I've been cutting successfully for eight weeks now (see previous post "Thanks everyone" http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=43720 for pics; I'm down from 17.5% BF to 15%, 34 to a 32" waist, 165-160 lbs), and am suddenly overwhelmed with cravings for things I never much cared for before my lifestyle change two months ago. Today, walking through a general store I had an unbelievably intense urge to buy some Butterfingers candy bars, and watching TV today I saw a kid eating an ice cream sunday, and I now feel like I NEED a huge sunday with all the trimmings. I've felt so great eating clean for two months, its very strange to me that I have these wierd cravings for fatty, sugary items I never craved when i was eating poorly and not exercising.

Have you who have successfully cut been plagued by these strange intense cravings after a while of happily eating clean? Is this normal? How do you cope?

I think I'll have some cottage cheese with splenda (sorry doublequeso) in an hour or so, but if these cravings persist I dont think that's going to cut it very long. Support, encouragement and advice welcomed.

I've been there. 2 months into a cut I actually craved some cookies that everyone would agree are DISGUSTING...

You probably know this, but remember that taste lasts 5 minutes... many times less :D So keep working hard!

I've been cutting successfully for eight weeks now (see previous post "Thanks everyone" http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=43720 for pics; I'm down from 17.5% BF to 15%, 34 to a 32" waist, 165-160 lbs), and am suddenly overwhelmed with cravings for things I never much cared for before my lifestyle change two months ago. Today, walking through a general store I had an unbelievably intense urge to buy some Butterfingers candy bars, and watching TV today I saw a kid eating an ice cream sunday, and I now feel like I NEED a huge sunday with all the trimmings. I've felt so great eating clean for two months, its very strange to me that I have these wierd cravings for fatty, sugary items I never craved when i was eating poorly and not exercising.

Have you who have successfully cut been plagued by these strange intense cravings after a while of happily eating clean? Is this normal? How do you cope?

I think I'll have some cottage cheese with splenda (sorry doublequeso) in an hour or so, but if these cravings persist I dont think that's going to cut it very long. Support, encouragement and advice welcomed.

Do you ever allow yourself a "cheat"?

If not, one or two a week won't kill you. But some people mentally do not do well with any cheats and one cheat can lead to a slide back into a lot of junk. If you are one of those, be careful :)

Do you ever allow yourself a "cheat"?

If not, one or two a week won't kill you. But some people mentally do not do well with any cheats and one cheat can lead to a slide back into a lot of junk. If you are one of those, be careful :)

I've given myself one absolutely free cheat meal per week. Twice over the last eight weeks I've had two cheats instead of one, but other than that I've been consistent with the 'once a week' policy. I had some cheeseburbers (albeit 92% lean GB), beers, chips, cookies and potato salad for the Fourth of July, for instance. That's about as indulgent as I've been. I scored a 93 on last month's "100 challenge". A couple for unscheduled cheats, 2-3 missed workouts and a few missed meals, due to oversleeping. I think that gives a good idea of my flexibility.

its very strange to me that I have these wierd cravings for fatty, sugary items I never craved when i was eating poorly and not exercising.


Dude it only gets worse.

Sometimes I want to build a fort with Pizza and eat my way out.

Stay Strong.

I think a quote I once read-- either in John's signature at one point, or in an update-- said, "There is no starting or stopping, only doing." With 8 weeks under your belt (literally!) you've made serious, serious progress. There are people (myself included) who have made it two weeks and then relapsed, just to do it all over again (this time with an extra helping of self-loathing).

The thing is, you've got your whole life to life, right? So you're going to have to live with cravings, and so I think you need to make some space for them. Just don't let it turn into permission to destroy all the progress you've made.

Frankly, the longer it takes you to get to your "goals," the better. Goals are great, yeah, but so many people think of them as an "end" point. I think there's a lot to be said for letting it take a long time, because instead of a "quick cut" you've developed a lifestyle.

I echo the idea of being strong, but not to the point of self-punishment. Don't let 5 minutes of taste derail you, but also realize that those sweet, sweet 5 minutes won't actually derail you entirely. You may want to punish yourself for a sudden "failure of will" at that point, which, ironically, may give you the permission you're secretly craving to say "f*ck it, I'm going to go whole hog." Don't. Say: I did it, it tasted as good as I thought it would. Now I feel bloated and stuffed, but hey, I'm still moving forward at the end of the week...

Anyway, know that some people on here that lurk a lot probably read about your progress and think, "wow, 8 weeks, that's serious dedication" and dream about hitting even THAT mark. Keep it up, man, but not at the expense of everything you've earned so far.

Sorry for the ramble... just my 2 cents.

E.

I think a quote I once read-- either in John's signature at one point, or in an update-- said, "There is no starting or stopping, only doing." With 8 weeks under your belt (literally!) you've made serious, serious progress. There are people (myself included) who have made it two weeks and then relapsed, just to do it all over again (this time with an extra helping of self-loathing).

Thanks very much; I really appreciate the kind words and encouragement.

The thing is, you've got your whole life to life, right? So you're going to have to live with cravings, and so I think you need to make some space for them. Just don't let it turn into permission to destroy all the progress you've made.

Frankly, the longer it takes you to get to your "goals," the better. Goals are great, yeah, but so many people think of them as an "end" point. I think there's a lot to be said for letting it take a long time, because instead of a "quick cut" you've developed a lifestyle.

I hadn't thought about it in concrete terms until now, but reading your post I realize that my 'ultimate goal' that's been going through my head the last eight weeks has been, "I hope I look and feel great when i'm 50, 60, 70, 80+ years old." Along the road to that goal, I'll give myself sub-goals, such as my current 11% BF goal, after which I'll have a bulking goal, followed by a cutting goal, and probably a long period of maintenance. Probably no reason for me to share that publicly, but I'm glad you made me realize concretely my "All-Time Goal" that I'd never formally put into words.

Anyway, know that some people on here that lurk a lot probably read about your progress and think, "wow, 8 weeks, that's serious dedication" and dream about hitting even THAT mark. Keep it up, man, but not at the expense of everything you've earned so far.

Sorry for the ramble... just my 2 cents.

E.

Thank you very much for your ramble; I think its exactly what I hoped for when I posted. I know the only reason I've been able to persist these eight weeks is through support and advice from people on these boards, and this is evidence that I have a continued support group for the next eight weeks, and the eight after that, and the eight after that, until I achieve that "ultimate goal" :D.

In the mean time, I'll look forward to a bowl of ice cream after my cheat meal this weekend...If I even still want it.

Thanks again....I'll keep updating with my progress as I go along.