I don't know what is going on with me, but I'm having a terrible time.

I'm on restart, day one, and as hard as this is for me to admit, I need help!

Big time.

I do really well until around 4 pm, then it seems like I'm destined to screw up .

Today, day one, I gave in and had a stupid piece of cake.

WTH is wrong with me?

Can anyone offer and advice on how to curb this midday craving and get past it? Its ruining everything.

Oh and I suppose I should restart day one tomorrow? sigh.....

Help?

Yup, you should restart tomorrow. Try no to feel to badly - we've all been there!

OK - the cravings are going to happen and you need to deal with them That's the time of day to give yourself an OP snack. 15 almonds and a glass of milk did it for me today. Sometimes I have hummus on veggies or a glass of V8. Just don't let it get too far or you will succumb to something like cake! Plan ahead.

So....make tomorrow a better day.

Remember this is NOT a low carb plan. Did you include some legumes and some dairy today? It might be an idea to plan and post tomorrow's menu for some input from the other chicks.

No, I didn't include any beans, but I did have my milk

I have found when I have had my snacks and drank my water and I KNOW that it isn't hunger, my sugar free gum comes in handy. I believe that in the past I ate a lot out of boredom. Good luck! And....yes, we have all been there. Tomorrow is another day!

Hugs to you.. I suffer from teh same thing - the before dinner binge.. I think Ruth is right though.. planning ahead and having a healthy snack available so that you are less likely to eat the nasty stuff.

I have chocolate sugar free pudding and I throw some nuts in it and I think I'm having a dairy queen treat! WATER WATER WATER!!!!

I always make sure that I have broth available for late afternoon snacks - If I have something hot to drink - it seems to fill me up.... The almonds are also a good idea - If you eat them one at a time - you trick yourself into thinking you're having a BIG snack Good Luck...

Post again and Let us know how you're doing!!!

I find that I have to eat a big b'fast and lunch or else I'm starving by about 3 or 4. This is esp. important on P1 to control your blood sugar. I find I eat more for b'fast than the book recommends but end up eating less at dinner. Try eating some eggs, veggies, and yogurt for b'fast, then a nice serving of protien and lots of veggies for lunch. Also, drink a big glass of water when you have cravings. Sometimes if you don't drink enough your body mistakes your thirst mechanism for hunger. This is very common. Try these tips and along with your scheduled snacks hopefully they'll keep the cravings manageable. Good luck.

I ditto pearshape. If I don't eat a protein filled breakfast and lunch I'm staving from 4pm-midnight. I also keep ready to eat fresh veggies in the fridge, cauliflower seems to help me it's crunchy and you have to work to eat it, if I'm still hungry after my planned snack that's my next choice with a big glass of water. I also make my desserts early in the day/week so when I open the fridge I see my "planned" dessert. It seems to help keep me from thinking of other goodies and reminds me to stay on track.

I hope tomorrow will be a great restart for you.

Nonster, those first couple days of P1 are hard. At the most, they'll last 5 days, but they could be less. You'll be amazed at how easy it is once that is over! So, do as others have suggested and have a plan in place. If you work, get someone at work to help you stay away from the non-OP food during that time. Take a walk to their office/cube and spend some time with them, drinking water or having an OP snack. Try to incorporate veggies, good carbs, and protein. Homemade 3 bean salad, red peppers or tomatoes with hummus, roasted chickpeas, refried beans with low fat cheddar cheese melted on them (and sugar-free salsa, if you like it) are good choices. They'll help a lot with the cravings, help you feel full (protein), and help you stay full longer(veggies).

I also found it helpful to chew SF gum, have a SF hard candy (make sure you stay within your 75 cals of sweet treats, okay?), or drink tea. There are tons of herbal or decaf teas that have amazing flavors and can really help the craving. I loved having a decaf 'Creme Caramel' tea with a bit of 1% milk and splenda. There is also a gingerbread herbal tea I found at Christmas that I would have with some vanilla SF syrup. Both tasted and smelled like a dessert and really satisfied me until it was time for dinner.

Sometimes I crave food in the afternoon because I'm tired and used to using sugar to boost my energy. You can also boost your energy with exercise, so find an excuse to take a walk around your office...you can also use that time to visit with supportive friends and get their help avoiding eating the foods that will make it worse.

As much as you are able, try to get your coworkers/family's support in keeping non-OP foods away from you during the first week of P1. I think you'll find them very helpful if you ask. I know you can do this, hon! We're rooting for you!