Cheat meal cravings. How do you guys fight them?

[xStevenx]

OK. 6 weeks and a few days out now.

Coach told me today "No more cheats" which he had 1 included each week. I was like alright cool. I can do this, i have been sticking to the diet good.

Anyways, been very stressed latley, little depressed. A lot of work and life **** going on. Got home early today, just thinking about **** and well....fell off the diet.

One thing lead to another, just picking at stuff all night.

It will be my fault I get on stage and not be in shape, and pretty much wasted 16 weeks! So mad at myself right now.

How do you guys deal with it? Any tips from some of you more experience competitors?

May add in some additional cardio tomorrow.

And I feel a bit behind for 6 weeks 3 days out, I shouldn't let myself do this ****!

[HeliumTwoPlus]

OK. 6 weeks and a few days out now.

Coach told me today "No more cheats" which he had 1 included each week. I was like alright cool. I can do this, i have been sticking to the diet good.

Anyways, been very stressed latley, little depressed. A lot of work and life **** going on. Got home early today, just thinking about **** and well....fell off the diet.

One thing lead to another, just picking at stuff all night.

It will be my fault I get on stage and not be in shape, and pretty much wasted 16 weeks! So mad at myself right now.

How do you guys deal with it? Any tips from some of you more experience competitors?

May add in some additional cardio tomorrow.

I rely very heavily on diet sodas, gum, and coffee. Also, drink as much water as you can. I usually try to chug 16-32 ounces after each meal just to feel more full.

edit: This also could go either way, as I feel like it could actually be detrimental to some, but I also like to go look at recipes and 'food porn' when I have cravings. I just tell myself I'll be able to eat whatever I want once the contest is over. I even have a bookmark folder full of recipes I intend to try after my contest lol

[xStevenx]

I rely very heavily on diet sodas, gum, and coffee. Also, drink as much water as you can. I usually try to chug 16-32 ounces after each meal just to feel more full.

From Ithaca? I am actually down that way quite a bit for work, I have some customers down there!

Funny thing is, this whole downfall happened because i bought a 6 pack of sugar free jello haha. Triggered the sweet tooth

[sfalexi]

Disclaimer: Only gearing up for my second show, and without a coach, but I'm making good progress.

I might keep cheat meals in, but I choose healthier cheat meals. So not burgers or pizza, but maybe a sub sandwich on wheat bread, grilled chicken at a chinese restaurant with some brown rice, some sushi and low sodium (or none) soy sauce, stuff like that.

Otherwise, if you're eating the SAME thing every day, mess with how you prepare and season and garnish it. grilled chicken tastes different than lemon baked chicken which tastes different than hibachi chicken done up with veggies or chicken soup, etc. etc.

That's the ideas that come to mind when I think of how to vary a strict diet.

Personally, I've got some pretty iron will. I mark off on a Calendar the DAY after the contest with whatever I'm craving and just count down the days till I can have it. So my pizza day will be in just over 6 weeks as well (I'm guessing your show is also the 22nd of June). And Dominos will be my best friend that day.

Alexi

[HeliumTwoPlus]

From Ithaca? I am actually down that way quite a bit for work, I have some customers down there!

Funny thing is, this whole downfall happened because i bought a 6 pack of sugar free jello haha. Triggered the sweet tooth

I'm not originally from here, but I'm a junior at Cornell. And damn brah, that sucks. Try and stay motivated man, keep your eyes on the prize. Keep reminding yourself why you're doing what you're doing. Be confident. Lie to yourself if you have to.

[red_cat]

Diet soda, Mio water flavor, and everything that Walden Farms makes.

Also, my refeed days (notice I didn't say "cheat days") are structured so I allow myself to eat a couple Pop Tarts and pancakes in addition to lots of sweet potatoes and white rice or couscous w/ sriracha sauce. I haven't had any major issues with cravings until the past week or two and I'm 22 weeks in.

[HeliumTwoPlus]

Diet soda, Mio water flavor, and everything that Walden Farms makes.

Also, my refeed days (notice I didn't say "cheat days") are structured so I allow myself to eat a couple Pop Tarts and pancakes in addition to lots of sweet potatoes and white rice or couscous w/ sriracha sauce. I haven't had any major issues with cravings until the past week or two and I'm 22 weeks in.

Damn man, 22 weeks? Respect. I don't know how people do that lol

[xStevenx]

i guess it really wasn't a craving thing.

I was just home with nothing to do. This has happened I think two other times over my prep so far. Guess I need to try and keep myself occupied or something.

[HeliumTwoPlus]

Just curious man, what exactly is the process for getting trained by an IFBB pro / how much does something like that cost? Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer.

[xStevenx]

Just curious man, what exactly is the process for getting trained by an IFBB pro / how much does something like that cost? Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer.

PM Sent

[joe the man]

Dont get discouraged man if it was easy every one would do it. You ****ed up accecpt it and double up on your cardio the next few days. As far as food i use the mutiple flavors of no sodium mrs dash seasoning. natty pb saves me, and toss in a little protien powder in your oats to get that coco flavor. bump on the gum coffee and extra water after a meal.

[Everlast]

i guess it really wasn't a craving thing.

I was just home with nothing to do. This has happened I think two other times over my prep so far. Guess I need to try and keep myself occupied or something.

This was/is my strategy. Luckily, during the summer theatres start showing movies here about noonish, and I was going to see one every 1-3 days around that time when any "cravings" tended to strike. When the film was over, it was time for cardio training and by that point I was in the clear.

Edit: In for 100th post after 11.5 years.

[demonwareltd]

Boredom is the bane of all contest prep bodybuilders. Things like sitting down to watch sports or a movie just aren't the same without comfort foods or drinks. A few things you can do to help...

On the weekends stay busy. Hangout with friends, do things. Sitting at home makes you think more about food then if you are out and about. Just prep your food and bring it along.

Be sure to not let yourself get too hungry. I like to have set meal times throughout the day, but if my next meal is an hour away and I'm already getting hungry, I will go ahead and eat it. I find the more hungry I let myself get, the more I start thinking about those foods I shouldn't be eating and the more likely you are to cave.

As other said, diet soda and gum are big helps for me. Some products out there claim to help curb appetite. I personally have had success with XAT-7 by TSN in this regard.

Best of luck!

- Stan

[Jrich54338]

Steve,
YOU are much improved hang in there buddy there is only a few weeks left...Danny is getting cravings too... I tell him to try and stay busy hang out with me as much as he can... just keep moving... Cant wait to meet you...

[xStevenx]

Steve,
YOU are much improved hang in there buddy there is only a few weeks left...Danny is getting cravings too... I tell him to try and stay busy hang out with me as much as he can... just keep moving... Cant wait to meet you...

Thanks man. My head has been cleared. Really thought about everything while I did my cardio today. I CANNOT AND WILL NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.

Only 6 more weeks, 6 more weeks then I can eat whatever. 6 Weeks should fly right by!

[The Solution]

Everytime you cheat, its one step back from achieving your goal, and knowing your competition is now getting a step ahead.
Think big picture.

What caused the urge?
Are you only eating a few sources of foods and your trainer is limiting you to X amount of foods and X Amount of meals? that is probably a major reason for wanting to break the diet because you have to eat X Sources at X times..