Todd,
So far, the aminos are helping me with cutting back on eating and killing the sugar cravings. But the focus is killing the sugar cravings.
In the book, there is a checklist of symptoms that any particular individual might have such as cravings for sweets, emotional pain, difficulty sleeping, and many more. The symptoms ate then matched up with whatever amino acid your body may need to remedy the symptom.
I started out with mixed results with just a couple of the aminos. Finally, I just went with every one whereby sugar cravings was a symptom. You have to experiment with the types and the dosage. The book provides a schedule for the various aminos. The author claims that after a few months, you can taper them off.
The Tyrosine is supposed to help with mental focus and gives you sort of the mental buzz that one gets from a stimulant, but far much less than say Cocaine or Phentermine. The DL Phenylalinine helps with physical and emotional pain and is supposed to be excellent at hitting rid of the emotional eating. The author claims that Glutamine alone can get rid of the sugar cravings. Although I have not found that to be the case, it does work in a pinch for an immediate reduction of a nagging craving. As you said, the 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin. It is supposed to help with the nighttime cravings.
I am currently on a diet of approximately 2000 calories which has plenty of fat and carbohydrates, but no sweets other than a daily banana. I have found that I am not addicted to sugar per se, but to the sensation of sweetness. So i have cut out the artificial sweeteners and the Stevia. The weight is coming off just like it would on any other calorie restricted diet. So far 6 pounds.
The hope is that this regimen will allow me to stay with it. Since I am now satisfied after eating a meal, I might finally get there.