Think you've tried every trick to squash food cravings? Try this new strategy:
Muscle through it: Next time a craving hits, make a fist or firm those biceps for a surge in willpower - then walk away. This technique helped people choose a healthier snack in an April 2011 study in the Journal of Consumer Research. Why does it work? When we're determined to do something, like eke out the last difficult rep while lifting weights, we instinctively clench our muscles. In the same way, intentionally flexing a muscle can help us tap into that willpower, says study co-author Aparna Labroo, Ph.D.
Eating Well Feb 2012