Calorie & Fat Comparisons - White Meat vs Dark

Calorie & Nutritional Showdown - Donuts vs Bagels

Calories Burned Climbing Stairs Based on Weight

Symptoms of Diabetes

The Melon Diet

The Natural Diet Plan

The No Diet

The Pyramid Diet™

The Sugar Pit in the Old Diet Trail

The Symptoms of Alcoholism

The Vegetable Group

Time for Some Low Calorie Recipes

Tired of Trying to Lose Weight

Tortilla Soup Recipes

Using Grapefruit for Weight Loss

Weight Gain - How 'It' Happens

Appetite vs Cravings

Highlighting the Trail to Weight Loss Success

Have you ever had a would do? hankering for a special something when only that special something Chocolate, cookies, peanut butter, hot buttered popcorn - just a few favorite special somethings that many of us wouldn't want to live without.

If you've had this feeling - and most of us have, then you probably recognize that it's not the same feeling that one gets when they are truly hungry. It's a situation of Cravings vs Appetite.

However, many times before we pause to determine if what we are feeling is actually appetite or cravings, it's already too late. Wham, bam, thank you spam. So the next time that you feel in the mood for a special something and only that special something will do, the following might help you quickly determine if what you are experiencing is true appetite or a food craving:

 True appetite isn't a picky devil. Most any food will do when one is truly hungry.

 If that special something is a liquid, reflect upon your diet thus far today. Did it contain a lot of salt? If so, your body might be really craving water rather than a sugar-filled liquid. Drinking water can help speed the release of pent-up water from the body due to sodium intake.

 Are you getting all the necessary nutrients in your daily diet? If not, the body may be crying out for help via a particular food.

 If that special something happens to be pickles and ice cream AND you're female, you may be experiencing something a bit more than food cravings. It's 'hello doctor' time.

The Importance of Determining Appetite & Cravings

Food cravings tend to pack on pounds whereas true appetite is a call for energy needed by the body. However, if you find that you are continually craving food, please give your doctor a buzz because this is one of the more pronounced symptoms of diabetes.

And if it's a simple case of food cravings, grab a diet soda and hang back for a while. Even if you decide to indulge, you are practicing control which in turn can assist you in mastering your food intake.