Well, what else could i be ranting about? CRAVINGS

Does it seem to everyone else that the diet starts out real good for a little while, and then suddenly, WHAM!  All the intense cravings hit you!  I get so frustrated over cravings I want to cry or bury myself in a hole.  I went over my 1,500 cal limit today with 1,703, I believe, and now I have to burn the extra 200 off.  *teh sigh* 

Oh yeah, tell me about it!  I was doing so great, and then I blew it.  I lost some weight and I felt SO much better and then I gained it back, and now I'm depressed and back to square one.  every night I get cravings to eat...it's a neverending battle.  What do you do when the cravings hit?

I grit my teeth, lol.  I usually try to take a nap....  Or just remind myself that if I wait another couple hours to eat it'll be close to bedtime, I'll have enough calories to fill my stomach up just enough, and I can exercise to keep my mind off of it.  My cravings are most powerful in the evening.  *shakes head*  I'm sorry to hear that.  Obviously you know you can lose the weight though.  You've been through it.  That's a big accomplishment.

some of the ideas you will hear are: drink a glass of water.  if the craving goes away, you were probably just thirsty.

if you are craving something, let yourself have a LITTLE of it.  like if it's chocolate, just a half ounce square of really intense chocolate, instead of a whole candy bar.  or eat a "balance gold energy bar," which DOES have chocolate coating, but also gives you a protein boost.

substitute things like snap peas or apple slices for a crunchy snack, frozen yogurt or frozen grapes for ice cream, and don't forget that if you get your protein % higher, your hunger will probably go away for a longer period of time.

I think I really need to eat more protein.  I eat a lot of carbs, and fats, and not enough protein.  Thnx for the tips!!! :-D

I'm having a hard time getting back on the wagon, too. I lost 30 pounds, and now it's like I just diet on the weekdays, pig out on the weekend and gain any weight that I lost back! The week is okay for me, still not as easy as it was when I first started, but I do okay. Then on the weekend I can never seem to stay under my limit. My goal was supposed to be 15 pounds by this weekend, but I know that won't happen anymore. Now it has to delay until the end of August, and that's IF I stick to under 1053 calories a day! That's going to be rough!!

I just started my low cal diet a week ago, so far I have I have lost three pounds down from 185 to 183. One of my major obstacles was finding ways to fight my carvings (I was a major sweet addict) and one of the things that worked for me is to brew a cup of herb tea and add a tbsp of honey. Whenever I do this my carvings would go away, because I actually gave it what it wanted, something sweet.

If I eat something sweet to satisfy the craving, I just want more!  lol  It's absolutely evil...  I haven't lost any weight and this is just over my second week doing this.  I also don't have a scale...  But I'm kinda worried.  I don't want to be one of those people who for some odd or biological reason just can't lose the weight no matter what their efforts.

I honestly don't get cravings. I've been really good. I haven't fallen off the wagon in months. The least healthy thing that I've eaten in the past few months is a muffin, and that was a pretty healthy recipe.

I have been reading a book called "The Insulin Resistance Diet", and it says it's really important to balance carbs and protein (1 serving or 15grams of carbs must be balanced with 7grams of protein). Since I've been more careful about doing that my cravings have about *vanished* (amazing).

Freaking chocolate chip cookie dough.

 Keep wanting to buy a package....will not.

I know exactly what  you guys are talking about. I lost six pounds in two weeks and was doing so well. Now I am craving white rice, and things that are sweet and cake-y(like cookies,cakes brownies...mmnnn...yum!)OK, I am back ! I just do not know what to do. I tried substituting but I ended up eating up more of the low calorie items until I should have just eaten the darn cake or cookie!! Does anyone know if it is psychological or physical reason to have cravings?  Is it just me thinking I want something sweet or is it my body telling me I am lacking something in my diet. Maybe I am just making a big deal out of nothing. At least I know I am not alone.