I'm looking for a little reassurance here or something.

This is going too well and I'm getting nervous (what makes you think I'm a natural pessimist?)

I started reducing my carbs on Saturday and Sunday ready to start P1 properly on Monday July 11.

I've been having overwhelming food cravings since I cant remember when, virtually every day have needed sugar/fast carbs, something like that, and its been an intense craving that wouldnt go away. So I'd end up bingeing on sweets and pastries etc. I've also felt constantly hungry for as long as I can remember. Even an hour after a meal, I'd feel hungry. Thats how I gained 64 pounds.

Since Sunday, I've had very few cravings. In fact I cant even label what I experienced as a craving - it was just a quick thought like "oh a piece of french bread would be good with this" . But it passed.
I'm not hungry either - when I get a little bit hungry I have a snack.

I feel good - a little hungry and spaced out in the morning when I first get up, fine when I have eaten breakast.

It seems to be going too well - I'm not fighting the urge to binge, or feeling like I could eat all the food in England, or anything. This is for the first time in years.

Sorry this is so long.
What I mean is, this is way too easy. I'm waiting for a fall.

Oh and I had Taco Bake (just a quarter portion) for my breakfast this morning - is that permitted?

It doesn't have to be hard to work. I'm glad to hear it is working so well.

And, yes, you can eat anything for breakfast that is an allowed food. Taco Bake sounds good for breakfast!

Hi Artemis, I know how you feel wondering when the other shoe will fall. It is a little short of miracle to be craving free.. such a weird "unnatural" feeling".. I can relate. You are doing so well... It really has been easy for some of us..perhaps this is our body's way of saying we are on the right track..
Good 4 U ..

Barbara, the Taco Bake was very good for breakfast. I've always been a traditional cereal or eggs girl at breakfast time - but I just reheated it for around 15 minutes and it was delicious

Schatzi - thats a point. Perhaps this is my body's way of letting me know this is the right way for me? I've tried low-fat, WW, you name it and always been hungry. Maybe this one just works with my body chemistry.

It is certainly little short of a miracle to be craving free - its a scary sensation as you say!

I do miss my "cawfee", as you would say though

I'm with you Artemis. I might not have much to lose but I've never felt in control of my eating-one twizzler ALWAYS equaled the entire bag (talking those BIG bags), 1 cookie always lead to a sleeve or at least 2 rows-same with crackers. And forget baked goods-anything that could be cut by the "sliver" was eaten standing, at the counter, till I had waaaay more than I intended (banana bread, brownies, rice Krispy treats etc...) I always bought food under the guise of "the kids will like it" when really it was MY fave and they barely got any. And I hated all the constant internal debating over whether or not I should eat something...

Not only do I not have any cravings BUT I don't have any trouble passing up food that's infront of me-donuts, french fries, goldfish, ice cream sandwiches etc...I've done WW (and actually made Lifetime status) but most of my points went towards my cravings as opposed to nutritious foods (which is NOT how the program was set up but it made it too easy for me to use 1/2 my calories on crap)

I too am kind of leary of when they will return-will Phase 2 throw me for a loop? WIll an apple make me crave candy? Hope not. Aside from the "detox" one thing I'm getting out of this Phase as I see you are as well, is I know what foods will keep me full and which ones will leave me starving-this knowledge is great for future crave control.

Sounds like you're doing great. (I JUST had the Taco Bake for dinner and my kids LOVED it-they had it on tortillas-never thought I'd get them to eat a mushroom or refried beans-lol)

Artemis- This is day #3 for me, almost day #4 and sometimes I forget I am on a "diet". I am trying to call this a life change and not a diet though. Anyhow like you I have tried everything from my own plan to Atkins to Medifast. I was always like this is it, this is going to work and it wouldnt. This time I was very pessimisstic and was worried about failing before I started. And these 3 days have gone very well considering how differently I am eating. Most of my cravings and the rise and fall of me staving and feeling faint are almost gone. I do sometimes get a little hungry and I just have a snack like some cucumbers and lots of water and feel better. I cant help but wonder if I am doing everything right if I am at day #3 and havent had one episode of crying and feeling like I was going to die from not being able to have what I wanted. Hopefully this is our bodys way of saying we have found the right plan!
Kimberly

PS I never thought I would like the Taco Bake but ended up loving it! Hubby loved it too. Had it for lunch and a snack one day from left over dinner. Normally HATE ff cheese and put ff chedder on and I couldnt tell the difference.

