I need some help folks....

It's getting close to TTOM and my sweet tooth is in charge and trying to make me large. I have absolutely no energy. I've actually dozed off twice since getting on the computer this afternoon.  I work graveyard and I have two small(ish) children one of whom happens to be in school so I only get about 4 hours of sleep a "night" on school nights.

What can I do to kill my sweet tooth while staying around 1450 cal a day? Please help, I can't even make myself exercise, at least that would make up for any extra calories

Chewing gum helps.

But your best bet is to get some sleep!  Is there anyone who can take care of the kids for a few hours so you can rest?  Fatigue and TTOM is a double whammy!  As a matter of fact - fatigue is probably making your monthly symptoms worse.  Making that craving worse too. 

Do you have another mom you could swap care with?  Can you ship the kids to grandmas for a day? 

I personally steer clear of gum, even if im not hungry it manages to make me hungry right away...don't know how ur stomach handles it

but maybe a square of dark chocolate? it's rich enough that a square would appease ur sweet tooth, but it's also super good for u AND provides u with lasting energy

or cut up some almonds mix with low fat natural yogurt and some sugar free jam..it's nice, crunchy, creamy and sweet.

when i don't feel like sthg necessarily nutritious and want a junky low cal sweet, i go for 100 cal breyer's ice-cream sandwhich

:)

I eat sugar free jello. it is very filling and only about 40 calories per cup, prepared. I also sometimes put in fresh strawberry pieces at about 49 calories per cup, and and top it off with a dollop of lite Cool Whip at 20 calories per tbsp.

G

My suggestion is not to stay at 1450.  Go with 1600 or 2000 if it helps you get through.  Sugar craving is often because blood-sugars have severely dropped and since fatigue and insulin levels are linked, it's all connected.  I've read before that women use more energy at TOTM ... certainly when I've adopted this approach I've seen no change to my weight.

Combat your sweet-tooth therefore with a combination of good foods of all descriptions... especially the 'slow-release energy' type ie. complex fibrous carbohydates, lean proteins, fats.  Bananas are a good, naturally sweet choice.  If you do choose to eat something sweet do so as part of a meal.... this keeps your blood-sugars more stable.

thank you for all of the advice guys, i never thought of being tired making me want sweets.  I take protein bars to work with me, my work cafeteria serves nothing but crap. Literally everything is deepfried or covered in some sort of sauce. I work grave in a casino so if I leave property for any reason during shift I would be fired. That leaves me with the protein bars. They do offer apples and sometimes bananas for free so I should start eating those. And I can't have a box of ice cream bars sitting at home because I won't stop at just one. I'm an all or nothing kind of girl so I'm screwed.

Those Gerber Food Puff things, Jello sugar-free pudding, Special K cereal, Yoplait yogurt, and sugar-free hard candy/gum are all good for low-calorie options. If you want to go for a more natural approach, have dried fruit (Dole chopped dates are really good),a couple squares of dark chocolate, or a serving of fresh fruit. Also, if you have a DQ somewhere in your area, you could always buy one of their sugar-free options since you can't keep things like that in your house.

I have since discovered oatmeal with just a little peanut butter does wonders. Oh my Lord is it delicious!!!!!!!! And gum. I just have to remember to log the gum.