Help me please.....

I have totally screwed up and allowed myself a few evil ca***.  Now I can't get my mind off of them and I can't stop craving them.  What have I done?    Have I doomed myself to a life of fighting cravings again???  Should I go back on liquids for a week or so....PLEASE HELP!!! 

A few evil carbs now and then is not bad.  I don't think going back on liquids will stop the cravings, but thats just my opinion.  You can fight through the cravings, I have no doubt you have the strength.  I think we will always have cravings to fight.  I know I still want a Mountain Dew every time I see someone drinking one. 

The carbs you are craving, is it something you can make a different way to kind of satisfy the craving?  Like I make Eggface's zucchini lasagna.  It is really good and no pasta at all in it. Maybe if we knew what you were craving we could find you an alternative.

Sorry if I wasn't much help

I mostly crave sweet, crunchy things.  I've been tempted to go ahead and try some of the crunchier protein bars.  Do you have any idea what guidelines we should follow as far as content?  How many carbs & sugars are too many?

Hi Wendy - you know stuff like this happens, we all have certain cravings and we all cave in at some point or another. One thing I have been good at is that if I do have something not on the weight loss plan right now, I can leave it behind and the next day, I am able to pick up where I should. For this reason, I plan....I allow myself to have a carb or two over the week-end (but only on the week-end)..I don't fret about it, I just know that on the week-end I give myself a free pass to something that I am craving....and on Monday I get right back on plan - this doesn't mean I graze on the week-ends, I just allow myself, shall we say, a little freedom. The way I see it, this is for life and I feel that we need to be able to breathe once in a while.

As far as protein bars, maybe Jessica can give you some advise of which are best...I know the Atkins Advantage bars are pretty low in carbs and sugar.  I would not go back on liquids, that in my opinion, would trigger the cravings even more.

Hang tight...you will get through this!!! Most of all tell yourself it's OK!!! Then move on!

Anna

Be careful, some of the protein bars have more carbs than a candy bar....they've got more protein too, I'm just sayin.

When I'm struggling with carbs, I tell myself I can have unlimited......tuna.   All the tuna salad (with no sweet relish) I want, all I can hold, and when the feeling comes over me, sometimes I even EAT the stuff.  Then at some point I realize, oh, I wasn't hungry at all, it was a carb craving.

For sweet cravings (not bread, but candy) a square of bitter dark chocolate or even a small teaspoon full of raw coco powder (no nutrasweet, no nothin) will pretty much halt it in it's tracks.  (But I actually like raw cocoa powder, I'm one sick puppy).

For creamy cravings-greek yogurt, a shot of sugarfree flavored syrup of some sort and some nuts.  The fat free stuff has a lot of protein in it, the nuts have a little fat, and that puts it to rights with a fairly healthy snack.

I hear about the Greek yogurt all the time but don't know where to buy it.  I always thought maybe it wasn't available in OK.  Where do you get it?

 I think you can get it at the Mediterran Deli on May or Zorbas.  They have a really good tomato/cucumber salad also.  donna

I get Greek Gods at Akins on Memorial, and Greek Gods or Fage at the Health Food Store on 74th.

The full fat thing has about 240 calories for a small tub, but is better than ice cream....I usually just go with the nonfat or lowfat.  Greek gods has a honey flavor too, but I just buy plain and add my own honey (though not as much as they do).....

Anna that is a great idea!  If you know you can have a few carbs on the weekend then you wont feel as deprived during the week.  I look at it as a lifestyle change not a diet. As for protein bars, I really do not do them that often.  Maybe 1 or 2 a month.  I have tried the adtkins carb advantage and it was pretty good.  I have to really watch sugar alcohol's so I usually only eat about half a bar.  Does weightwise have a protein bar they recommend? You might also try some flavored almonds.  That would be a good source of protein and crunchy. I know there are a lot of flavors. 

Sherri

Wendy,

Don't sweat it!  What's done is done and you just get back on track now.  Remember that this is a lifestyle change and we can't change overnight.  It takes time and a lot of effort!

I know that the more carbs I eat the more carbs I want.  It's a vicious cycle because you can't stay full on them!

I wouldn't go on liquids as that would be torture.  I would push pure protein until you get the carbs out of your system.  If you stick with protein ony, you don't crave the carbs nearly as much.

Hang in there!  This too shall pass!

Kim