Carb Addicted
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I think it's time for a moderator to step in. OP feels addicted to carbs. This is not the debate section.0
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Certain carbs just make me want more and more, and it's a never ending unsatisfied circle. Like you mentioned @mcquistions , I'd call it a strong craving rather than an addiction.
I changed over to a low carb diet which pretty much squelched the cravings. I'm in the process right now of upping them to around 120g, which is still on the lower spectrum but not low carb imo. I'm going to do some experimenting to see which ones set me off. I know chocolate cookies are out as I'll eat the whole pack, but I would call that a severe lack of willpower on my part more than anything else.0 -
MissMonicaC4 wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »PaulaS1220 wrote: »CrabNebula wrote: »Carbs aren't the devil. Everything in moderation.
Yes, this.
Guys this maybe half factual.
There are some things we can eat in moderation and die as we know from watching the news.
It is true carbs are not the devil whatever that word means to one. Carbs are neither good or bad but just organic matter that can produce calories of energy when burned.
Now man made carbs can be killers. Processed foods can chemically not even be kin to what the they were when harvested from nature.
As we know one can not successful lose weight if our Insulin hormone is elevated. Processed carbs (fiber removed, sugar added, and other man developed chemicals added can over time become very toxic to humans in some cases. One might want to call them the 'evil' carbs.
Since carbs are not required for great human health it was just a no brainer for me to eliminate them from my Way Of Eating for the most part. My pain dropped from a subjective 7-8 level to 2-3 in 30 days. My carb craving left. Six months in my 40 years of serious IBS resolved and has not returned these last 12 months. My weight dropped to 200 (250 at start) for the first time in 22 years and has maintained at 200 eating 2500+ calories on average daily.
Carbs especially processed carbs are toxic to me as you can understand if what I just typed is true.
That is inspiring!! But how do you manage 50 grams if carbs or under while eating 2500 cals? Im asking because i felt it hard to be under 20 grams of carbs a day and around 1300 cals..I was hangryyy.
@MissMonicaC4 my daily calories needs to be 2500+ and 80% of them come from fats. Anything less than 2200 for a guy is considered a starvation mode diet based upon current science. Yes one can loose weight but over time the regain of 100%+ is the normal for such dieters. Dr. Jason Fung addresses this specifically with science at 10:00 on the video.
I suggest to consider listening to Dr. Jason Fung for 5 minutes and if he does not have your interest do not last the last 25 minutes.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ETkwZIi3R7w
Remember after 40 years of yo yo diets and being addicted to carbs had wrecked my health. Having my earned OD degree I became fully aware I was rushing to a premature death so I started reading research papers and attending medical conferences around the world by way of Youtube. I went off sugar and all forms of all grain knowing our kids were going to have to watch me require more and more help to move. It was when I seriously considered Enbrel injections in my weakened state that I realized I was giving up on life at the age of 63. My wife who is a pharmacist was saying NO NO for me to get on Enbrel.
After you listen to Dr. Fung for a few minutes you may start to realize the amount of calories you really need. You were hangryyy because your body wants to live a long long time by becoming healthy.
Until I grasped how the body works the how to part clicked. Dr. Fung did not come up with this because he was not even born when this WOE was first practiced.
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OP as you mentioned in one of your earlier posts, Carbohydryates are present in a wide variety of foods, it is one of the three primary macronutrients that help fuel our body.
Because carbs are so prevalent, it would be impossible to establish a physiological addiction toward them, since they are in everything from fruits and vegetables to potato chips to sliced bread to baked goods, and often combined with other ingredients that make the food tasty and desirable. If you were addicted, you would have the same uncontrollable urge to eat broccoli and berries as you mentioned with sliced bread and chocolate milk.
That's not to say that people don't have strong cravings that to them, may make them feel out of control in the way that makes them feel that it is the substance that compels them, not their own mind. What a lot of people on these boards have found success with is really trying to analyze those urges. Are they for a particular food or foods? Do they happen at certain times of the day or under certain situations (triggered by stress, sadness, anxiety, boredom, etc). What happens when you have the craving? If the food you crave isn't around, do you substitute for another? What is that food? Do you eat without thought and consideration of consequence (i.e. A binge) or are you thinking (I shouldn't eat this but it tastes so good, I'm going to have one more, two more, etc)? Do you think that whatever that food is that triggers you could be eaten in moderation with some practice, or is it always an all or nothing situation? Could you get rid of the specific trigger foods, but continue to eat other foods that have carbs in them?
A lot of people find it empowering to stop referring to a particular food as addictive and realize that they have the control over the food, and whether or not to eat it, rather than the other way around.
