Lisa, enjoy your experience! I know it can be scary to think about having cravings as you once had them, which end up completely taking over. Even though I do get cravings, I still don't feel like I'm back to my "old ways", because once I'm past it I am still a believer and follower of the principles of eating well using Zone guidelines.

Did I do anything different than might have brought on the cravings? The factors that I think contributed were:
- I added regular exercise. It's possible that while I don't exercise enough to increase the amount of blocks required, it is still enough to for my body to notice.
- Winter started. We have brutally harsh winters where I live, with long nights and short days. This always affects my mood, and I have always gotten comfort from food.
- I haven't had a vacation for a while, so my stress is increasing.

I'm currently in the process of getting some tests done through my naturopath to check my vitamin D, thyroid and glucose tolerance. We'll see if anything at that level is working against me.

Actually, I just did my glucose tolerance test yesterday (overnight fast, sweet breakfast, test blood every hour for 4 hours)... and the results were significantly better than when I did it a few years ago! Despite the ridiculously sweet breakfast I had, my body was able to handle the overload and keep my sugars well within the normal range. Yay! I suspect that is testimony to the 6 months break I've given my pancreas eating in the Zone!

Excellent progress xee!


You'll have to keep us updated on the results of the testingbeign doen by your naturopath. Finding my hypothyroidism and a vitamin D deficiency (it was corrected with supplementaton is now at an excellent level) helped me a lot. Vitamin D functions much like a hormone. It's extremely intereating. BTW, hypothyroidism can increase cravings.

It's always helpful to learn more about how your body is functioning. Good luck with it and keep up the good job!

Thanks, xee! I will keep those in mind, but hopefully I won't find the cravings start. Although, I suppose it would be wise to plan in advance for them, just in case. I really haven't started a exercise routine yet, I'm taking things one step at a time. Zone, first. Exercise, next. Maybe adding fish oil after that. Funny, now that Sue mentioned cravings and thyroid. I put on the weight because of cravings for sweets/carbs a while back, and couldn't figure why I suddenly wanted pretzels, cereals, very specific candies, etc. It wasn't until recently that I found out my thyroid was out of whack. Once on the levothyroxin for a few months the cravings lessened, but the weight wouldn't budge. Now that I've been on the Zone, no cravings and losing weight! Yipee! Thanks, all for the support.

WTG Xee!

Hmm,Zone counselors?? I was never aware of this. Is there a cost/fee? Can someone explain how they work? I'd love to take advantage of this service.

Cran and all of those who are carb sensitive. Any specific snack suggestions that I can eat when I am craving that will cut the crave?? When I do crave, it is hard for me to find the right snack to get rid of it. I usually try to make a Zone snack but they don't always work. Would I just eat a protein/fat snack and not the carb? Any info. would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hello all! I read this Forum & I have to say, I could use some help on the cravings end.

Cravings come in MANY forms and for many reasons. Please remember that.

I crave alcohol. Yes, I do. Every day about the same time 2pm to 6pm. It won't quit till I have a drink. When I do give in, I feel like I've let myself down afterward. Alcoholism runs in my family. I've fought it & fought it. I've been on & off of the Zone for 2 years now. While I haven't fallowed the diet for 2 years, I have never stopped taking my fish oil. I'm a 28 year old stay at home mom of 4 and my husband is a Truck Driver, he's gone most of the time. I'm just sick & tired of these cravings. Even on days where I do everything right & eat like I'm suppose to, it all goes to hell in the late afternoon!

Any Help is appreciated! All questions are welcome!

Sarah, there are a lot of great, helpful people on this board so hopefully, we get some good suggestions. I feel like I am addicted to sugar. I have been this way my whole life and it is a constant battle for me even when I am in ths Zone or at least I think I am in the Zone. Maybe, we aren't truly in the Zone. I do find that depending on my hormones and time of the month, that no matter how much I try to be in the Zone, I still struggle. I feel like I am severely carb sensitive and it is a battle! Hang in there! We will figure it out!

kimberly, it's going to be tough to find a snack or two that will address the cravings. It's the bigger picture fo you overall diet that needs tinkering with to eliminate the craving in the first place. Trying to get rid of an existing craving with the right snack is a bandaid approach after the fact. The best way for a carbohydrate sensitive person to eliminate cravings is to be sure to take the appropriate amount of Omega Rx daily together with Sea Health Plus, and to practice strict adhernce to the Zone diet, having all you carbohydrates from favorable veggies. If you must have fruit, limit it to a small amount of berries, not more than once a day. If you're following the ZoneFast plan keep the fruit additions to a minimum, no more than a small amount of berries a day.

The best snacks to eat when you have a craving (and also when you don't) are either Zone functional foods, or snacks that conform strictly to Zone rules and contain veggies for the carbohydrate. These are some examples:

Cottage cheese with tomato chunks and guacamole

Egg whites stuffed with hummus

Tofu (or cottage cheese) based dip with a little olive oil stirred in, with fresh raw veggies (peppers, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.

