Can someone give me tips on how to stop cravings ...

Precious, I hope you got some help with your budding eating disorder.

If not, it is likely that your food cravings are a result of a nutritional deficiency of some sort.

Generally, your body tends to crave what it needs but isn't getting as well as what you'd previously been giving it in quantity but are now withholding.

So for instance, if your body was used to an influx of caffeine and sugar every day, and you suddenly stopped providing that, your body would let you know its displeasure in various ways; cravings among them.

Conversely, if your body is low on essential vitamins and minerals, you may find yourself craving sugar because your body will signal its need for energy and sugar is a quick pick-me-up; albeit one which will ultimately exacerbate the problem due to its crash & burn effect.

Your best bet is to eat a balanced diet so as to keep your body fueled and ready to work for you, instead of against you.

Cravings? Not sure which ones you are referring to, but I'm guessing anything that you shouldn't eat while on a diet...

First off, I think its safe to say you would like chocolate. I don't think this should be a restriction altogether. Have a little dark chocolate, its good for you. In addition, you could eat a small bowl of cereal with chocolate chunks (w/ skim milk), Special K has a healthy, good tasting one. Other alternatives; granola or fiber bar with almonds and/or a little chocolate (kellog's makes a very tasty one called fiber one)...

Next, for soda cravings; some carbonated water with lemon, orange, or lime. You could also mix it with some fruit juice.

If drinking juice, I recommend always mixing is 50% water 50% juice... Juices have lots of sugar, you should dilute them.

Another drink if you are tired of water is tea or coffee. BUT BE CAREFUL of what you put in them, tea has 0 calories, and coffee has about 5-10 plain. to flavor tea (or try flavor teas) w/out using sugar try honey, and/or lemon. to coffee add a little skim milk.

*Make sandwiches with whole grain bread and only 1 slice of bread, not two.  If that is not enough to satisfy you, have a cup of soup. (eating/drinking hot substances fill you up quicker.)

Dessert: have some :

-       cereal with skim milk

-       whole grain waffle with honey

-       fruit covered with vanilla yogurt.

-       Healthy alternative ice cream

-       Fiber chocolate bar (w/ tea or coffee)

This is all I’m coming up with at the moment. I usually eat pretty healthy, so I’m not sure what else you might crave… But if you think of anything in particular, ask, maybe I can suggest a substitution. Happy dieting :)

Hi Precious,

  JK Grandma has given you some very good advice.

  I would like to hear a little bit more about what is going on for you before I answer here.

  Can you tell us a about the cravings... for what?  When? Tell us about what is going on in your life?  How old are you?  How long has this been going on?  And anything else that you would like to share.

  Elena

Elena, Precious is the same girl we were all helping about a month ago. If I remember correctly, she's about age 14 and 5'10" and wears a size 4 and wanted to get down to half of that size.

She was contemplating crash dieting and bulimia, remember?

When we last heard from her, she had been experiencing bouts of dizziness and nausea. She had also been retching, but had nothing in her system to throw up.

There were several of us advising her to tell her parents what was going on - they knew she wanted to be skinny, but not to the extreme of what she was sharing with us.

I don't know what's happened in the interim, but I know we are all still worried about her.

Jk,

  I didn't realize she was the same.

I would still like to know what she is meaning by "cravings", in her own words.

Since it has been a while since we spoke with her, I would like to know, from her, what is going on for her now.

Preciousxxx, it is good to hear from you again. 

You might be lacking in protein. 

If you do not include protein with each meal, you will not stay satisfied. 

So, while you are eating a well balanced diet of fruits and vegetables and grains, be sure to include 3-4 ounces of lean meat or 1/2 to 3/4 cup of dried beans.  

 If you combine whole grains and beans with a calcium product you will be getting as much protein as if you had eaten a steak. 

So, you can be vegetarian also. 

Brown rice(1/2 cup) with pinto beans(1/2-3/4cup) and 1/4 cup of shredded cheese on top is full of protein and will keep you from having cravings. you can use a smaller portion of the beans and rice and place all three ingredients inside a whole wheat tortilla with a little salsa and it will tide you over until your next meal.  also, if you like thin slices of turkey you can use that as your "bread" and roll it around a pickle or celery or green onion and that will help stop the craving.  peanut butter is good for that also.  one tablespoon without bread or crackers will stop the craving.  You can also use lettuce as the "bread" and place your meat and cheese on a lettuce leaf and have it as a snack.  You will not have cravings if you eat properly.

 If you eat your meals on a regular schedule and healthy snacks between meals, you will not have cravings. you will have hunger for the next meal or snack, but it will not be out of proportion.  good luck.  njoy

I didn't realize there is an eating disorder... The tag only says "diet." That is a completely different subject matter. Precious, if you are not getting proper nutrition, especially at such a young age, you are doing your body serious, possibly unreversable harm. If you ever want to have kids and a long life, please rethink your eating habits. There are many ways to stay lean in a healthy, balanced, manner. Also, if the information jkgrandma has given is correct, you are a great height for modeling/runway (and young). Are you starving yourself to possibly become a model? If so, please be aware that the modeling industry is starting to impose strict limits on overly skinny models. (a BMI of at least 19 is currently required, among other restrictions) I have modeled for many years, and know the pressure, but you don't have to be self destructive. Hope this helps a little.

Precious,  All of the commenters here have given you the very best advice I have ever heard!  I have cravings myself, and I wish I knew how to stop them.  I did read once a long time ago, that if you have a craving for sweets, to eat something sour, like a dill pickle.  So maybe try to eat a little something opposite of what you are craving.  Make sure you listen to all of the good advice you were given.

Anna Sparky's Mom