"Cravings for sugar and carbs will go away" is a HUGE LIE

[Anonymous]

They do go away. It took about three months for me. I've been living a paleo lifestyle for almost two years to help with the symptoms of a chronic illness. The first couple of months are really hard and then it becomes second nature, I don't even flinch anymore when I say no thanks to a piece of cake at a birthday party.

[Anonymous]

What is the goal in terms of weight loss that drive the calorie level, 1 lb a week? When you do not have a lot of weight to lose (and 13 lbs is not a lot for these purposes) that is a very fast rate of loss. It may be more sustainable to use a 1/2 lb a week as a goal and have more calories.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think the "cravings" go away from a physical standpoint, but, at least for me, that mental part never did go away. I have an easier time saying no now purely because it is a habit. It took months to work on that habit. But, if I am stressed, tired, etc., it is still very difficult not to revert to binging on carbs and sugar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think the "cravings" go away from a physical standpoint, but, at least for me, that mental part never did go away. I have an easier time saying no now purely because it is a habit. It took months to work on that habit. But, if I am stressed, tired, etc., it is still very difficult not to revert to binging on carbs and sugar.

+1 I did a vegetable/lean meat diet for a few weeks with very limited carbs, and my cravings have definitely gone away. It's only when I'm tired that they come back.

[Anonymous]

You have to be in ketosis, OP. You really need to cut out all carbs (and you'll still be taking in 30+ grams) and THEN you won't have any cravings or be hungry. If you are craving, it's emotional or you're not cutting enough out.

[Anonymous]

1200 calories may be too low. Forgive the forced metaphor of this extreme example, but I once heard a story about a guy who was shipwrecked for weeks and he ate fish eye balls and other gross stuff to stay alive. Basically he said that things that seem unthinkable like ripping apart live fish and drinking urine seem super reasonable when you are starving/ dehydrated. I liken some cravings to the way I feel about food when I am nursing or like quitting smoking. Your brain is really powerful and will make you feel physical feelings that aren’t real.

For me, I have to give up all sugar AND fake sugar AND sugar alcohols. Even Stevia, don’t even start with that “it’s natural” excuse. Also I have to eat only protein and veggies for breakfast. Any carbs for breakfast and I crave them all day. I find giving up sugar helps my cravings in the micro sense, but not the macro sense. Doing what works for me for breakfast helps me stay on track all day. When I follow my plan, I can have carbs at dinner without going overboard. It doesn’t help me craving sweets and carbs overall. It’s like being an alcoholic and choosing to stay sober every day and not putting myself in a position to cheat. Giving up sugar is not some magic cure that will make you never want it again. Anyone who says that is probably one of those people like my husband who forget to eat or don’t see why diets are hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to be in ketosis, OP. You really need to cut out all carbs (and you'll still be taking in 30+ grams) and THEN you won't have any cravings or be hungry. If you are craving, it's emotional or you're not cutting enough out.

do you mean cut out all carbs like rice and wheat and grains? I have done that since august 1. But I still eat vegetables which have some carbs (not potatoes but broccoli, cauliflower, etc)

[Anonymous]

You need to give up artificial sweeteners as well

[Anonymous]

Hugs to you.

[Anonymous]

I had to give up all sweeteners. It took 5 or 6 weeks for the cravings to go away. Then sugar actually didn’t look or taste good. If I make birthday cake for one of my kids and eat a slice at the party I have to start all over again. Cravings come right back.

[Anonymous]

Pro tip: learn to let go of perfection. I was having trouble losing weight because I like sweets. I finally decided to do a modified version of keto wherein I followed everything EXCEPT I allowed myself fruit smoothies. Bam. The weight just fell off. When I wanted sweets, I had a smoothie and it hit the spot. You aren't trying to be a perfect adherent of a diet. You're trying to be thinner. That's it. So be okay with needing some fruit and sweetness in your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG, I have been off sugar and baked goods/simple carbs for 3 weeks now and it is not getting any easier. If anything it was easier the first week or two and it's getting harder now.

I have lost 4-6 pounds and really do fit better in my clothes. That's my motivation. I have stalled out a bit in the last week, though.

I use My Fitness Pal to keep the calorie intake to 1200.

Today it took every ounce of willpower not to eat the mac & cheese, grilled cheese, and warm baguette off my kids' plates when we went to Panera.

Please don't tell me to just allow myself some, because my willpower is so bad that once I start I can't stop. But wow, I really envy those people who say, "once I stopped eating sugar I didn't even want it anymore!" How do I get to be like that??

Vacation in Europe for a few weeks and your eating habits will change for the better. What you're describing is an unhealthy relationship with food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, I have been off sugar and baked goods/simple carbs for 3 weeks now and it is not getting any easier. If anything it was easier the first week or two and it's getting harder now.

I have lost 4-6 pounds and really do fit better in my clothes. That's my motivation. I have stalled out a bit in the last week, though.

I use My Fitness Pal to keep the calorie intake to 1200.

Today it took every ounce of willpower not to eat the mac & cheese, grilled cheese, and warm baguette off my kids' plates when we went to Panera.

Please don't tell me to just allow myself some, because my willpower is so bad that once I start I can't stop. But wow, I really envy those people who say, "once I stopped eating sugar I didn't even want it anymore!" How do I get to be like that??

Vacation in Europe for a few weeks and your eating habits will change for the better. What you're describing is an unhealthy relationship with food.

Yep, it sure is. (OP here). I love sweets, love bread, and just a little makes me want them more and more. I'm better off not eating sugar and unhealthy baked goods at all.

I don't think anyone would argue that eating sugar and baked goods is a necessity in life, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pro tip: learn to let go of perfection. I was having trouble losing weight because I like sweets. I finally decided to do a modified version of keto wherein I followed everything EXCEPT I allowed myself fruit smoothies. Bam. The weight just fell off. When I wanted sweets, I had a smoothie and it hit the spot. You aren't trying to be a perfect adherent of a diet. You're trying to be thinner. That's it. So be okay with needing some fruit and sweetness in your life.

Doesn't the smoothie knock you out of ketosis though?

[Anonymous]

1200, my dear, is unsustainable. You have cravings because you're hungry.