Can't lose weight because I can't control cravings?

drink cofee, tea etc

You will have cravings. Just learn to substitute for the lesser of 2 evils. I love chocolate. When I started I kept a bag of Hershey kisses in the freezer and would eat 3 when I was having a chocolate craving. It fit into my calorie counts and allowing them to melt in my mouth made them last through the craving. Portion control and substitution will be your friends! Good luck!

Whenever I have a craving and I'm not actually hungry, I stall. I drink water, tea, coffee, even diet soda if I'm having a sweet craving (scandalous I know but it works for me). Then I think about how hard I'm working to be healthy, and how fleeting the pleasure of eating anything really is. It's gotten easier to ignore the cravings, plus as time goes on I find that I having fewer cravings in general. If I have a really stubborn craving for something that I would rather not eat, I eat something similar that fits into my plan. Salty - air popped popcorn or nuts; sweet - fruit, So Delicious no sugar "ice cream," or (gasp) diet A&W; fatty/creamy - avocado.

Agree with all those above me!!!

Do you drink soda? I know for me when i do it spikes my sugar cravings and gives me a headache! :sad: Granted I do still drink one every now and then, I can tell my cravings are not as strong on days i only drink water! you can Definately endulge once in a while if you are keeping a good exercise routine!! It really is about portion control!

Honestly, it comes down to how bad you want to lose the weight... If you truly want to lose it, you wont eat the junk.
Everyone gets cravings for things they cannot have. Most people who start off overweight are in some way a "comfort-eater"... The only way to control these cravings is to REALLY want to lose weight; the craving's still there, but you want a trim body more than you want your m&ms. It's the same as quitting smoking; If you don't really want to do it, you'll give in a have another puff.

Baby steps. And taking control of you rmind. You can do it, start saying no to junk. Replace processed foods with lots of fruits and vegi's. Also, join a group for exercise, if it is at the gym, do classes. It really helps to do this in a group and have the support of others. Anddrink lots and lots of water.

For me, it really helped to tell myself "I don't eat that".

Not "I can't eat that" - but that I don't.

It's all about the mindset. I chose not to eat certain foods - I could if I wanted, but i'm the one who decided - and that was very empowering.

That being said, I totally agree with the others that you really can have anything - just in small amounts that fit within your daily calorie/nutritional goals. I lost my weight while enjoying a glass of red wine most days - just counted in the calories :drinker:

Definitely don't keep crap food that you know you crave available. It's much easier to have self-control at the grocery than at home. Substitution is a great idea, too. If you LOVE ice cream, for instance, try low-fat frozen yogurt instead. If a substitution won't do, indulge in a reasonable way. If you absolutely MUST eat potato chips, for instance, measure out a single serving and stick to just that.

It helps a lot to pay attention to when you're craving something. If you're having a craving because you're stressed, or sad, or happy, or lonely, or angry, have a big glass of water and go for a walk instead, and see if you're still having your food craving afterwards. I had to overcome emotional eating. It's rough. However, if you're seriously craving red meat, or a baked potato, or some other non-junk food, my opinion is that there's something there your body needs, and you should get it. In a reasonable quantity, of course.

There is nothing wrong about having a little indulgence now and again. A couple of times a month I want a candy bar, so I fit it into my daily allowance and I have it, and I enjoy the hell out of it.

For me, it really helped to tell myself "I don't eat that".

Not "I can't eat that" - but that I don't.

It's all about the mindset. I chose not to eat certain foods - I could if I wanted, but i'm the one who decided - and that was very empowering.

I do the same thing! I really thought I was the only one. :drinker:

I will tell myself:
"I don't really need that right now, but I really want it, so I will make room in my day for a small piece/serving/etc tomorrow"


Make a cup of tea then come here and pre-log tomorrow's foods/exercise to allow room for a small treat.

edit-
also- are you really getting enough calories and protein?

