Yesterday I told you that there are three questions you should ask before you decide what to eat.

The first question, “What do I want?” may come as a surprise because people are often afraid they’ll lose control when they eat what they really want. But what happens when you try to avoid something you’re craving—like those Girl Scout Cookies that were delivered right after you started a low-carb diet?

First, you check the label and confirm that they’re off limits so you put them in the freezer. Two days later they whisper to you from their hiding place, “Pssst. We’re in here!” You manage to resist them, instead munching on some olives, four cubes of cheese, a hunk of leftover meatloaf with a side of celery sticks, two pieces of low-carb toast—and yet you still don’t feel satisfied.

“Hey! We’re in here and we taste great frozen!” You finally give in and have two Thin Mints®. Blew it again! Might as well finish the sleeve—and a bowl of ice cream—and start over tomorrow. Sound familiar?

Deprivation and guilt are two of the most powerful triggers for overeating. Instead, keep in mind that all foods fit into a healthy diet. Thinking about what you really want to eat without judging yourself will keep you from feeling deprived and out of control when you choose to eat certain foods.

You might be worried that if you ask yourself what you’re really hungry for, you’ll always choose foods you “shouldn’t.” At first this might seem true, since cravings tend to get stronger if you’ve tried to ignore them for a long time. But once you let go of the guilt about eating certain foods, you’ll find that you want a variety of foods to feel healthy and satisfied.

Join me for an 8-week Spirit of Women/Am I Hungry? weight management workshop at Banner Desert Medical Center. Send an email to info@amihungry.com or visit http://www.AmIHungry.com.