I am totally with you. I've had a hard time with this diet. I love it because it is simple - I know what I can have, I know what I can't have. I don't have to count calories or kill myself working out. BUT, I too have realized I have a food addiction. I still have cravings, even though I thought after being in ketosis for a while my cravings would stop. A lot of it is psychological, but some of it is physical - I always feel mildly hungry, even an hour or so after I eat. One thing I keep telling myself, that someone else said on this forum, is that it's not never, it's just not now. So last night, when everyone around me was eating pizza, I just thought, the sooner I make it to goal, the sooner I can have my cheat day each week and have a couple slices of pizza.

I've been on IP (alternatives) for six weeks, and my weight loss is slowing, so it's not as motivating for me. But I just try to keep strong. Another thing that helps is not to think about the long term (i.e., it will take me several months till I reach goal), but just to think short term (i.e., I'm hungry right now, but in an hour I can have lunch, so I'm not going to starve).

Tea and decaf coffee help, so does water (a little), but being around food I can't eat is definitely the hardest thing for me.

Stay strong - we can do this!

Thank you Panda! So true. I keep reminding myself that I need to take small steps at a time. Just had a hard day yesterday and I am sure there are more to come. Today is a better day. Thanks for your support!

It is perfectly natural to miss what comforted you. I have used food to feel good for many years now. But you are right, it is an addiction and it is bad for you. You should, in some strange way, welcome these feelings that you are having right now because when you conquer them you will really be on your way to a lifetime of change. When you go on maintenance you will not be looking for comfort, only nutrition.
Change is hard but here you are, doing it and staying strong. Good job!

Oh gosh, I found myself nodding all the way through your post. Emotional eating is a big one for me, too, and it has been very eye opening to experience those days when I am upset or depressed now. It is like I am on the outside of myself, observing. The observer is committed to following the plan and is not hungry. The emotional eater just wants something to soothe those feelings, and in the past that was always food. It was always handy, and quick, and it DID give me a little boost, at first. Of course, later, I was always more depressed, and also upset with myself as well as with whatever else was bothering me. I am coming to realize that the BEST way to feel better is to be really good to myself, first of all by staying strong! That REALLY makes me feel good! In addition, I have done things like take a nap, have a bubble bath, go online and look at the new clothes I will soon be able to buy, and get on this forum and read, read, read. I am so glad that you did not give in, and I will bet YOU are too!!! You are on your way!

I don't do IP, but understand the choice.

This is the problem with food.....you must eat. It isn't the same with smoking or drinking alcohol or doing drugs. <---- choices at first, habit-forming to the point of addiction. Those things can be avoided when/if they become a problem. Food? We MUST eat to live. I feel for all of you on IP or similar diets where certain items are off limits, especially when the world around us is filled with people who can eat them, and do eat them in front of us. While I don't struggle with your personal situation, I do live with a man who buys Entenmann's cakes weekly, and "10 for $10" bags of potato chips. There are on a daily basis 2 boxes of cake product in my home, chips, pretzels, cookies, ice cream. During October, the Halloween candy was purchased on October 3rd....and as he and my daughter consumed a bag, it was replaced by 2! I KNOW what it is you're going through, just not to the degree.

What can I offer you by way of support? Well, you are not alone in your dilemma, that is for sure. Knowing that has to help.

Also, you mentioned reaching your "cheat day" and that is something to look forward to.

That this way of eating is a means to an end is another way to look at it. It won't be forever, right? I have often wondered what happens to people on IP when they reach maintenance.

I give you and all the IPers major kudos for choosing the program and I wish you success and strength.

You can do it. You're doing it.

You didn't like the way you felt and looked before starting IP, but that doesn't mean you don't mourn the comfort the food gave you. Now it's time to let those comfort feelings go and realize what they were doing to you.

You started at just about the same weight I started. I know at just 3 1/2 weeks in this diet can still be challenging, but look how far you have come in just 3 1/2 weeks. I have been on IP almost 5 months now and it really does become second nature. Of course I'm looking forward to maintenance, but for the most part it hasn't been a bad ride at all, and down right fun watching the scale move down. I started this diet wearing size 24 jeans, and yesterday I bought myself size 16 jeans. That was so much more satisfying than a couple slices of pizza any day.

When I started IP I told myself I could do anything for a year. And here I am almost half way through my year and at about that point I should be half way to goal. I have always broken down my diet to 10 pound goals, much easier that way and more fun too.

I totally know how you feel. When I switched my family from what we were eating (pretty much the standard American diet) to all whole foods, fresh, local, organic, whole grains my husband lost 15 lbs no problem (and he didn't really need to lose any weight!) I stayed the same. I'm still fixing that food for my family, every day, because I'm the one who needs to lose weight, not them. I did have moments where I though "this isn't fair!", but soon realized that once I get the weight off I will again be able to join them in eating 'regular' food. I will never go back to the way I was eating, but things will change, this is NOT forever.

Wuv.... you always know exactly what to say!

Thanks for sharing this. I feel the exact same way. It's one thing to change your eating habits, but on days when you are having a hard time and don't have a replacement "comfort", it just sucks. Some days I find this to be a breeze and others, when I'm bored, lonely, overthinking etc I find it to be a challenge. I try to get myself busy and usually call my mum for a chat at that point. She's able to talk me through whatever I may be feeling. I went out for a friends birthday last night and didn't have any drinks or food and left earlier. Truth be told it was a major bummer for me, so that's why I left. Some scenario's are just too hard to be around right now. Keep your end goal in mind, remember this is temporary, and that we're all in the same boat *hugs*

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate all of your perspectives and support. I feel the same day about a lot of things you all have mentioned. I am in this for the long haul and sometimes I need those little reminders.

I really needed this post today. I am having the same feelings and the replies here are very helpful.

Not that I want someone else feeling the same way but I find comfort that I am not alone!

I just want to add that I stopped eating the "OhYeah" bars (I've been doing alternatives instead of IP). I realized they had corn syrup in them - way down on the list of ingredients, but still there. I think my body had gone out of ketosis? I don't know, but the last two days I've been feeling MUCH better, and definitely not as hungry or having as many cravings.

mtnsun4 - are you using only IP or alternatives as well?