Kimberly

Kimberly:

I also did Medifast--lost 70 lbs (and some of my hair). Plus it gave me heart palps. Not good. The weight loss was great, but I did not learn a thing about eating properly!!

You girls are doing great!!!! Today is my 14th day of Phase 1. I am doing it one more week, because I ate something the first few days that I thought I could eat, but can't (summer sausage). Anyway...you are right about not craving stuff...and I still don't crave stuff. I do look at somethings and say "wow that looks good", but then I look at my body and say"well, not that good"...Keep up the good work. With each others support, we can all do it!!

It's amazing how changing a few things really cuts out the cravings and the highs and lows in the energy.

Before SBD, I always had candy every where, in all my pockets, purses, bags, drawers, and always knew where everyone kept their stash. Because I'd get this energy low shortly after lunch and I'd be exhausted and fighting sleep at the computer, shoot a couple times I set a timer and just took a 10 minute nap because I'd be so exhausted. Or I'd get horrible headaches/nausea/ have-to-eat-something-now feelings an hour after eating because I was eating all the wrong foods. I was always hungry.

Since I changed what I ate I don't have the major ups and downs anymore. It's great and I've been at it for a year and a half. I've never been able to keep the weight off before and this has been wonderfully easy. (Except for my first Thanksgiving/Christmas. I learned quite a lot and won't be repeating that fiascal. )

You can do this!
Sarah

Jen- I did medifast for about a week. I literally could not take the food it was making me gag. There was nothing I liked except one of the fruit bars. And for how expensive it was I decided not to go any further on it. I agree it doesnt teach about how to eat after Medifast well.

Sarah- I totally agree with you. I used to be hungry all the time and have my ups and downs. I would go all morning without food until I got hungry usuauly around lunch and then was starving and felt faint and would have to eat everything just to feel better. I have been hungry a few times but in these 4 days I have never felt faint and starving like I once always did before. That is a miracle in itself. You sound like you a doing great!!

Kimberly

Just my own builds to Sarahyu's...
3 or 4 day's of the week I would get terrible heartburn.. of course I first looked to some "medical condition", instead of focusing in on what I was eating and when.. Let me "blame" GERD or acid reflux and take a pill. Since I started SB I haven't had heart burn at all. Sarah, I'd probably be crawled up next to you for those mid afternoon naps too.. Around 2-3 o'clock , after a soft pretzel for lunch, I would just feel like someone literally drugged me.. Now I have so much energy,its a wonderful exhiliarating and empowering feeling.
I "fear" that learning new strategies is something I must be most vigilant with. I had lost around 60 pounds through eating healthy and MEGA Exercise. I thought that I could maintain, kind of eat what I want as long as I continued a truly insane exercise regimen. However, the more junk I ate, the more lethargic I became, and had no energy nor ambition to work out... A lesson learned the hard way since I gained 80 back.
I now know that I do have to exercise everyday, and it HAS to become just part of my daily being..not something to be fit in.
Sorry for being soo long winded..

Schatzi- In high school I used to eat whatever I wanted and then work out for hours a day on top of cheerleading and other sports to maintain my weight. I messed up my body big time. I would barely eat and then work out and then I would binge and workout. It was a vicious cycle to stay small. When I got pregnant I gained a ton and never lost. I am hoping to lose the weight through a healthy way and keep it off.
So what you said totally makes sense and I can relate.

I need help making my siggy and ticker. I followed the directions but when I put the ticker link it it just shows as a link and not the ticker. And I dont know how to set it so its always there.

Kimberly

I did the same thing, eat what ever I wanted in high school then do some crazy weight loss thing. I'd exercise for hours then skip all meals or eat only fiber-yes fiber I had a very healthy colon for a little bit until I went over board. I had the most horrible cramping and pain. I went to the doctor and we got to the point of what I was eating and he nearly had a fit. I'd eat a bowl of oat bran cereal in the morning, eat bananas rolled in bran, more bran cereal for lunch another banana rolled in bran for dinner. The doctor thought I was eating at least 100 g of bran with not much else. OUCH! that hurt.
What we do to our bodies is criminal.

Sarah

I know what you mean. I tried dieting and never lost a pound. When I started P1, everyday I lost something. It seemed strange to me because I didn't feel like I was trying as hard as before so I kept expecting to suddenly gain it all back. A little education sure pays off. When i started P2 the weight loss slowed down, but I'm still losing. I'm always surprised when the scale tells me I'm still on track.

I've made a few mistakes along the way, but overall I think I'll stay on the beach till I croak.