Anyone -who’s been on a lo-w carb diet -will tell you that the first -week is the hardest. Some report actual physical symptoms of carb -withdra-wal, like irritability, headaches, and lack of energy. others say it’s the emotional struggle to stay a-way from rice, bread, pasta, potatoes the staples that they’ve gro-wn used to serving -with every meal.

These carb cravings can easily tempt you into giving up on your diet altogether. Don’t. You have so much to gain (or in this case, lose): think 10 pounds in the first t-wo -weeks, as some diets claim, and a visible reduction of tummy handles. (Hey, you’ll be able to fit in a smaller size of jeans!) So ho-w do you survive the battle against bread? Here is some tips:

Indulge in the right food

one of the advantages of lo-w carb diets is that you don’t starve yourself. You can eat very -well, just stay a-way from certain types of food. Ho-w does help beat the carb cravings? If you’re not ravenous, you’re less likely to raid the fridge in a mad fit of hunger. You can also replace a highcarb snack (like a chocolate bar) -with an equally tasty bag of peanuts, and not feel deprived.

Veteran lo-w carb dieters actually advise keeping stashes of lo-wcarb diets in their desk dra-wers, or by the television the places -where most people get the desire to munch on something. Keep the portions small, just enough to make you feel that you’ve had a treat, -without actually turning into a binge. You’ll need a lot of small plastic bags, or tiny plastic containers. Another tip: prepis
the individual servings beforehand, preferably after eating a meal so you’re not tempted to put more than you should.

Keep yourself busy

Most of us eat not out of hunger but habit. You’re bored, stressed, or you’re killing time before you take on the next item on your todo list. Avoid temptation by keeping your mind on something you enjoy. Some dieters carry a book around, others start a hobby like scrapbooking -which -will let them pass long hours -without even thinking about food. For those -who -work at the office, and need something to keep them a-way from the vendo machine, bookmark a -website that you can bro-wse until the snack attack passes.

Look for other forms of recreation

It’s become customary to make meals the center of any recreational activity: eating chips -while -watching a movie, going out to dinner -with friends. -while you’re still getting used to the lo-wcarb regimen, pass up the invitation to have drinks after -work and invite everyone to -watch a play, hit the badminton courts, or attend a museum opening.

Get a diet buddy

Dieting becomes more fun -when you have a diet partner to give encouragement, praise you for every lost pound, and even help you scout for the lo-wcarb friendly restaurants in your isa. Don’t kno-w anyone? Go online and join a dieter’s forum. Exchange recipes, shis thoughts, and hey, even make ne-w friends. You’ll still feel the carb cravings, but someho-w, saying no is a little easier.