Conquering food cravings is vital to the success of your diet and weight-loss plan. No matter what diet plan you are on, you will inevitably face cravings.

Everything seems to be going along smoothly; you're doing great on your diet plan, and then you have a bad day or go to a movie and your brain demands a pint of ice cream or hot, buttery popcorn. The success or failure of your diet depends on being able to conquer food cravings.

Some cravings are legitimate cravings or signals that your body is sending. If you suddenly feel dizzy or exhausted, your body could be telling you it is protein-deprived -- but that doesn't mean it is asking for a Whopper and fries. On the other hand, wanting hot, buttery popcorn at the movies is an emotional or psychological craving. Learning to differentiate between the two types of cravings is vital to understanding your body. Now that you know the types of cravings, you need to know how to conquer them.

Drink plenty of water. Water plays a vital part in your body's health. Dehydration can cause a magnitude of health problems and even minor dehydration can make you feel hungry. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to feel fuller and ward off cravings. When you feel a craving coming on, reach for a glass of water and drink it down before submitting to your craving -- it could make a difference.