@debs58 it takes at least two weeks for the sugar cravings to lessen, but if you have anything "sweet" - (diet soda, processed grains such as bread or pasta, corn, potatoes or other starchy root vegetables, legumes, berries, fruit) - during that period the cravings return and will temporarily intensify.
Things that helped me...
a tablespoon of peanut butter - ideally one with no additives, salt or no salt okay; I buy the type that you stir then refrigerate. Without salt, it's naturally sweet.
a square of dark chocolate - must be 70% cocoa or higher; compare sugar grams between brands.
a glass of red wine - 5 ounces for women, up to two 5 ounce servings for men
half an avocado - eaten with spoon directly from the shell is fine.
green olives, pimentos removed
If you can handle it...
a strawberry (fresh or frozen)
a small amount of blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries (fresh or frozen) - (I started with 6 blueberries about 6 weeks into the diet; today I have a 1/4 to a 1/3 cup of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, black berries, once sometimes twice a day with meals; berries are best when combined with a fat from your meal to slow the absorption of glucose and fructose; I sometimes eat berries or a slice of fresh peach with a tablespoon of peanut butter - (bite of berry/fruit, bite of peanut butter), or heavy cream whipped - (sweetened with a few drops Stevita Liquid Extract) - sometimes with chopped raw nuts.
a raw carrot with raw nuts or hummus for a snack
sliced zucchini dipped into fresh pesto for a snack
a tablespoon of yam skin removed, sliced, and steamed with your vegetables.
During that first month, I bought a box of 9 gluten free peanut butter cookies, put them in the freezer and on those days when the craving was so strong I thought I'd lose my mind, I'd eat one cookie. It took a while, but eventually I threw the box away. I'd eaten 4 of the 9 cookies.
It was really hard for me in the beginning. Think of things that you enjoy that are not sweet, that are flavorful in other ways. I love marinaded artichoke hearts. I keep one to two jars in reserve in case I just need something!
Dill pickles - I used to roll and eat one slice of deli ham, one long slice of dill pickle, and a chunk or two of cream cheese.
Sometimes I need something filling and satisfying to eat so I'd make an omelet. On low heat, I'd sauté/steam 1 slice of yellow onion, chopped, and three sliced button mushrooms in butter, then when softened add a handful of fresh spinach, which I'd lightly steam, and then add a whipped egg on top, with lid on pan again for just a minute or two or three depending on hot your burner is on low. Egg is cooked when you touch it and it's not gooey. I use a spatula to fold it in half then I fold it in half again (so it's only taking up a quarter of the pan prior to transferring to the plate.).
Cheese, especially crumbled feta a good flavor enhancer for salads and some omelet combinations. A personal favorite of mine is butter, three sliced button mushrooms, handful of fresh spinach, whipped egg, 4 to 6 cherry tomatoes quartered, and a tablespoon of crumpled feta.
Cooked bacon, cheese, herbs, and spices are good flavor enhancers too. Another favorite omelet combination is ham chunks or cooked bacon, chopped, butter, a slice of onion, chopped, a half head of broccoli cut into small florets, whipped egg, and swiss cheese.
There's a whole world out there of incredible flavors that you will discover once you retrain your brain to focus on flavors other than just "sweet". In time, your sense of taste will improve - (sugar numbs our sense of taste). The first time I had a blueberry again, it was amazing.
Have to make dinner now. Hope that gives you a few ideas.
Oh, and a cup of coffee or black tea with breakfast, a cup of green tea immediately after lunch, and a glass of red wine with or immediately after dinner helped keep my mind off sweets. Walking after a meal sometimes helped too. The cravings lessened as the post meal blood glucose levels worked their way back down.
Also, the thing that motivated me more than anything was monitoring my blood glucose levels throughout the day. Seeing improvements every couple of days kept me going.