1200 cals and 30 grams of protein is too low for most and you will be hungry for everything all the time.
check your calorie and fat/protein goals.

someone once told me a sugar craving is really the body craving protein. I notice if i eat sugar it starts the process of craving. If I can go 3 days without sugar, they're gone. Zero cravings. so for me its like any other habits Ive kicked~a period of abstinence will make saying no so much easier. Sugar free gum can help. I recently stopped eating sugar free products because of all the aspartame-cancer propaganda. I dont know if its true and I dont want to find out. and BOY HAVE MY CRAVINGS COME BACK. even from just the regular sugar in my morning coffee now I want sugar all the time. So what do I do?? I want to lose weight. but ABOVE all I want to live craving free. So heres my attitude TODAY, subject to change but for now, Im trying moderation. Im trying to see if I can have just a little sugar or not. Thus far, a little sugar has not worked out so well in the area of cravings, but I continue to lose weight otherwise. Its possible that all the healthy foods i eat and all the exercise will pay off and I will be able to have my cake and eat it to. TBD. As for your diet. GO SIMPLE. Breakfast: eggs and turkey sausage for breakfast. add cheese, salsa and avocado for a treat! add a pc of rye toast and a banana. (its about 500 cals) you will be stuffed out of your gourd! make breakfast big and go smaller as the day goes on. Lunch: open faced sandwiches! Tuna, Turkey, Roast beef? doesnt matter just get rid of half the bread. Grab a healthy mayo (olive oil based?) and have a salad on the side with a healthy dressing. Dinner: Baked skinless chicken, and steamed veggies (I buy frozen if I dont have fresh) this time skip the bread and add a small white potato or a corn cob. Snacks: Boil up some eggs for a quick snack, string cheese, Greek yogurt, a piece of fruit. Think Protein and fruit combo. So those are just ideas, but remember the key is:

B: protein,carb,fruit
L: protein, carb, veggie
protein, veggie
Sn: protein, fruit

This has worked for me at a loss of about 2 lbs a week and I eat every 4-4.5 hours. The snack can be 2-2.5 hrs after the last meal. I didnt want to stop eating or GOD FORBID be hungry. When I eat like I described Im not hungry, my blood sugars stable (less to no cravings) and I lose weight. Everyone is different so do what feels right. Just remember, keep the food simple and FRESH. Lots of packaging, lots of ingredients, just have lots of extra stuff you dont need

Good luck sweetie! You got this!

Honestly, it comes down to how bad you want to lose the weight... If you truly want to lose it, you wont eat the junk.
Everyone gets cravings for things they cannot have. Most people who start off overweight are in some way a "comfort-eater"... The only way to control these cravings is to REALLY want to lose weight; the craving's still there, but you want a trim body more than you want your m&ms. It's the same as quitting smoking; If you don't really want to do it, you'll give in a have another puff.

Sorry but have to disagree a little bit here. Binge eating can be a form of compulsive behavior and is classified as an eating disorder if it is bad enough. In some people it is triggered by other mood disorders (anxiety, OCD, depression). If this is the case simply "wanting" to lose weight will never be enough. That is like saying someone with depression can get over it by "wanting" to be happy.

To the OP, and anyone else with binge eating they have tried to control over and over but can not, consider that there may be an emotional component to it. Try a support group like OA or even seeing a therapist. There is no shame is talking to someone about your feelings and finding out why you do the things you do.

I suffer from OCD and depression but never thought my binge eating was related to that. When I finally realized it might be and found a therapist who agreed I started on the road to change.

For some people it is a will power thing but not for everyone.

In my opinion its emotional AND chemical. I WANTED to be skinny for 6 years but I was also extremely depressed, on medications and UNDERNOURISHED. I ate, but what I ate was killing me. I believe 100% that certain foods can do nothing but trigger cravings and that if you load your system up with junk, thats what its going to crave (desire to be thin or no).

See a psychologist. No kidding; a psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy can help you learn to control cravings. If your employer offers an EAP (employee assistance program) you can probably even get at least a few visits free.

Kelli- Glad you are trying to find support and change your life! Congrats to taking the first step. It is not easy to give up the and thing and cravings are hard to overcome. I have done fit competitions and I still got during my diet period. My trainer told me this and it helped. It is have one "cheat" meal a week. It helps you cut down the cravings, you have something to look forward to and once you have it you are good until the next time. We can't always be prefect with our diets but having one "cheat" item or meal will help you have success while losing the weight. I live by this rule and find myself a much happier person when I get to have M & M or ice cream.

Good Luck!

Clean out your cupboards of all cravings. Fill yourself up on lean proteins. Like with any addiction, if you cut out those bad foods completely, your body will eventually stop craving them. Go on the internet and find healthy substitute recipes for those that you crave. Also don't be fooled by "fat free" foods. They are usually filled with sugar and carbs! Wish I had an easy solution for you, but I don't. It all breaks down to what is more important to you. That tasty treat or losing the weight.