Cravings

[Caramon]

Hey all, coming from a fatass with poor eating habits over the last 20 years (well, pretty much 42 since I am 42 lol) I am having some issues with cravings. Usually I can control them, but I am finding that in the evenings I get super hungry.

I am trying to cut off my carbs past 6 pm. Usually I can suffer through hunger pangs with water and almonds and sometimes a shake in the evening, but sometimes its crazy, and no matter what I eat I just want more.

What can I eat that's relatively filling and will keep those pesky hunger cravings away? I am doing pretty good on the pop/soda front. Going from the amount I was drinking to literally nothing has been hard, but I am feeling better about it.

[nexa]

What are you usually eating during the day?

[moco]

Not sure if this helps, but...

When you get these cravings, try to stop and ask if yourself if you're actually hungry or if it's just compulsive behavior. I understand it's not easy - but over time, with practice, if you understand the difference between being hungry and having the compulsive urge to eat then you'll be able to adjust your behavior.

Again, not sure if this will help you - just sharing my own thought process.

[Caramon]

What are you usually eating during the day?

I try to vary my food, and usually during the week its very well structured. I have a shake after my workout in the morning at 8ish, then around 10:30 a protein with either carb or a tbsp of peanut butter (or almond butter yum!). THen lunch at 1 which is usually a protein (chicken, tuna) with either rice (little) and either salad or veggies. Snack at 3:30ish then supper at about 5:30-6. Its hard to nail down exactly since my wife has been cooking since she is off work. SHe is making me roast beef wraps tonight since I have little time after work then off to umpire 2 baseball games. But we are trying to eat more healthy foods like chicken more often.

Not sure if this helps, but...

When you get these cravings, try to stop and ask if yourself if you're actually hungry or if it's just compulsive behavior. I understand it's not easy - but over time, with practice, if you understand the difference between being hungry and having the compulsive urge to eat then you'll be able to adjust your behavior.

Again, not sure if this will help you - just sharing my own thought process.

Hmm, I dunno, Friday night I was hungry as all get out! Then again thats a bad example, as I didn't eat very well Friday at all (very much that is). I will work on it a bit more. Like I said I can usually control it, but even in the past I found that sometimes I would just binge, and couldnt stop.

I'm not looking for an easy answer. I know this weight loss isn't going to be easy. But something is working cause my 6 yr old daughter told me the other day that I am not as "spongey"

[SadButTrue]

Are you having any cheat meals at all during the week?

[Caramon]

Are you having any cheat meals at all during the week?

I am trying not to. We did have smokies for dinner the other day, I had 2 with a salad and last week a pizza. Is that something I should look into? I had asked before. talked about hiring someone to help out with my eating, and basically was told to watch what I eat. "Stop stuffing my mouth with shit" may have been the direct quote lol.

So that's what I have been doing, and the weight is coming off but like I said, the cravings sometimes kill me, and I try to limit what I eat when I have them, but I always find myself getting up to find something else to eat, something more filling.

I don't really have any kind of a plan, just what I have gleaned from here. I asked about different eating plans etc, and well, showed you what I was told lol.

[mentalflex]

Try this to help with cravings, ice water with lemon and drink a big glass, like 20 oz, next time you think you are hungry. Then before you reach for any food wait 20 minutes.

Another thing you can do is make your shake that you have at night in the blender with a lot of ice, so it gets real thick (maybe use less protein powder and add Greek Yogurt to make it thicker, but Team Skip actually makes a nice thick shake when mixed with a lot of ice) and then drink it slowly through a straw. Just the volume of that should help stave off cravings.

EDIT: Even a salad with some tuna or hard boiled eggs would be a reasonable option to help prevent the hunger pangs while allowing you to keep the carbs down.

[Caramon]

Great idea Mental! I will try that next time, well, both ideas!

[SadButTrue]

I am trying not to. We did have smokies for dinner the other day, I had 2 with a salad and last week a pizza. Is that something I should look into? I had asked before. talked about hiring someone to help out with my eating, and basically was told to watch what I eat. "Stop stuffing my mouth with shit" may have been the direct quote lol.

So that's what I have been doing, and the weight is coming off but like I said, the cravings sometimes kill me, and I try to limit what I eat when I have them, but I always find myself getting up to find something else to eat, something more filling.

I don't really have any kind of a plan, just what I have gleaned from here. I asked about different eating plans etc, and well, showed you what I was told lol.

I would consider having a cheat meal once per week. Just don't go over the one meal. It should help reduce your cravings.

I agree with what MF posted also. Those are great ideas.

[nexa]

The two things that worked for me:

1.) Using a food scale
2.) Logging my food/exercise

You could very well just not be eating enough. I distinctively remember complaining at one point in time about how much food I had to eat.

[RageBlanket]

Refeed! Load up on carbs for a few hours a week, it works wonders.

[Just Observing]

For myself, strategies I have found to work are (in no particular order):

1. Clearly define a set of goals, along with reasonable deadlines. When you find yourself tempted, remind yourself of how your decisions will influence your progress. If you are trying to lose weight, imagine how your physique will look if you give in, and how it will look when you stick to it.

2. Count calories. This will not only keep you aware of exactly what you are consuming and act as a deterrent to cheat. In addition, this may allow you to get away with less "clean" foods, provided its fits your macronutrient requirements for the day. See this link for a discussion: http://www.intensemuscle.com/showthread.php?t=46935

2. Weigh yourself daily. Knowing that there will be quantitative negative consequences to indulging that will reflect in a quantitative manner will make it easier to refuse food when the cravings come.

3. Allow scheduled refeeds. I strongly recommend checking out Skip's DVD regarding skip loading. See chapters 11-13 http://www.intensemuscle.com/showthread.php?t=43449

4. Try different diets, until you find one that works for you and your lifestyle. For example, I have been doing intermittent fasting, and don't eat my first meal of the day until 5pm. Although this might sound crazy, this makes it a lot easier for me not to feel hungry throughout the day. I don't even think about food for most of the day, and then when it comes to actually eat, I am stuffed the rest of the evening. Not only that, it allows me to get away with foods that are a bit higher calorie (again, see the link under point 2). If you are super hungry in the evenings, this may work for you. Check out these threads:

http://www.intensemuscle.com/showthread.php?t=46700
http://www.intensemuscle.com/showthread.php?t=45502
http://www.intensemuscle.com/showthread.php?t=40535

[Sammich]

^^ most ironic user name ever

[Just Observing]

^^ most ironic user name ever

Because I don't compete and lift only as a hobby, I don't post much. When I was thinking of a username I had no clue what to put, but thought this name would at least be appropriate. Anyway, in this case, I feel like I could contribute.

[Sammich]

Because I don't compete and lift only as a hobby, I don't post much. When I was thinking of a username I had no clue what to put, but thought this name would at least be appropriate. Anyway, in this case, I feel like I could contribute.

I'm going to change your username to "Cruisin' for a Bruisin'"