Tips for resisting the foods you like? (High blood pressure)

[Diquescan]

I feel like this might be a silly question, but it also feels like I'm finally facing my own mortality so I'm going to have to ask anyway...

I've just found out my BP is high; I need another test in 4 weeks time and if it hasn't reduced I'll need to get an ecg etc.

I eat pretty badly - lots of bread, cheese, processed stuff, coffee and wine, so there are plenty of lifestyle changes I can make. I'm also going to start running again.

My problem is the psychological side - I'm a very impulsive person, and I'm worried I'm not going to be able to resist my favourite foods even though I really, really want to. So I'm hoping to find some tips for how to avoid craving all those salt-heavy things I reach for without thinking.

Does meditation help? Or is there something heart healthy that's also tasty and snackable I can have on hand? I love hot sauce and the ones I have don't have sodium, so I'm thinking veg and/or chicken with hot sauce would be nice and easy. Any tips gratefully appreciated :)

[Jmommy]

For me it helps to focus on eating plenty of the healthy stuff. I like cashew nuts and almonds, those would be healthy and filling snacks. Also fresh berries are lovely. So for me making sure I fill myself with proper food helps to fight cravings for candy etc. and I do eat 90% chocolate too almost daily (the one from Lindt is by far the best).

Don’t keep the bad foods at home and don’t go to supermarket hungry

[Darklane]

It sounds like you prefer savoury to sweet things? So nuts, unsalted, as the previous poster said are good. Chopped up veg sticks dipped in salsa are good if you make your own without salt instead of buying ready made. Easy to do with a tin of chopped tomatoes, herbs onion, garlic, cook up then keep in the fridge.
I find the only sure fire way of avoiding being tempted is to just not have them in the house, easier to be strong once in the supermarket rather than every time you feel like grabbing something from the cupboard.

[AfterSchoolWorry]

Keto.

[TwoZeroTwoZero]

Google copycat recipes for some of the cooking sauces and takeaways that you like; that way, you can have your favourite things but control the amount of salt you put into it. I did this with Old El Paso quesadilla spice mix.

[Dontdisturbmenow]

I know people 2hose craving have been cut through hypnosis. Two people who were very sceptical but decided to give it a try and are amazed by the results. Both have lost quite a lot of weight.