The first question, "What do I want?" often comes as a surprise. But what happens when you try to avoid food you really want—like those Girl Scout Cookies that were delivered after you started your new 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 eat a few more—and a bowl of ice cream—and start over tomorrow. Sound familiar?  

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 when you try to ignore them for too long.  

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.  

In my next post I’ll talk about Question #2: What Do I Need?

Michelle May, M.D. is a recovered yoyo dieter and the award-winning author of Am I Hungry? What To Do When Diets Don't Work. Learn to manage your weight without deprivation and guilt with Dr. May's complimentary mini e-course at [Link Removed]

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