Carb cravings

Eat carbs already, we're not carnivores. I eat over 500g of carbs. I'm not fat either, I used to eat under 200g every day because of how the diet industry wraps our heads in silly fad diets.
I also eat mostly fruit and veg, they won't kill you. It won't "turn into fat" because the carbs/sugar is natural and the body knows exactly how to use it as fuel. Things like pasta and refined bread, probably not as much.
Depending on what "type" (since some people consider chips, cake, and chocolate carbs) you are craving you are deficient in something. It could be a mineral or a vitamin (highly recommend to stay away from vitamins and just natural sources), salt (means you need more greens), dehydrated (water holds onto water, why people think this is bad I will never know).

Edit: I know you said you were trying the 5:2 diet. But looking at your diary(if it is accurate), you need to eat more. That is another reason why you are craving carbs. You can force the body to do something but you can't trick it in the end, it's starving for food and mainly carbs because it's the main energy source to fuel the body.

Carbs are your friend! your body needs carbs as much as it needs the other macro (and micro) nutrients. I eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies so I always seem to go over my carbs. go for it. don't be scured!

Eat carbs already, we're not carnivores. I eat over 500g of carbs. I'm not fat either, I used to eat under 200g every day because of how the diet industry wraps our heads in silly fad diets.
I also eat mostly fruit and veg, they won't kill you. It won't "turn into fat" because the carbs/sugar is natural and the body knows exactly how to use it as fuel. Things like pasta and refined bread, probably not as much.
Depending on what "type" (since some people consider chips, cake, and chocolate carbs) you are craving you are deficient in something. It could be a mineral or a vitamin (highly recommend to stay away from vitamins and just natural sources), salt (means you need more greens), dehydrated (water holds onto water, why people think this is bad I will never know).

Edit: I know you said you were trying the 5:2 diet. But looking at your diary(if it is accurate), you need to eat more. That is another reason why you are craving carbs. You can force the body to do something but you can't trick it in the end, it's starving for food and mainly carbs because it's the main energy source to fuel the body.

This is bad advice. Not everyone tolerates carbs the same way. I also suffer from carb addiction. There are certain triggers - just like a drug addict that you have. I can't even tell you the struggle I go though with this. So when someone says they have a 'carb addiction' don't encourage them to eat more. This is also scientifically wrong. Carbs don't need to be your main source of glucose. You can also use fats/proteins by switching over and eating a LCHF diet. For people like myself and the OP, its the ONLY way we can control our cravings.

I would recommend finding carbs that work for you, if possible. I am carb-sensitive. I can eat all vegetables, fruit (except bananas) and whole wheat tortillas without a problem. Bread or pasta, even whole wheat, and rice, both brown and white, makes me hungry within 2 hours, so I always leave enough calories in my daily budget for a snack the nights we have rice with dinner. Then I'm fine. Bananas and anything with processed sugar make me HUNGRY within a half hour or so and it is really hard for me to get that under control if its early in the day. I just keep craving more. I can sneak in some sugar (I like the off brands of Skinny cow ice cream sandwiches) about an hour before getting ready for bed because I'm busy and then get to sleep before the cravings kick in. It has to be perfectly timed though - I can hold out those 2 hours before I actually go to sleep, but any longer than that and I will be tempted to forage for more carby stuff. For some reason, I can eat a whole wheat tortilla with my lunch and not have a problem with cravings. Try different carb sources and pay close attention to how your body reacts to each. Try to eat them with protein. Keep a log and look for patterns. Hopefully you will find a way to enjoy some carbs again.

Eat carbs already, we're not carnivores. I eat over 500g of carbs. I'm not fat either, I used to eat under 200g every day because of how the diet industry wraps our heads in silly fad diets.
I also eat mostly fruit and veg, they won't kill you. It won't "turn into fat" because the carbs/sugar is natural and the body knows exactly how to use it as fuel. Things like pasta and refined bread, probably not as much.
Depending on what "type" (since some people consider chips, cake, and chocolate carbs) you are craving you are deficient in something. It could be a mineral or a vitamin (highly recommend to stay away from vitamins and just natural sources), salt (means you need more greens), dehydrated (water holds onto water, why people think this is bad I will never know).

Edit: I know you said you were trying the 5:2 diet. But looking at your diary(if it is accurate), you need to eat more. That is another reason why you are craving carbs. You can force the body to do something but you can't trick it in the end, it's starving for food and mainly carbs because it's the main energy source to fuel the body.

This is bad advice. Not everyone tolerates carbs the same way. I also suffer from carb addiction. There are certain triggers - just like a drug addict that you have. I can't even tell you the struggle I go though with this. So when someone says they have a 'carb addiction' don't encourage them to eat more. This is also scientifically wrong. Carbs don't need to be your main source of glucose. You can also use fats/proteins by switching over and eating a LCHF diet. For people like myself and the OP, its the ONLY way we can control our cravings.

