I'll be honest: I don't get as many cravings by daylight-I'm like a vampire... I hunger at night!
Seriously, though, with the extra hour of sleep afforded me in Illinois this week, I'm happy to see the sun rising a little sooner, but I really miss having the sun up after 5pm. A sunset at 4:30pm just seems wrong! And it means there are that many more hours of darkness for me to hunger through, rather than walk through. I'm in a hurry to get my steps in by this time, because it's not just the darkness that gets me, it's the COLD.
Despite being a skier and avid outdoor enthusiast,I hate the cold (this is why I love expensive jackets, pants and gloves that keep me warm). But I understand that, just like the darkness, it has its place. My role is to learn to manage my resistance- to wear the right gear and make the right moves to stay warm and dry and having fun.
Food cravings are similar - they serve a purpose. For example, this weekend I was craving hot chocolate anda Juicy burger, so I incorporated some healthy hot cocoa and an adobada salad into my weekend meals. Lo and behold, by Monday, I realized thesecrazings were an indicator of that time of the month for me!
Sure enough, women burn an additional 300-500 more calories at this time- hence the cravings. Our bodies also burn more calories in the cold, and even at Altitude. I'm not sure about the dark, but it makes sense that any sort of fear or anxiety response will initially serve to rev metabolism before resulting in an overdose of stress hormones, like cortisol, that contribute to the spare tire around one's belly that never seems to get changed!
My point is: like daylight savings, these cravings serve a purpose. Have you figured out what your craving's purpose is? Try digging a little deeper this week, and using new solutions to solve your old problems in the food department. Your body and your bet will thank you!!