That said, many people find a low carb diet to be a sustainable way of eating that they can see doing for the rest of their life. I'm not one of those people, so my approach was to learn how to moderate the foods I craved, since I know that there will be sliced bread and cake and things like that that I would want to be able to enjoy either now or in the future.
Good luck with whatever path you choose.0 -
It's not that carbs are bad but processed simple carbs do cause increase in cravings for more carbs. I have experienced this first hand. When I've stuck with complex carbs, little to no simple carbs, I don't having cravings. I stay at 35% of total calories which isn't too low, on average 140-160.
When ever I have a cheat meal/day which includes tons of simple carbs I always have cravings the next day and increased hunger.
I just plan for it and try to control it.0 -
mcquistions wrote: »Wow some negativity, or folks dont understand how strong it is... It does control me....Well maybe addiction is too strong of a word. But I can tell you I crave it to the point where I would have to make special stops to buy carbs and bindge .....hide food in my car and at home... I'd eat bread and butter then chocolate then needed salty again.... Get up in the middle of the night to eat....
And carbs are everwhere! My work cafeteria... every store on the way home from work... restaurants, parties.... at home my hubs junk food.... I feel if I give in once, once will lead to twice..etc.....
Im completely jealous of my hubby and others like him who do not have my insaine controlling cravings.... you can not relate.. Then no need to be insensitive
I think you received many helpful answers. My post above asked some questions (you don't have to answer them here, but I think they are helpful things to think about) in figuring out how to deal with your specific issues.0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Certain carbs just make me want more and more, and it's a never ending unsatisfied circle. Like you mentioned @mcquistions , I'd call it a strong craving rather than an addiction.
I changed over to a low carb diet which pretty much squelched the cravings. I'm in the process right now of upping them to around 120g, which is still on the lower spectrum but not low carb imo. I'm going to do some experimenting to see which ones set me off. I know chocolate cookies are out as I'll eat the whole pack, but I would call that a severe lack of willpower on my part more than anything else.
Or a trigger food, perhaps, which vary for everyone. (I just need to point out that cookies are one of many foods that people for some reason label "carbs" even though they are often about half fat. I have 0 issues controlling myself with foods that are mostly carbs. Where I get tempted to overeat is when they are that delicious mix of carbs and fat, and even so only with specific foods, as you indicate here.)
Anyway, this is why I think the solution tends to be individual and require some thought as to both the specific foods that one struggles with and the specific circumstances in which the struggle is more common or difficult. For me, I am most successful by controlling the timing of my eating -- since I have an idea of meals that is healthy and balanced, I focus on eating most of my calories in meals, not snacking (unless I need a planned snack due to my workout schedule, and then it's planned) and having a little extra if I have the calories after dinner. I try to make sure to vary this extra somewhat -- sometimes it's a sweet mix of carbs and fat, like ice cream, but sometimes it's a savory fat like cheese or a more savory mix of carbs and fat like dried fruit and nuts.0 -
Not all carbs are bad. I stay away from bread, pasta and potatoes not sweet potatoes they are more nutrient dense. If I crave something sweet my go to are clementines 1-2, something chocolately either a chocolate protein shake really cold or 1 square of really good quality of highest % of cocoa chocolate bar. Pasta substitute spaghetti squash, yam noodles or buy a vegetable spiralizer and get creative with different veggies. Bread I just give it up all and all. My closest to eating bread is Flatout light Italian wrap to make breakfast burritio, salad wraps with chicken, sandwich wrap or even flat out pizza. I hope this helps you.0
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Honestly, I love carbs and the only reason I work out is so I can eat more carbs and still stay in a deficit. Like other people have said, everything in moderation.
I also choose whole grain whenever possible, which means checking labels to make sure it says a hundred percent whole wheat, or make whole wheat bread myself.0 -
CHRISTINAGILLETTE wrote: »I stay away from bread, pasta and potatoes not sweet potatoes they are more nutrient dense.
The nutrients in sweet potatoes and potatoes are different, but one is not clearly superior to the other. Depends on what you need more of in your diet (for example, sweet potatoes get points for A, but I'm always way over my A needs). Since both have positives and both are tasty, I sometimes eat one, sometimes eat the other, and sometimes eat something else entirely. (Just make sure you keep the skin on, if eating for the nutrients, as that's where lots of the nutrients are.)
This from Alan Aragon is worth reading: http://www.menshealth.com/weight-loss/truth-behind-5-food-mythsMyth #2: "Sweet potatoes are better for you than white potatoes."
