Carb cravings

[mansi]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to be on low carb diet since I am on BE.

But the problem is I have real difficult time curbing my carb cravings. I will be completely full, but still it would make me feel hungry and horrible and I can't stop myself from taking some rice or binging on soem crackers.
When i was on a low fat diet, I never had the cravings for eating fatty stuff. And since I am not very fond of sweets also, I never had problems.

But the moment I am on low carb diet, I crave for sweet things (which I make sweetened with splenda), but still I really really crave carbs.

Any suggestions to curb these cravings will be most moost most welcome.

Thanks
Mansi

[Wenonae]

Mansi,

I think it's just best to focus on high-protein, moderate carb, and moderate monosaturated fats diet. Meaning, don't deny ur body, else it'll try to compensate by doing something else. Instead, just make sure to avoid carbs just before heading to bed, it'll more likely mess with ur generation of good HGH levels.

If your body's asking for it..and ur not downing cupcakes and twinkies..it's prolly just fine to eat those crackers...most women seem to need a bit more carbs than men. Makes sense, we're more estrogen-run and men more testosterone-run. Men need more protein..and women more sweets.

I'm doing just fine doing the above..and I'm satisfied all the way around.

[fawnmarie]

Carbohydrates raise seratonin levels. Most women have to deal with mood swings due to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, so we crave carbs to raise seratonin.

St. Johns wort helps - I use it when low carbing to deal with those cravings. It does takes some time before your brain learns to adjust and make seratonin without the insulin spikes. If you have been just binging during the cravings, your body won't learn to make that adjustment. Try St. Johns wort and see if that helps. It's sort of like drug withdrawl - after 3-5 of STRICT low carb, you will lose most of the cravings.

Also - if you crave chocolate, you may be magnesium deficient. I always have massive drops in magnesium (muscle spasms that are only relieved by magnesium supplementation) about a week before my period.

Fawn

[Wenonae]

Don't use St. John's wort if ur on BC!

[mansi]

Oh My God!!!

I am not on BC but I really can't take yet another pill. I am already on so much stuff. May be I will start this after BE.
Meanwhile I will try to eat healthy carbs like whole grains and brown rice when I crave them.

Thanks
Mansi

[mominator]

Fawn is right. I reduced my carbs by quite a bit. I am a Carbaholic, mainly due to my job. I tend to grab some chips or cookies between runs... Not good. And I didn't realize until I read her post, I had started supplementing with magnesium just for general health and I do NOT crave carbs like I used too. In fact, I make sure I get some carbs in me during BE. While on break, I had cut down VERY dramatically. Mainly cuz it helped with my PCOS. Hence, weight loss too. ;D

Thanks Fawn!