When You Have Got a Sweet Tooth or the Moody Blues

briegirl28

Hi Everyone,

I am doing a low-carb diet again, though this time I am not weighing and measuring my food like I did before (and I wonder if I should just go back to that), and wondering if increasing my protein and reducing my carbs will help me more, or if I should stick to the OA way which is as follows:

4 oz. of protein at every meal
8 oz. of fruit (after any cooking) for breakfast
8 oz of fruit (after any cooking) for lunch
8 oz. of veggies (after any cooking) for lunch
16 oz. of veggies (after any cooking) for dinner.

When I ate how I listed above, I was definitely cooking a lot more and maybe spending more money for sure. I could eat nuts, but only in 1 oz. amounts as a snack once or twice a day.

I could eat sugar free items like jello and pudding, but not to excess.

I could also drink milk and I used to have sugar free chocolate milk as a way to help with a sweet tooth.

I did not eat any grains or legumes or gluten. I was eating about 1,300 calories a day and I was losing a significant amount of weight. I was also 10 years younger.

Now, I am trying to keep my calories before 1,400 and have a protein ration that is higher than carbs. My carbs are mainly coming from my no sugar added hot cocoa (which also helps with my sweet tooth), and things like grapefruit, some juice, and granola bars (which I am stopping to eat as much).

I wonder if I need to go back to weighing and measuring, or if I just keep my calories low, and my protein grams higher than my carb grams, if that will help to prevent any hunger?

I have had cravings, but for specific things like raisins and craisins, and I think it is probably emotional and/or hormonal. I feel bad about the cravings, but then I think of how I was eating not too long ago, and it is not that bad, all things considering.

Would you recommend I go back to doing it the OA way that I had proven success with, or does keeping my protein grams higher than my carb grams and my calories below 1,400 also a good way to lose weight?

I am starting to exercise more and I definitely have the body type that people would call "sturdy" a 100 years or so ago.

I used to have a pear shape, but after becoming sick early last year, I got malnourished, and I lost weight, but I feel I lost most of my hip action. Now I feel more like a slight apple -- waist is 51 inches and hips are 54 inches).

Ps. I have already spent my food budget money this month, so I am not really open to going out and buying tons more food, unless it is eggs (quick to cook) and something that will help with my craving for crunchy food. Right now I have the following food items in my fridge:

Steak meat
Turkey deli meat
Turkey breakfast sausage, beef sausage, chicken sausage
Cheeses
Yogurt
Eggs
Odwalla Juices
Yogurt (couple)
grapefruit sections
Various nut butters and couple of jams
Unsweetened Iced Tea
Sugar-free jello
Butter
Sweet Chili Sauce
Mayo
Mustard
Peanut Sauce
Spicy Cilantro Sauce


I left off rice and cereals which I am avoiding eating due to the carbs and calories. I also omitted sugary items like frozen yogurt and pudding. I did not buy all of this food this month, and it really represents food I have bought over almost a year's worth of time but did not eat or open yet.


I appreciate your feedback.