looked fabulous in gym class; however, I was never a star athlete—ditto for the smarts. I was an above-average student but nowhere near straight A’s.

I found my niche by writing sports for the school newspaper. The cool kids (jocks) accepted me because I was always around them, covering their games. Pretty slick how I was part of the jocks’ world and never exercised.

Now that I am a grown (somewhat) older adult, I wish I exercised. It would be perfect for me since I am a cancer survivor, and I would feel better overall (so they say). Unfortunately, I have no stamina. I believe chemotherapy sucked it right out of me. It’s embarrassing how easily I tire.

Equally important, chemotherapy did not zap my chocolate craving. Why couldn’t it have relieved me of that and left my stamina alone? Alas, only a question the “Big Guy” can answer. I cannot help myself – I had to point this out here.

We all have cravings, some bad and some good. The trick is to find a balance between healthy ones and unhealthy ones.

Definition of Craving

crav·ing

/ˈkrāviNG/

noun

plural noun: cravings

1. a powerful desire for something. “a craving for chocolate.”
2. Similar: longing, yearning, hankering, hunger, hungering, thirst, pining

Can Cravings Be Related to Vitamins?

Yes, I agree that I sometimes have a powerful desire for chocolate. However, I do not always give in to it, primarily for fear of becoming too round. I found an article claiming cravings may be due to vitamin deficiencies. Here’s a link for it: https://facty.com/lifestyle/wellness/food-cravings-and-vitamin-deficiencies/.

I found this article to be fascinating! There is much more detail to read if you click the above link. Below are eight cravings they listed and the vitamin deficiencies that may be the culprit. I am definitely upping my vitamin game after reading this article!

Cravings vs. Vitamin Deficiencies

• Salty Foods – Calcium
• Citrus Fruits – Vitamin C
• Sugary Foods – Vitamin D
• Ice Cube Munching – Iron
• Chocolate/Sweets – Vitamin B12, Magnesium, Potassium
• Heavy Menstrual Cycles – Iodine
• Fried Foods – Omega 3 Fatty Acids
• Carb Loaded Foods – Vitamin B6

“Food cravings arise to satisfy emotional needs, such as calming stress and reducing anxiety,”

Adam Drewnowski, PHD

Food Cravings Have Emotional Ties

I was recently at a party, and we shared where we grew up (while floating in the pool). A woman I had just met said she grew up in Bellerose and still remembers the cream puffs her neighbor, Mrs. D’Onofrio used to make. She automatically associated food with her childhood! Side note: I am friendly with two of Mrs. Donofrio’s daughters. Such a small world! But I digress.

When my mind wanders to my grandmother, I immediately think of her pineapple cream pie, making me smile. I am emotionally attached to the foods she made for us, bringing me instant warmth.

According to an article on WebMD, food cravings often have something to do with emotion and desire. The cravings are literally all in our heads. Food cravings usually kick in to help us calm stress and reduce anxiety.

This article, https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-facts-about-food-cravings, offers seven tips on reducing cravings as well as information on a scientific craving study performed on rats. Rather than listing all seven tips here, I would like to focus on #7, Take Care of Yourself.

Evidently, we all could use a good dose of nurturing. Instead of reaching for that candy bar or piece of cake, we need to pamper ourselves to mitigate our chocolate cravings! Here is what they suggest:

• Treat yourself to a facial
• Meet a friend for coffee
• Read a good book or magazine.
• Get a massage
• Get a pedicure 
• Take a hike — literally!

Now we’re talking, right? I would love to do any of these things instead of eating a chocolate bar. Who wouldn’t? It feels so good to be pampered. When I think about it, my chocolate cravings are when I am under stress or something personal is affecting me. It seems too simple to be true.

Cravings Are Not Random

Researching cravings has been quite interesting for me. I hope you have enjoyed some of the tidbits I uncovered and that you’ll get to use them soon. Chocolate cravings will still pop up for me; however, I feel more prepared to handle them.

Please do not think I will be putting off my chocolate cravings for good now. I am sure there will be some days I will indulge my cravings. We all should–we only live once!

On a different note, I did see a Gif somewhere talking about couch yoga for senior citizens. I am wondering if I could do that. At least it would be something.

Please comment below if anything I have said today resonates with you. I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Remember to keep candy bars in your cooler, just sayin’.