Lower calories will only increase cravings, especially if you are just simply cutting food out. Best way to cut cravings is eat naturally sweet things(fruit) in the morning, breakfast is the most important thing you can do. And then, I find keeping healthy snacks next to me(I have a bad habit of eating at the comp) like almonds, raisins, dried cranberries, etc I eat those when I get a craving for something instead of getting up for chips/ordering pizza like I used to do.
And I'm no expert but maybe it's just bloating from... excess water or just the activity. I know generally when the body is changing, it will bloat a bit.(though I don't know the reasons why)
Good luck on keeping up the workout! Don't get discouraged.