Cravings
 

It's only day one back and I am already craving things! What do you guys crave the most and how do you get over it? Right now since it's late my weapon will be sleep!

The first few weeks were the hardest for me craving-wise. I don't have any great advice except to just white-knuckle through it. Do whatever you have to do to get your mind off of it. I will purposely do things where I can't eat while I'm doing them- like pain my nails, run, help in the garden, take a shower, etc. Sleep is a good one too ;). Focus on your goals and why it's all worth it and know it will get better with time!

Hang in there!

You really do have to just push through it. The longer you resist, the easier it gets, because the more you eat sugar/salt/whatever, the more you crave it. So without that stuff in your system, you'll want it less. Don't worry - it gets better!

I push the cravings away. Me personally, I cannot have one bite, or I'm going to eat the whole thing.
A lot of people are like this.

So true for me.

Im the same...if I start eating cookies I will eat them until they are finished..unfortunately, I am not normal and will always struggle with this..I really envy my friends that can have "normal" treat things laying around their house..me? No way.

btw, the cravings do leave if you are careful....when I started I REALLY wish I had known about the Glycemic Index of foods....Google it and read about it if you don't know already! If you are having trouble with cravings it can become your best friend.

Right?? My tiny best friend has a candy drawer, that she rarely dips into. I eat candy when I buy it!

I'm the same.

although this time around, i have no idea why, but i have no cravings. zero. it's so weird. i guess i don't wanna jinx it, but lol! i think it my have to do with my having cuz pretty much everything that's processed sugar out of my diet... if you don't eat sugar, you don't crave it. pretty much the only sweet things i've eaten in the last 2 weeks are fruit and yogurt... i tried to eat ice cream last weekend and it made me sick! :p

also i think a good thing, when you are getting a craving, is go do something else! it'll probably pass.

It doesn't happen as much anymore, but when I was starting out I would look at the calories of the treat I wanted, and try to imagine fitting that into my day's calories. Normally it would come to the decision of having a bit of chocolate/cake/cookies/whatever or having the better part of a better-for-you and more filling meal, it got a lot easier to resist the temptation. Either that, or visualizing how long I'd have to exercise to burn off that many calories made the treat not worth it. :P

but sweets are definitely my downfall. I agree with everyone else: once you haven't had them for a while, the cravings get a lot weaker. :) Keep strong! Those treats will still be there when you're maintaining, so don't feel too deprived.. think of it as a brief hiatus. ;)

For me I went through a detox period. I knew that I needed to kick my sugar craving to the curb so for about a week I let myself eat whatever healthy food I wanted (and didn't watch portion sizes) but absolutely no sweets (or fruit). After that I worked on portion sizes but it helped me to do it as a slow process so I didn't go completely insane.

As for dealing with the cravings themselves. I started drinking a lot more cofffee and tea when it was really bad. That and I would try and do something like remove myself from the environment (go for a walk, read a book whatever to distract myself!).

Thanks for all the great advice :) currently I'm hungry for an egg which is a lot better than some things!

Thanks for all the great advice :) currently I'm hungry for an egg which is a lot better than some things!

For the first week all I wanted was pizza and ice cream!!!

All I want is fried food. So far today hasn't been so bad other than that egg but it doesn't fit into my day so I know whats for breakfast tomorrow! lol

I just finished 10 days successfully. I could eat a truck. I'm definitely still craving. I feel that for the first 2-3 weeks of a diet you will crave. I'm praying it gets better quickly too. I went to a baby shower this afternoon, and dipped out before they cut the cake because I know I wouldnt be able to say no. I also know that my friends would be like "oh liz, just eat it and get back on tomorrow" but they don't know that once I blow a diet, there's no turning back. I had 1/4 of a peanut butter bar. I'm still estimating it was about 130-150 calories, but it tasted HEAVANLY!!! Stay strong for me!!! Like I said, I'm only entering day 11, so i'm definitely in my "critical period" lol :o)

I feel the same way! I sit around sometimes and see how they can have ice cream and fast food, I'm just there like you Motha Flippers! I always say to myself that its for my own good, in the long run I'll benefit from not eating that stuff.

I have been craving kitkats lately. :( As of this moment I am chewing sugar free gum. That seems to help with the cravings sometimes.

i seriously feel like i could write a whole book about cravings, how horrible i have them, what i want, etc... i'd have a whole chapter dedicated to dreaming about a chipotle burrito. Another chapter for Cold Stone. UGH

My life-saver so far when the sugar cravings hit has been SF zero calorie peach tea :) My body (and mind!) are conditioned to WANT dessert after each meal so it has literally been a life support for me thus far - I use the Target brand, 1 small tub of mix makes 2 quarts that lasts me about a week. Can't live without it! I'm sipping on some right now to distract myself from the 2 dozen chocolate Vitatops that UPS just dropped off at my door :lol:

Omg! I hear you, tacos and cold stone are major weaknesses for me... I'm glad I have the will power I have though.

I usually crave salty things....not too many sweets, but I do want chocolate every now and then. I usually try to drink some coffee with splenda and a little bit of creamer or a cup of Earl Gray with splenda. I also chew Extra gum if I feel like I need to snack.