If you've determined you're a more carbohydrate sensitive person, I would not recommend a fruit snack. Your goal should be to stick with veggies that offer the best insulin control, especially when you insulin is out of control (and as much as possible, for that matter). I would also caution you not to try to exercise the craving away once you have it, as some people try to do. Exercising when you are already in a low blood sugar situation is not a wise idea. Also, re your snack question, eating a protein and fat snack without carbohydrate will also cause hunger, the more focused type. It is not the solution for anyone, not the way to get into the Zone and stay there.

Good luck with your adjustments. I'll be happy to help if you have questions. :-)

Have a great weekend!

trixie,

"Hmm,Zone counselors?? I was never aware of this. Is there a cost/fee? Can someone explain how they work? I'd love to take advantage of this service."

Just call the number at the top of this page. No cost is involved.

I feel that sometimes the best way to beat a sweet craving is to just have a sweet.

If you are a chocolate person, sometimes having a small piece of dark chocolate each day does help to beat the cravings.

Otherwise, I usually will beat it by having a fruit for my sweet craving, accompanied by protein and fat. And, I generally will go a little overboard with the fat, because the fat will help with satiety.

Kimberly, When I first started Zone I had cravings, but are now definitely gone. A block of protein, some strawberries, and nuts worked for me. Quarter of an apple sliced thinly to look like more with peanut/almond butter is good. The cravings go away after a few weeks, promise. And I was a carb junkie! My sister-in-law will attest to that. I used to stop by the bakery and pick up a cake and she and I would devour it. We can now joke about it and talk about how bad - and how sick we were. And weight had nothing to do with it. At that time, I was only 120 pounds, but my body was very unhealthy, tired all the time, and had carb overload.

Sarah, Have you tried exercise? I know that is hard to say with 4 kids, but I have found that either running my butt off and sweating, or doing some cardio relieves stress and makes you forget cravings. Think, I can do this, and think healthy! Drink lots of water, put a slice of lemon or lime in it and make it pretty. Have you talked to your doctor? The Zone way of eating should help you if you stick with it, and the fish oil definitely helps but it does take a litte time. Don't give up!

Oh, good point, Mari! I have found that a good dose of aerobic activity will kill craving for me. Cravings are not hunger, but they are a desire to eat, even when not hungry. But, for whatever reason, I find that the activity will kill the craving.

Sarah, Not sure if that would work with alcohol, but if could be effective on getting your mind off of it, if it is just a thought, and not an addiction. And, it is hard with 4 kids, but I am much more inclined to run into trouble if I am at home. Even with plenty to do there, the temptation to eat myself OOZ is greater. Maybe at that time of day, you could take the kids for a walk, go to the park, or whatever it is that will get you out of the house and doing something else.

Cran, I do have a piece of dark chocolate just about every day. Good advice.

Mari, thanks for the suggestions. Do you eat a block of nuts? That is what I usually do. Eat an egg white, 3 almonds, and a handful of blueberries. As I said, depending on my cycle, there are days I can go without the cravings but more often than not, I am hungry just about every couple of hours. I do exercise 6 days a week for an hour to an hour and a half so that is def. not an issue for me. If anything, I exercise too much!!! LOL!

Sarah, I have a friend who battles with alcohol and when she was craving, the doctor told her to eat a piece of candy. I know that doesn't fit with the zone but it helped her until she was able to not drink. She has also taken up running and she said that it has helped her with stress a lot. She is like a new person since she has started working out regularly.

Good advice, Kimberly! And, if Sarah does replace the alcohol craving with candy, maybe she can do the dark chocolate and at least get some benefit from that!

Yes, Cran that is true. Sarah, eat some dark chocolate!

wow, thanks so.... much for all of your ideas! I'm going to start the candy thing! I have a feeling that and once it warms up, the park will be my ticket to it!! I can't wait! Also, I think a tread mill is in my future!! Thanks again everyone! I'll try to let you know how it's going in a week or so.

Oh, do you think sugar free would be better? Would that be better in the zone, or will that not make a difference?

One small piece of dark chocolate has surprisingly few calories/carbs/fat... check the label!

I personally don't like dark chocolate. :-)

I don't think it would matter if it was sugar free or not. I am sure someone here will know. Good Luck. Please keep us posted when you have time.

Hi there -- I can only speak from my own experience, and this may not be true for others -- but for me, products with "real" sugar induce cravings, whereas products with sugar substitutes do not (as long as I have them in moderation).

I am new to zone diet and in 2 weeks have lost 6 pounds, However i want to know if I eat 3-6 dark chocolate almonds 2 days a week will I continue to lose weight ? I loved milk chocolate but know dark chocolate is better for me and gave into the craving the other evening and ate 5 dark chocolate almonds I do well all day with my blocks and yet at night around 8 or 9 i want the treat. Please advise

A small amount of Dark Chocolate can be beneficial. However, watch the additional (unfavorable) Fat. If you are talking about 3-6 almonds per day, it is such a small amount, I wouldn't worry too much. Look at the amount of carbs, though - and ensure you do consider, unless negligible in that amount - consider the carbs as unfavorable.