The origin: Because most Americans eat the highly processed version of the white potato—for instance, french fries and potato chips—consumption of this root vegetable has been linked to obesity and an increased diabetes risk.
Meanwhile, sweet potatoes, which are typically eaten whole, have been celebrated for being rich in nutrients and also having a lower glycemic index than their white brethren.
What science really shows: White potatoes and sweet potatoes have complementary nutritional differences; one isn't necessarily better than the other.
For instance, sweet potatoes have more fiber and vitamin A, but white potatoes are higher in essential minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and potassium.0 -
A bit less carbohydrate in sweet potato, but more of it is sugars (hence the name).0
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I am just going to chime in about the CBT. I also believe that it can help with these issues. I struggle with the whole carb binge/carb cravings thing and I have started to realize, for me, it goes deeper than carbs vs. fat vs. protein. I have issues with food that need to be addressed. The book I am working through is Beck Diet Solution. It is not a diet, it works with whatever diet you choose, but it addresses the emotional/psychological reasons behind our food choices and struggles.
OP - if you truly believe you are "addicted" or have issues with certain foods, CBT may help you sort these things out so that you can be more successful in dealing with triggers or the general daily grind of dealing with these trigger foods being around you.0 -
mcquistions wrote: »No @diannethegeek not you... sorry I came across that way to you. I tried hypnosis years ago, but no go. Definitely need to retrain myself and my routine. Find different outlets so I dont constantly think about needing them... What kind of cognitive help you suggest for me? I want to be successful once and for all.
Find a therapist trained in Cognitive Behavioral therapy. What you are describing is binge eating, not addiction. CBT will help you to identify your distorted thinking patterns and modify them, while also modifying your behavioral responses to these thoughts. The key to successful therapy is finding a therapist who you work well with, and committing to doing the interventions they assign you to do.0 -
htimpaired wrote: »mcquistions wrote: »No @diannethegeek not you... sorry I came across that way to you. I tried hypnosis years ago, but no go. Definitely need to retrain myself and my routine. Find different outlets so I dont constantly think about needing them... What kind of cognitive help you suggest for me? I want to be successful once and for all.
Find a therapist trained in Cognitive Behavioral therapy. What you are describing is binge eating, not addiction. CBT will help you to identify your distorted thinking patterns and modify them, while also modifying your behavioral responses to these thoughts. The key to successful therapy is finding a therapist who you work well with, and committing to doing the interventions they assign you to do.
This. OP Please listen to this. Food shouldn't rule lives like that. Find a therapist in your area, call around. Hope you find help.0 -
mcquistions wrote: »Wow some negativity, or folks dont understand how strong it is... It does control me....Well maybe addiction is too strong of a word. But I can tell you I crave it to the point where I would have to make special stops to buy carbs and bindge .....hide food in my car and at home... I'd eat bread and butter then chocolate then needed salty again.... Get up in the middle of the night to eat....
This sounds less like an addiction to carbs and more like a binge eating disorder for someone whose favorite food is carbs. The idea of being "addicted" to carbs is a popular buzz word nowadays, but binging and having it control your life sounds more like an eating disorder than an addiction to a specific type of food.
I agree with others, find a cognitive behavioral therapist, they may be able to help.
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mcquistions wrote: »Wow some negativity, or folks dont understand how strong it is... It does control me....Well maybe addiction is too strong of a word. But I can tell you I crave it to the point where I would have to make special stops to buy carbs and bindge .....hide food in my car and at home... I'd eat bread and butter then chocolate then needed salty again.... Get up in the middle of the night to eat....
This sounds less like an addiction to carbs and more like a binge eating disorder for someone whose favorite food is carbs. The idea of being "addicted" to carbs is a popular buzz word nowadays, but binging and having it control your life sounds more like an eating disorder than an addiction to a specific type of food.
I agree with others, find a cognitive behavioral therapist, they may be able to help.
I agree with this, but must note again that "bread and butter" and "chocolate" are going to have just about as many calories from fat as carbs. Why do carbs always get the blame? (Ah, for the '80s! Kidding, of course.)0 -
I have been trying to eat healthy for a while, but I was missing waffles. I stumbled across CarbQuick. Now I'm making waffles and mashing up a banana in it to sweeten it naturally. I have substituted Carbquick for flour in a few recipes. So far it has worked out great.
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mcquistions wrote: »I know my weakness... it gets me every time... CARBS!!! Oh give me a loaf of bread and milk chocolate and I'm in heaven. But it truely is an addiction for me. So starting over, yet again. Its been 8 days with almost no carbs and sugar. I feel great! But its not reality, sustainable, they are EVERYWHERE. Need the strength to make them disappear forever!
