Solution for Cravings

susanswan

My dieting history over the decades is this: I tried every diet and after 2 weeks I was starving to death, went straight for the potato chips and quit.

Food has always been my master. I felt weak and helpless around it. I was so tired of it. I came across a new plan to try. My cravings strategy sounded so harsh in the beginning and made me want to cry, but I quit all sugars and white flours cold turkey including refined grains. Severe? Maybe, but guess what? Me - who used to eat sugar from the sugar bowl AS AN ADULT no longer has sugar cravings! Trust me, if getting rid of cravings is what you are after then try stopping sugar and white flour and refined grains for 2 weeks. TWO WEEKS OUT OF YOUR LIFE. You can always go back if you think it isn't worth it. I strongly urge you to give it a try. If sugar is still in my face, I'll want to eat it, but I no longer NEED to have it. It also helps to rid your cabinets of these things or at the very least put them out of your daily sight.

I have used this strategy for 5 years. It works, but when I find myself eating sugar even in small amounts on a regular basis, I start feeling the cravings rear their ugly heads and I know it is time to STOP completely. It is a very strong reminder to me that if I want my 70 pounds to come back, then by all means, buy that bag of cookies, chips, or have refined grains on a regular basis. I am much happier feeling in control of food for the first time in my life. My question was what gave me more of a feeling of deprivation: Eating sugar but weighing 205 pounds or not eating sugar and meeting my goal and wearing cute clothes. Food is a temporary pleasure. Looking and feeling good last a lifetime.

JulieF11

Good post! I've heard that sugar feed yeast in our gut area and the yeast grows and multiplies and somehow urges us to eat more sugars. If you cut it out completely for the two weeks, they die out.

I don't know the validity of that thought... but it's interesting.

_VoV

Excellent thread topic!

There's evidence that sugar acts like crack in some people's brains. I suspect I may be one of them. And, then there's the food industries attempts to make us crave more of their product. A few years back I read a book on this topic written by former food addict, FDA Commissioner, Dr. David Kessler. It's called 'The End of Overeating.' A real eye opener.

InTheInbetween

This is great!!
I've always been something of a slave to my sugar cravings as well and I'm literally on week 2 of a similar method! I've heard the "magic" number is about 21 days, if I can stave off the cravings and change my habits for at least 21 days then i'm on the right track to changing my habits for life. I've done it before and it worked for a few years before I got lazy and fell into old habits. What you say about the cravings subsiding is definitely true. You literally stop wanting all the sugary stuff and actually start craving the healthy stuff because your body WANTS to be healthy. THAT is an amazing feeling!

Breadbar

Thanks for this post - my experience has been similar. At 200+ lbs I had no control over my binging. Now at 134 I find that even a small amount of sugar or simple carbs leads to thoughts of and a longing for more. I sometimes allow myself a one-time treat and then banish sugars immediately for a week to 10 days to eliminate the urge for more. Only when my palette is cleaned will I allow myself to consider having another sugar/simple carbs indulgence.

susanswan

This time in I decided to be true to my eating plan for 90 days so I could reallly get a grasp of it and quit finding excuses to "just have a little something". I really needed to get serious. So that worked for about 75 to 80 days until my birthday popped up! Then I had a filet mignon dinner out with chocolate mousse for dessert. I planned for it but you really do have to be ready for the cravings to want to sweep you away again. I gained strength from my abstinence and I know that really helped me to get a good footing this time. I think on Christmas Day someone brought cookies over and I had 8 that day. That was a good improvement from eating 8 or so in 10 minutes or less!

I just have to be resigned to the fact that sugar is my crack cocaine and I must always be very, very careful around it or I can easily go off again. I think having this type of agreement with myself is helpful. I know what my limitations are and I know that I cannot succumb every time or every day or every week. It has to be infrequent. I try my best to save the occasions for a special night out or an unexpected treat. My husband regularly has donuts the size of my sneaker in his office. Let's face it, the Old Susan would have eaten two or more and I can't be doing that every day or even every week! But if you need to ruin your health or gain weight quickly I highly recommend donuts! My favorite way to go!