I need help!!! Almost every month, I have my horrible sweet cravings. I want to eat everything in sight, that is chocolate or just sweet in general. Sometimes I can control it, but otherwise LOOK OUT.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle these? What type of foods do you eat when you are at this point?
I follow the WW program and they came out with these WW chocolate type cakes that are low calories just 1 point. I bought some at Alberstons and ate the whole box through the course of 3 days (TOM). Guilt-free!
i use the 100 calorie packs or the Quaker Chewy bars. THey have a smores and a choc chunk that are oh so good, and the good thing is that 1 bar fixes my seet tooth no matter how bad it is. THey are low in cal and fat.
I become pretty much insatiable around this time. The only things I've found that work to cut my cravings (and mood swings, etc) is really intense cardio. Doing about 45 minutes and really working up a sweat helps almost all of my TOM problems.
Also, even more than usual I try to keep the bad foods out of the house so that I won't be too tempted.
Peanut butter usually cures my sweet tooth. Right out the jar! Just one scoop though.
Also, I'm a bar freak. I like Zone bars, especially the Chocolate Coconut. And I stumbled across these Hershey's SmartZone bars... The Peanut Butter Chocolate is delicious! Tastes just like a candy bar. I found them at Walmart on clearance for 50 cents. I bought the whole box... LOL.
Wow thanks gals. These are some great ideas. I have tried the 100 calorie packs and the Special K chocolate bars. But I always go back for more! The peanut butter sounds like a good idea. I love PB!
sugar free chocolate pudding (the choc/vanilla swirl is my favorite), also try replacing a snack with a balance or luna bar, but watch the nutritional info carefully. I have learned that I can eat dark chocolate without eating excessive amounts (one of the few things I can do this with!). The week before the craving will hit and I will keep a bar in my freezer, grabbing a piece when I need one. It makes it harder to eat when it's frozen, but I get my chocolate fix.
I need help!!! Almost every month, I have my horrible sweet cravings. I want to eat everything in sight, that is chocolate or just sweet in general. Sometimes I can control it, but otherwise LOOK OUT.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle these? What type of foods do you eat when you are at this point?
Personally, I think it's a counter-productive weightloss strategy to feed a sweet-tooth. Rather, look at what prompts cravings during TOM. It's been my experience that TOM cravings are related to a) need for more lean protein (I think some TOM-induced cravings is the body's way of calling for replacement of the tissue lost during this time), b) need for magnesium (craving chocolate which is rich in magnesium can be a clue), and c) hormone havoc. While you can't do much about C, you can certainly address A & B by increasing your lean protein in the week leading into and during your TOM as well as taking a chelated magnesium supplement (about 400mg daily). This would address the underlying cause rather than the feeding the sweet craving - which can often lead to over-eating the sweets.
Frankly, the US diet is top-heavy in the sweets/sugared foods and anything you can do to re-train your taste buds AWAY from such a sweet diet will stand you in good stead when you get to goal. Been there, learned that.
How to stop TOM cravings
chocolate. I'm just like you. 