Fill up on the other macros.....protein, fats, and don't forget the FIBER!!! (beans, legumes, chia/flaxseed). Use a food scale and weigh in grams. Eat your non-starchy veggies with each meal, like a small saute or stir fry with breakfast, chopped salad with lunch, steamed veggies with dinner. My fridge is locked and loaded with veggies in my crisper drawers! Carb macro goes down, protein/fat macros go UP!!! Track fiber and sugar along with protein/carbs/fat.
Fill up on the above, then your craving issues will subside.0 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »MissMonicaC4 wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »PaulaS1220 wrote: »CrabNebula wrote: »Carbs aren't the devil. Everything in moderation.
Yes, this.
Guys this maybe half factual.
There are some things we can eat in moderation and die as we know from watching the news.
It is true carbs are not the devil whatever that word means to one. Carbs are neither good or bad but just organic matter that can produce calories of energy when burned.
Now man made carbs can be killers. Processed foods can chemically not even be kin to what the they were when harvested from nature.
As we know one can not successful lose weight if our Insulin hormone is elevated. Processed carbs (fiber removed, sugar added, and other man developed chemicals added can over time become very toxic to humans in some cases. One might want to call them the 'evil' carbs.
Since carbs are not required for great human health it was just a no brainer for me to eliminate them from my Way Of Eating for the most part. My pain dropped from a subjective 7-8 level to 2-3 in 30 days. My carb craving left. Six months in my 40 years of serious IBS resolved and has not returned these last 12 months. My weight dropped to 200 (250 at start) for the first time in 22 years and has maintained at 200 eating 2500+ calories on average daily.
Carbs especially processed carbs are toxic to me as you can understand if what I just typed is true.
That is inspiring!! But how do you manage 50 grams if carbs or under while eating 2500 cals? Im asking because i felt it hard to be under 20 grams of carbs a day and around 1300 cals..I was hangryyy.
@MissMonicaC4 my daily calories needs to be 2500+ and 80% of them come from fats. Anything less than 2200 for a guy is considered a starvation mode diet based upon current science. Yes one can loose weight but over time the regain of 100%+ is the normal for such dieters. Dr. Jason Fung addresses this specifically with science at 10:00 on the video.
I suggest to consider listening to Dr. Jason Fung for 5 minutes and if he does not have your interest do not last the last 25 minutes.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ETkwZIi3R7w
Remember after 40 years of yo yo diets and being addicted to carbs had wrecked my health. Having my earned OD degree I became fully aware I was rushing to a premature death so I started reading research papers and attending medical conferences around the world by way of Youtube. I went off sugar and all forms of all grain knowing our kids were going to have to watch me require more and more help to move. It was when I seriously considered Enbrel injections in my weakened state that I realized I was giving up on life at the age of 63. My wife who is a pharmacist was saying NO NO for me to get on Enbrel.
After you listen to Dr. Fung for a few minutes you may start to realize the amount of calories you really need. You were hangryyy because your body wants to live a long long time by becoming healthy.
Until I grasped how the body works the how to part clicked. Dr. Fung did not come up with this because he was not even born when this WOE was first practiced.
Thank you so much for your post. I really apprciate your honesty and sincerity. I will be watching this video for sure. The problem for me is ive done so much research on too many ways of eating and its confusing. My mom was supposed to be given enbrel.. It was supposed to be her saving grace. She passed away a week later 3 years ago..she did not make it to 50. I dont think it would have helped. Anywho off topic but it defenitely makes me mindful about my diet..why I research it so heavily I believe.0 -
No such thing as a carb addiction, unless you can show me evidence of people tipping kilos of sugar down them....0
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I believe an all or nothing approach is what fuels cravings. There have been studies that show when entire food groups are eliminated from people's diets, they start craving them intensely. I tell myself that I can eat anything as long as it fits my cals. I find this so much more liberating than any kind of restrictive approach. I had to get to this space in my head where I could say and believe that "food does not rule me, I am in charge". It felt pretty great when I was buying chocolate for my son's bday and my husband was raising an eyebrow "how are you going to resist eating this all", and I shrugged and said, "I decide what I eat, I am not worried". Trust me, I wasn't like this before, I was drawn to the kids snacks as if a magnet was pulling me every night. I have read two books I have found very insightful in coming to arrive to this point recommended by someone on MFP and I will always be grateful to her:
Brain over Binge by Kathryn Hansen
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
I'd say the first one was pretty much transformative for me and I understood a lot of things about myself.
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AnthonyThrashD_ wrote: »
Hahahah1
This discussion has been closed.
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