So I'm nearing the end of day 6, and I had a great IP approved dinner...but now, as I sit here, I feel the craving for food sink in. I realize that I'm not "hungry" - and I don't think there's anything emotional causing me to have these cravings, but I would love some peanut butter or cheese on crackers...chips...chocolate...I even opened a nutrigrain bar and almost bit it...it's like heroin!

Has anyone else had these massive cravings? I went to get the ketosis strips today, and our wal-mart was out of them... I don't think I'm in ketosis, but if I have many more of these cravings I may not be able to curb them forever!

Get out of the house and go for a walk (distraction), drink more water (fill yourself up) and, if necessary, add an extra IP food (something snack-like to suit your cravings like a bar or chocolate soy puffs). It's better to eat an extra IP pack than to eat any of the snacks mentioned above. Stay strong and keep focused on the end goal...is a nutrigrain bar or any of the other things you've listed worth throwing away 6 days worth of sticking to the protocol? Good luck...you can do it!

The cravings will go away eventually...my coach was telling me that it takes approximatly 10-15days and your taste buds will like reset themselves, this way you won't be craving the "bad" food anymore and will want something better for you like veggies. Not sure if this is true but it sure sounds good and it got me through my cravings for bread lol

i think it's normal because I was doing the exact same thing. I was making a list in my head of all the places I'd like to pig out at when I've reached my goal. The list was huge. I'm day 12 only, and I'm doing just fine. Of course there are foods I miss and I think about, but I think that's only natural?

I think this is a normal response. No matter what I was told, and I had a fairly easy start to this, I still had cravings. The odd thing was I craved things I DIDN'T normally like. That made it easy for me to see it was my body seeking "quick energy" which it had become addicted to and not my really needing any of it.

Have the extra IP packet if it keeps you focused on the program. Have a hard boiled egg. Have a small (1 or 2 oz portion of meat). Increase your omega 3/6/9 oil intake. Have hot tea ( I take an herb tea that helps with bowels and it is "chocolate flavored" or water.

Take a hot bath or do something like needlework to keep your hands busy and yourself focus on something else

You CAN get through this. Figure out what you are craving and what it represents. If you are really hungry eat a plan appropriate food. From what you said you want, you seem to be craving a lot of salt, a large bit of fat, and a touch of sugar all in carb bases. Try increasing your omega oil or olive oil and adding more salt to your diet. For crunchy, make some kale, zuchini or turnip chips. You can have walden farms chocolate syrup and peanut butter. if you take the two, and put dollops of them on a small cookie tray, and freeze it for awhile you get an emergency style candy. It doesn't taste real, don't think it will, but it can do the trick for some people.

the fact that you know that your dieting makes you crave more foods.
just drink water make yourself fool and try doing other things to keep you busy.
clean, go out walk, hang out with a friend, anything to keep mind off food

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement everyone...I made it through without cheating, but I hope it doesn't get that bad again.

I'll have to start taking omegas, and hopefully that will help. I was wondering also, since yesterday was the first day I've had beef on this diet, if anyone else feels the hunger more after beef than poultry or seafood... I'm probably grasping here, but if all I need to do is not eat beef - then I will absolutely do it!