It's my first week (back) on IP again and i'm suffering from terrible terrible cravings! I thought it might help to get some feed back from fellow IP'ers to see what you do in times like these! help
any suggestions/comments are appreciated!

Sorry to hear that. The weekends are so tough too! It crossed my mind to order pizza tonight - had to remind myself that pizza will not be an option for a looong time. What are you craving?

yeah
honestly the question is - what am i NOT craving haha.
I work at a restaurant which makes things completely worse.
I mostly just crave something sweet. I try to eat one of the bars when I get like that which works for a while but it still comes back :/

I am on day 4 of IP and having a very hard time keeping with it. Went Trick or Treating last night and SO BADLY wanted an Almond Joy! I had actually made up my mind that I was going to eat one and then found Chocolate Soy Puffs and instead ate those as my "halloween candy". It was torture. My carb cravings right now are out of control and there is nothing I am doing to "substitute" them because I honestly have no idea right now how I would.... I'm just forcing myself to say "Those are the things that made me fat. Those are the things that made me in the place I am right now and one day in the future I can have them again, but not right now". It has worked... I have not cheated once!

What works for me when I get sweet cravings is eating a dill pickle. For some reason, that totally kills the craving for me.

Yeah, it is very hard. I felt the same way on halloween
as far as carbs go, have you tried making the potato puree they make now, or like a smashed cauliflower or making a spaghetti squash? if you make those right they can be pretty tasty!
I totally know how you feel about the carbs though, i always feel like im just eating the same thing over and over again and sometimes find myself just wanting to give up.. but I just remind myself IP is pretty much the fastest weight loss system out there right now so hopefully ill get to my goal weight sooner than later!

good idea...now i need to go to the store to buy some!

A few ideas:

1. if cravings come after 7pm, go to bed early (nighttime is a dangerous time), often when you wake up, the cravings are gone.
2. have a cup of decaf coffee with some IP choc drink and cinnamon mixed in, you can sip it for a long time and it will kill your appetite.
3. drink water with herb tea bags (I like cinnamon apple spice) sometimes cravings happen because you are thirsty.
4. take some vitamins then drink water (sometimes vitamin deficiencies can cause cravings).
5. have a full IP chocolate drink (tastes like you are cheating and cures that sweet tooth) ... you can even partially freeze it and eat it like ice cream
6. in a full freak-out emergency, have an extra 4 oz of lean protein or an extra IP ... it's better than cheating with carbs/sugar/fat

thanks! Ill try those

At least two of you are in the first week. This is totally normal because you are having severe calorie reduction and ketosis has not kicked in yet. That is why you can have an extra pkg a day in the first week. Once ketosis starts the ultra strong cravings go away.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH is NOT a veggie for P1 (nor 2 or 3). It is a winter squash so too high in carbs. You can shred zucchini into "noodles" to mimic spaghetti and it's quite satisfying!

oh yes you are right, I don't eat squash which is why I probably forgot its not on the IP phase one! whoops

I remember it taking a few weeks before the cravings were really under control but with each passing day they got less intense. The payoff for your hard work is right around the corner! Keep it up you will be so glad you did!

as far as specific suggestions, there were times when I had to practically sit on my hands to keep from extra snacking. Just muscling through it. I love Avalon's ideas too.

good luck you can do it!

I read somewhere (likely on Pinterest) that if you are having cravings, take 100 sips of water. Keeps your mind busy, and by the time you are done, you are full.

One thing I have found really satisfying to get thru some of the carb cravings is mashed cauliflower! Sounds disgusting but it is almost like mashed potatoes, just season it up. That has really helped me stay OP.