I am trying to substitute healthier options at this point. I am in the early stages of my weight loss and don't really have a set plan yet.

I usually eat a smaller portion of whatever it is I'm craving. If I want a burger and fries, I get the junior portion. If I want ice cream. instead of buying a quart or pint of it, just get a cup (from McDonald's, DQ, wherever [YUM]). That way you can eat it and it's gone! LOL

I also eat smaller portions of what I'm craving and I try to add substitutes to help fill me up at the same time. Like sometimes I crave peanut butter so I'll have a little peanut butter with some apple wedges. Or if I'm craving chips I'll have them with lots of salsa.

It depends. Last night, I was craving Runza French Fries (God's food, I'm telling you!), but I think I was just really hungry. I went home, where dinner was waiting for me, and I was fine.

Then on Monday, lunch wasn't really sticking with me, and I couldn't figure out why, so I had a banana with melted peanut butter and a few chocolate chips, and I guess I was just craving something sweet. Hit the spot.

I think it's just a learning curve to be mindful of what you're eating, and listen to your body's cues. If the craving won't go away after you try to sway it with something else, try a little bit of what you're craving. See if that helps.

I usually eat some fruit or something else sweet because that's usually what I'm craving and then I chew gum in order to prevent myself from overeating. It works really well for me!

Though, if I have a really bad case of chocolate craving (which happens a couple times a week) then I'll eat one of Skinny Cow's numerous low calories chocolate snacks (I personally like their dreamy clusters and divine filled chocolates). That way, I get my fix, but I don't go overboard!

I go with a glass of orange juice for the afternoon craving and a slice of cheese for the before going to bed craving. An apple or fruit in the morning before lunch does the trick.

I'm lucky on my cravings; chocolate isn't something I like much at all, for one thing. Usually it's something like red meat (need to make new blood), peanut butter (never craved this until I was pregnant with my son, now I want it all the time) or a donut (that one's fairly recent, and the last time I had a donut it didn't taste right/quite satisfy the craving, so I'm hoping that one's run its course). I've found if I work it into my numbers for the day, I do better tomorrow and the next because I'm not craving it anymore. If I deny myself, then I still want the whatever and overdo it when I do eat the whatever it is.

I like being flexible and not necessarily denying myself, because someday I'll be at goal weight and I'd like to know how to stay there--cravings and all!