Low-carb diets that restrict sugar and other starches are effective for weight loss but some dieters experience cravings that threaten to derail their diet plan. Some low-carb diets, like Atkins, rely upon the ability to induce ketosis in the body, a state in which the body burns fat at a higher rate. Exceeding the diet's carbohydrate allowance undermines ketosis. Some tips for satisfying cravings without eating carbs may encourage the dieter to stay the course and lose more weight.
Plan Ahead
Staying on a low-carb diet can be tough if you don't prepare your menu in advance. When you're hungry, it's easy to reach for a candy bar or a sugary soda if you don't have a low-carb food choice at hand. Make a week's worth of meal menus and include two or three snacks per day. Compile a list of your favorite low-carb entrees and snacks for easy reference.
Stock/Unstock the Pantry
Remove the chips, cookies, crackers, rice and starchy cans of vegetables, along with all other high-carb food items and restock with low-carb foods. Keep plenty of lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs and cheeses on hand. Stock up on sugar-free snacks that contain sweeteners acceptable in low-carb diets, such as Splenda. Sugar-free flavored gelatin provides a sweet treat without breaking your diet.
Shopping Rules
Make a list and shop only after you've eaten. Grocery stores place tempting high-carb foods, like candy and chips, on the ends of aisles or at the checkout counter. Arrange the items on your list so you can go from one end of the store to the other without having to go back through some aisles. Pick up only the foods on your list.
Counter Carb Cravings
Low-carb dieters fall prey to sugar cravings and crunchy cravings. When the urge strikes, have a low-carb protein bar handy to satisfy your sweet tooth or drink a diet soda. To satisfy crunchy cravings, sprinkle shredded cheese on a hot griddle or place it on a microwaveable plate and heat until crispy for a chip substitute.
Ketones
For strict low-carb diets, you can monitor the ketone level in your urine to make sure your body is still in ketosis. Available over-the-counter from pharmacies, ketone strips will change colors when they detect the presence of ketones in your urine stream. A color chart comes on the package but even a slight change in color indicates that your body is in ketosis.
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