Mother nature is taking its toll!!!! Please Help!!!

ckhardeman
ckhardeman Posts: 195 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have recently began taking this life style change serious. I have been watching what I'm eating, cutting out sugar, no sodas & working out. My goal was to eat only whole foods ( meaning no processed foods). But here comes mother nature having to stick her nose in my business. And now I am having mad cravings. The ones that make you want to rob the vending machine, the ones that have me going to the grocery store everyday trying to find something healthy to help with the cravings; the ones that make you want to call your doctor and request some anxiety pills. So MFP family please, please, please. Send some suggestions because I'm going to blow this life style change right out of the country if I don't get help soon. And Yes this too shall pass until next month & here comes mother nature again. What am I to do? (Note: These cravings start two weeks before mother nature visits.)

Replies

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    My suggestion would be not to cut out all of these foods that you love and crave.....just eat less of them. Moderation is the key. Cutting things out completely can be setting yourself up for failure.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    You are having "mad cravings" because you are restricting too many items. There is no need to eliminate items from your intake, unless you have a medical reason.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    My suggestion would be not to cut out all of these foods that you love and crave.....just eat less of them. Moderation is the key. Cutting things out completely can be setting yourself up for failure.

    Tha is my primary advice too. But what in particular are you craving? Sometimes you can find a healthier alternative to satisfy it.
  • This43IsNotMe
    This43IsNotMe Posts: 17 Member
    I like to freeze a mini candy bar, hard to eat and takes longer so i still get a little of my chocolate craving and agree...if you restrict it all you may loose 10 but than end up gaining 15 when you stop (been there done that). Best to add healthy to what you are doing and keep a little craving in moderation. Salt on some hard boiled egg whites fits some salty craving as well.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    What are you craving? I take iron supplements that time of month which helps some cravings. I also make a smoothie with skim milk, unsweetened cocoa powder and a banana to knock out my chocolate craving.
  • workout_ninja
    workout_ninja Posts: 524 Member
    My suggestion would be not to cut out all of these foods that you love and crave.....just eat less of them. Moderation is the key. Cutting things out completely can be setting yourself up for failure.

    This should be on a billboard or something!
  • maddogg82
    maddogg82 Posts: 159 Member
    My suggestion would be not to cut out all of these foods that you love and crave.....just eat less of them. Moderation is the key. Cutting things out completely can be setting yourself up for failure.

    :happy: :drinker: :laugh:

    Yes I agree .. MODERATION :wink:
  • ckhardeman
    ckhardeman Posts: 195 Member
    Sweet & salty. ( and when I say mother nature its my monthly cycle)
  • lavaughan69
    lavaughan69 Posts: 459 Member
    Yup, moderation works best. I tend to crave carbs in the form of french fries or bread. I'll switch up my lunch to include toasted light rye bread with a pat of butter and I'll use McCains quick fries with dinner. Also, on the rare occasion I need something sweet I'll eat frozen grapes, not only are they sweet but they are nice and crunchy.
  • oc1timoco
    oc1timoco Posts: 272 Member
    First of all I will admit that I am nothing more than a stupid man, with that said. My wife alters her diet slightly about a week before Aunt Flow comes to visit. This is her reference to Mother Natures call. She would get horrible cravings and what she did worked for her. I'm not saying it will work for you. She cut back on carbs from about 60% to about 35% kept her protein at about 35% and increased her fat to 30% (good fats, avocado, walnuts and such) The higher protein and fats sustained her feeling of being full a lot longer so she ate less at night.
  • morticia16
    morticia16 Posts: 230 Member
    Don't deny yourself completely. Consume in moderation. For my sweet cravings I have dark chocolate (70% or higher). I don't crave salty but I would guess nibbling on nuts could solve the problem. I am sure you can fit some of what you crave in your daily allowance.
  • ckhardeman
    ckhardeman Posts: 195 Member
    Thanks everyone so much... This has helped a lot. But, I'm still open to more suggestions so keep them coming.
  • lesteidel
    lesteidel Posts: 229 Member
    First of all I will admit that I am nothing more than a stupid man, with that said. My wife alters her diet slightly about a week before Aunt Flow comes to visit. This is her reference to Mother Natures call. She would get horrible cravings and what she did worked for her. I'm not saying it will work for you. She cut back on carbs from about 60% to about 35% kept her protein at about 35% and increased her fat to 30% (good fats, avocado, walnuts and such) The higher protein and fats sustained her feeling of being full a lot longer so she ate less at night.


    Do that if you are wanting to completely cut out those foods you mentioned.

    What I do is eat a few calories less a day the week before so I have a little more wiggle worm to indulge those cravings when they do strike without stalling weight loss. I know, realistically, I am not going the rest of my life without Godiva dark chocolate or Lindt orange chocolate. Just not happening. What I do is when I am craving them the most, I eat a little of them, and make up the calories elsewhere.

    But what he suggested is going to be your best bet if you are dead set on never having sugar again. I can't imagine life without dark chocolate, but to each his own. :)
  • kriskris92
    kriskris92 Posts: 190 Member
    Though a lot of people on here advocate for moderation of everything, I struggle with that. For me personally, I feel best when I'm not eating a ton of sugar and processed foods and do my best to cut them out entirely. When I have them in the house, I tend to just indulge far too frequently and far too excessively for my liking. I know, I know, that probably says a lot about my lack of self control, but it works for me to just keep them out of the house for the most part. When I just can't beat a craving, I turn to berries, frozen grapes or dark chocolate for sweetness and salted almonds or lightly buttered popcorn for salty.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Small dark chocolate bars are a given for me that time of month. There is no substitute, lol. But I don't keep any more than that in the house during that time or I'd eat them all.

    I'm not big on salty cravings, but I'd probably do the same. Strict portion control, but have the item. That doesn't always work for binge tendencies, so YMMV. Other things I have to avoid completely, because just a taste gets me going (Nutella).
  • katbirdinpa
    katbirdinpa Posts: 105
    white flour makes me crave sugar, I cut it out completely

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