It’s okay if low carb isn’t working for you. Perhaps just try regular diet with a caloric deficit instead of low carb + intermittent fasting + caloric deficit.
If you are craving high sugar foods right after a week and a half long intermittent fast, it may be because you dipped too low into a caloric deficit
Also tho: you are dealing with so much!! You are in school and you have a baby! Whether you have other people in your life helping or not, this is a huge undertaking. So just know you’re doing a lot and eating right can also be hard, so since we aren’t superhuman, go easy on yourself. That said, some things that have helped propel me into a state of not craving sugar: go a couple of days with just fat and protein. Eggs, meat, dairy. Then work in vegetables and fruits and non gluteny grains. If cooking is too much you can totally buy frozen veggies, and the meat need not be expensive - could do canned tuna and canned chicken. But also a pound of chicken thighs is wicked easy to cook - literally throw in a pan with butter and salt and cook 5 mins on each side on med-high heat. Yum! And so filling. I don’t suggest eating this way forever (altho there is a whole community of people who do the carnivore diet - I’ve dabbled in that and have concluded that more balanced works better for me), it’s just a good way to sort of jump start away from sugar cravings. And for the hungry nursing (or non-nursing, doesn’t matter, taking care of a baby is serious energy output) mom, a three egg omelet with melted cheese and a few slices of turkey is a great meal for a couple days in a row to just feel full longer and curb the sweets cravings. Good luck. I was there a long time ago - struggled for years to take off the baby weight+ but I got there eventually.
It’s hard to break unhealthy habits. It’s uncomfortable often at the beginning of You’re on the right path. Your body has adjusted to being over fed with processed foods for a long time, and it’s sometimes painful to make the change. Listening to your body when it’s screaming for junk, and learning (often through meditation) to answer and soothe that discomfort without food at the beginning will serve you the rest of your life. You will not die because you’re hungry. Your discomfort is temporary, you can get through it for a better future.
When my daughter was young, I would wear her with a sling A LOT. It was so freeing, I would housework and workout on the elliptical with her in the sling. Actually this was the best method to get her to sleep. I would elliptical to a show and the smooth rocking motion of the elliptical would put her to sleep. I would do about an hour a night of gentle elliptical to help her fall asleep. It was lovely bonding time.
Try eating some more natural sugars .
The more you eat simple & artificial sugars, the more you will crave them. So do your best to significantly limit them
All you can do is , be disciplined, eat healthy, exercise, and be consistent with your fast
Oh wow, let’s flip this around and celebrate your achievements. You’ve lost 10 lbs while early postpartum, in full time education and with a small little one at home. I don’t think low carb is working for you and i wonder would a CICO lower fat way of eating work better with a more plant based lean to help keep the carbs high and the fat lower. Chat with your doctor about the back pain and maybe see about a referral to a womens health physio for a check if you haven’t been already also do some bloods. There’s also the possibility that you’re one of the 1 in 8 women who have a thyroid issue going on, postpartum thyroiditis is a thing too and if you’re tracking for that long then a blood test would rule it out