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Question about Cravings

David LeventhalDavid Leventhal
in General Training Discussions

I'm hoping some of the dieticians / nutritionists on the team can provide a little insight here. 

Recently I've been making a conscious effort to increase my vegetable intake while trying to greatly reduce the amount of processed foods & incrementally reduce the amount meat I take in.  One thing I've noticed lately is that in the evenings - after dinner, I have these CRAZY STRONG cravings for (1) carbohydrates - things like cereal, crackers, etc... and (2) sweets - things like ice cream, chocolate, etc... (also peanut butter - which I'm not sure where that fits in).

I assume that (1) this is normal and that my body is simply adjusting to the reduced amount of the aforementioned items & (2) these cravings will subside in time.

So my questions are:  (1) are my assumptions correct, (2) is there anything I can do to lessen them & (3) any idea how long I have to fight through this

Thanks

Comments

  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    I'm no dietitian but I have experimented a lot with what I eat. I have cut out gluten and all "Recreation Sugar". The first time I did it I had VERY strong cravings for the first 7-10 days, then moderately strong cravings for another week. After 30 days of "cold turkey" they were completely gone and never had them again. My second yr after being back off the wagon for a few months all of these time frames were cut in half. This yr after only a month of "food indiscretion" my cravings didn't even last a day...

    Some people can "moderate" these things, but I personally cannot. For me I have to go "all or nothing". If I have none of the bad stuff, eventually the cravings go completely away. If I have even a little bit, then I keep on craving more and more of them.

    FWIW, I eat tons of nuts now and healthy fats, whole eggs, avocados, etc. One of my afternoon snacks is an apple cut up with peanut butter... And I don't feel the least bit guilty of that.
  • Peter NoyesPeter Noyes
    I like to have a snack before bed. I go for greek yogurt with honey and almonds. It gives me something to look forward to after dinner and helps me fight the urge to munch on junk food.
  • Elizabeth HornakElizabeth Hornak

    David,

    I am not a nutritionist or dietician, but have struggled with the same issues. Heading into the OS, I decided to do a total body reboot and detox using Ayurveda principles, which emphasize seasonal eating, balancing blood sugar and healing the intestinal mucosa of the intestinal tract.

    At this point in my reboot, I am eating GF, vegan and I have lost my cravings for sugar or carbs. The next phase will be a simplified diet of rice, beans and veggies.

    I think this is something many people struggle with so thank you for putting it out there, and please keep us posted.

    Best,

    Beth

  • Elizabeth HornakElizabeth Hornak
    I've been also reading Branden Brazier's books as well.

    I am not sure if I can stick to GF / vegan as a forever thing (I make artisan bread and pizza and love cheese), but it is sure interesting to read about.

    Beth
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Hey Man,

    I am with you. Eating is rough when you make changes. I think a lot is mental withdrawal and some physical withdrawal as well. I am a bit of a nervous eater and will hit the kitchen late night out of boredom. Hang tough a bit longer and it will get easier. Try and fill the cravings with lean protein rather than sugary carbs....
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