You simply can't avoid carbs all your life. It's not a feasible solution. You must learn exercise control. Carbs will be around you for your entire life. You are going to need to eat them at some point. Avoidance will only work for so long. To achieve lasting weight loss you must learn moderation. Like anything it takes time, patience, and a lot of will power. Avoiding carbs entirely is just pushing the problem under the rug. It's still there, and eventually it's going to make itself known. You have to actually learn to deal with the problem, not ignore it.

QFT and emphasis

You simply can't avoid carbs all your life. It's not a feasible solution. You must learn exercise control. Carbs will be around you for your entire life. You are going to need to eat them at some point. Avoidance will only work for so long. To achieve lasting weight loss you must learn moderation. Like anything it takes time, patience, and a lot of will power. Avoiding carbs entirely is just pushing the problem under the rug. It's still there, and eventually it's going to make itself known. You have to actually learn to deal with the problem, not ignore it.

Meh, not really. The notion that eating low carb doesn't require the exercise of control is nonsensical. In some ways it requires quite a bit more control than just eating balanced macros, because you have to be more restrictive with what you eat (and potentially where you eat), and potentially even when you eat certain macros. Just because someone decides to keep their carbs low doesn't mean they aren't learning how to deal with carbs in moderation. Quite the opposite actually, they are learning how to avoid taking in carbs in excess. Now, what constitutes excess may change over time as your macros change, but there's nothing special you learn by eating a lot of carbs while cutting - other than perhaps how to deal with being hungry all the time.

Not saying the OP shouldn't eat more carbs - maybe she should, maybe she shouldn't. But "learning moderation over carbs" is not in and of itself a good reason to set a high carb macro.

QFT!!!!

For those that are carb sensitive or have carb addiction, it is a must to find out what your trigger foods are and what level of carbs is good for your metabolism. I've read books on binging and emotional eating (because I wanted to heal myself - I felt unhealthy and out of control). It is much easier to avoid the Oreos instead of learning to eat two. I've tried...hard...i didn't want to give them up! But, I feel so much better just not eating them. I feel much better eating lower carb. To me, and other carb addicts, certain foods are like heroin...I cannot stop and it is destructive to my health. I feel fantastic now and in control. Find what works for you!

You simply can't avoid carbs all your life. It's not a feasible solution. You must learn exercise control. Carbs will be around you for your entire life. You are going to need to eat them at some point. Avoidance will only work for so long. To achieve lasting weight loss you must learn moderation. Like anything it takes time, patience, and a lot of will power. Avoiding carbs entirely is just pushing the problem under the rug. It's still there, and eventually it's going to make itself known. You have to actually learn to deal with the problem, not ignore it.

Meh, not really. The notion that eating low carb doesn't require the exercise of control is nonsensical. In some ways it requires quite a bit more control than just eating balanced macros, because you have to be more restrictive with what you eat (and potentially where you eat), and potentially even when you eat certain macros. Just because someone decides to keep their carbs low doesn't mean they aren't learning how to deal with carbs in moderation. Quite the opposite actually, they are learning how to avoid taking in carbs in excess. Now, what constitutes excess may change over time as your macros change, but there's nothing special you learn by eating a lot of carbs while cutting - other than perhaps how to deal with being hungry all the time.

Not saying the OP shouldn't eat more carbs - maybe she should, maybe she shouldn't. But "learning moderation over carbs" is not in and of itself a good reason to set a high carb macro.

Who said anything about setting a high carb macro percentage? I also never said low carb dieting doesn't also take self control. You're attacking the straw man here. All I'm saying is avoidance of an entire macro nutrient is a poor long term strategy for permanent weight loss. If you have a problem controlling yourself when eating carbs, focus on fixing the problem, don't just hide from it.

You seem to be assuming the OP is going no carb, but nothing indicates as much. Looking back, it appears she's eating between 50-100g of carbs per day. Nothing about eating 50-100g of carbs per day indicates she's avoiding carbs altogether, which is the behavior you seem to be railing against. Rather, she's just reducing carbs. My point was that it's a logical fallacy to think that going from 50-100g of carbs/day to some higher carb threshold is a good idea merely because "you simply can't avoid carbs all your life" and needing to "learn moderation." Eating 50-100g of carbs per day IS demonstrating moderation when it comes to eat carbs - there's no need to eat more just to prove you can.

Now all that said, the OP may well want to up her carb intake and there are some good reasons in favor of doing so. But doing so just to prove you can do it and to "learn moderation" is silly.

I guess if some doctor ever looks at my bloodwork and says, "Meera, you have a serious snack food deficiency." I'll reconsider my options.

:laugh: