Could this be true? A craving question....

swezeytba

So for the last two days I have been sort of craving bread carbs....A bagel with cream cheese, a blueberry muffin. Just random bready things.

Now I am 4 months into Keto...have hit my goal weight...Trying to figure out maintenance and planning to see a nutritionist next week to discuss how to tweak my plan to better fit my goals for using keto for my epilepsy.

I had some cravings like this in the beginning, but have not cheated at all. Don't even really try eating any of the keto bread recipes since I haven't ever really found any that seemed worth it.

So was wondering what you all thought about these cravings possibly coming from overdoing my healthy carbs (veggies, dairy, etc.). That's really the only items that my daily carbs come from and I haven't been tracking really closely for awhile. I even discontinued using any type of natural or artificial sweetener so I know cravings aren't linked to that.

I also think for once my electrolytes are in balance because my leg/toe cramps have made an exit (for now)!

cstehansen

When you get the craving, try eating something high in fat and see if the craving goes away. Believe it or not Jimmy Moore says some butter wrapped in cheese works for him. I have not tried that one, but to each his own. If a high fat food does satisfy it, then this could just be a situation of your brain not properly registering the craving similar to thinking you're hungry because of an insulin spike even though it is really more hangry than hungry. If so, then 4 months is really not that long. I think this may get better in the months ahead where the cravings will go away. I know they did for me somewhere between month 4-6.

swezeytba

cstehansen wrote: »

When you get the craving, try eating something high in fat and see if the craving goes away. Believe it or not Jimmy Moore says some butter wrapped in cheese works for him. I have not tried that one, but to each his own. If a high fat food does satisfy it, then this could just be a situation of your brain not properly registering the craving similar to thinking you're hungry because of an insulin spike even though it is really more hangry than hungry. If so, then 4 months is really not that long. I think this may get better in the months ahead where the cravings will go away. I know they did for me somewhere between month 4-6.

Interesting...Wouldn't be a hard experiment to conduct. Thanks!

canadjineh

The craving isn't mental is it??? I mean because you are now at goal, is it possible your mind is justifying a bready carb bomb? Just asking because I've been there... craving carbs in my mind because 'I don't have to be careful anymore, I'm at my goal weight.'
*devil's advocate *

tcunbeliever

Have you changed your activity level any? I know I'm always way more cravy the day after strength training than any other time. Avocado is my go-to craving killer, not sure if it's the fat or the fiber or whatever other trace nutrients, but it usually takes care of that eat-the-kitchen-feeling for me.

kpk54

My own personal experience with transitioning into maintenance was there was both a biological and psychological "something" going on and I'll just equate it to the reason so many people regain in their loss (my opinion shared by others). I had to fight really hard to not regain. The Hungry Brain by Stephan Guyenet is THE most enlightening book I have read. If nothing else, it gave me at least one researcher's theory to cling to.

In regards to the psychological, my reality is, regardless of how anyone chooses to present how lovely a certain "diet" is, keto, lchf and even low carb restrict masses of food choices that are in my presence at every gathering I attend, every time I sit down to watch TV (commercials) and every time I walk into a grocery store...and even here though this forum is more geared to perceived healthier versions.

In regards to the biological/physiological, it relates back to the body being hardwired for homeostasis. My brain wants me to have 60 more pounds of fat on my body and will continue to send those hunger signals until it get happy with my 140. I think it is getting "right" with my weight choice but my "maintenance journey" has not been easy. Successful on the scale but not easy.

ETA: Let me change that statement above from "I had to fight really hard to not regain" to "I am very mindful still, everyday, to not regain".

swezeytba

Thanks @canadjineh , @tcunbeliever , @kpk54 for your insights.

It could be mental, since I'm trying to get into the maintenance mode and knowing I will need to ease up to keep from losing weight. Since I'm doing the diet mainly for my epilepsy that is going to be the difficult part because I still need to keep my carbs very low, but eat enough fat to not lose weight......

I think I may have been eating less fat while I was losing weight so I could use up my "pantry" and now need to start exploring some different options to up that. I would love to eat avocado for a healthy fatty snack, but avocado does not love me back....I tried again the other day just to see if I could handle it since starting keto, but nope....not to be....Makes me sicker than a dog!