cant beat cravings!

I need help! I was doing great for 2 weeks, going to the gym, eating right, I lost 6 lbs!!! Over the last week/weekend ive lost complete control. I continued going to the gym, but missed the last 4 days and gave into just about every craving i had! does anyone have any suggestions to beat cravings? I need help and motivation! I think I've gained 3 lbs back in the last week! Please help!!!

Don't beat yourself up over it. At least you know that you got off track and now you can focus on getting back on track. Just forget about what you did over the last four days and start again tomorrow. We are all human and we have to live a little. Every day is a new day and gives you a fresh start to make the best possible choices.

Also, make sure you aren't depriving yourself too much because it will only make you desire those things even more. Like for me, I love chocolate. I have one small piece of good chocolate every day. I just limit the amount I eat, but still get to have something I enjoy eating.

Two main things to do about cravings:
1) Don?t beat yourself up if you lapse and give in to cravings.
2) Take control of them.

I was going to a shopping center that had a Cold Stone Creamery. People have said they had really, really good ice cream. I kept telling myself I wasn?t going to stop there but knew I would give in so I took control. I ordered the smallest cup of ice cream that I could. I took small bites and savored each for several minutes. By the time I was a little more than half way thru, I had satisfied my cravings and threw the rest away.

PS: It was easy to throw the rest away because it didn?t think the ice cream was that good.

I agree with everyone...don't let it beat you down. Focus on the great two weeks you've had and get back on track. If you feel you've gained weight...skip a few days before you weigh yourself. But, remember, this is a lifestyle change. Take those cravings as a learning tool. You can do this! I can see you WANT to do this!

Thanks for all of the great advice and motivation! today I am doing much better...back on track and I feel good about myself! Thanks again!

hey BMA83!
Your post sounds like I could have written it myself!
I know all the "stick to it" rules too, but it is hard.
Keep up the good work!
try hard!
:) Deana

What helped with my cravings over time was learning to regulate my calories/blood sugar through my diet.

For example a day in my 'previous life" I would have skipped breakfast entirely, had some kind of snack that was loaded with simple carbs mid morning due to hunger at lunch I'd eat whatever I could grab quickly and that usually ended up not being well-balanced and then by the time I got ready to have dinner at ngith I'd be so tired/hungry I'd tell my husband to pick up a pizza on the way home or something...

Today I eat something in the morning that is balanced with protein and complex carbs so say a bowl of whole grain total and half a banana or something like that. That keeps me full and has many good nutrients in it. At lunch I will have some cheese and whole grain crackers and maybe a little salad, a snack of carrot sticks or something in the afternoon.... the point being I eat something small every few hours all day long and after a week or two of doing that my blood sugar levels stopped the cycle of spiking/crashing/spiking/crashing that happened with my previous crappy diet. Once that regulates the cravings stop.

I used to regularly crave sugar and salt now I crave neither one. If you'd have told me I would lose my sweet tooth even a month ago I'd have said you were crazy ;) so you will get there. Try tweaking your diet and the times you eat as well :)

My cravings are for cheese and salty, fatty meats (like sausages). It's been two weeks without.

I've been able to alleviate the sausage craving by snacking on beef jerky and my cheese craving by a single grater-run over a block of parmesan. Maybe five calories, and it hits that spot in my brain that wants it.

Cravings always seem to crop up as soon as we're really getting on track, don't they?? Try and find healthy, low-calorie alternatives that will satisfy your cravings the next time they strike. Keep 'em on hand for emergencies :P You need to find what works for you, but here's a couple of suggestions...

Ice cream craving> Frozen banana
Sweet/carb craving> Baked yams
Meat craving> Portabella mushroom baked w/ soy sauce

Of course, sometimes you've just gotta binge. Your body will balance itself out in a few days, don't worry about it, enjoy the feeling of fullness while it lasts :)