Cravings after eating...

I always have craving after lunch or dinner and its always for something sweet. Is this normal or is this a mental thing?

Replies

  • Both! I'm sure many people here get the same craving - I know I do!
    Remember it's alright to treat to something sweet sometimes when you really feel like it :)
  • elleloch
    elleloch Posts: 739 Member
    Sometimes when I've been like, REALLY good at making excellent choices, I want to completely fall off the wagon and eat something completely ridiculous. Today after my black bean soup and raw carrots for lunch, I wanted to eat a monstrous plate of melted cheese (WTF).

    But usually it goes like this - after I eat a very indulgent treat, like a DQ treat, piece of cake, etc - I want a big bite or two of something healthy, like steamed spinach. OR it goes the other way. After a healthy meal, sometimes I want to just eat a massive brownie.
  • I buy me sweet 100calorie snacks or Skinny Cow ice cream is real good. Also sweet freedom ice cream is good too. Only have any were from 100-150 calories. Not to bad and it fixes to sweet craving. :o)
  • I always crave AND always eat something sweet and something salty after a main meal! :)
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    It's mental/a habit. When watching calories, I'd have a piece of hard candy or chew some gum. Normally that's enough to meet my brain's requirements (even though I'd rather have chocolate lava cake topped with ice cream).
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I agree in that its probably both. I am the same way, but I have been doing that for so many years its probably just part of my mental routine.
  • Bluebox32
    Bluebox32 Posts: 100 Member
    I agree in that its probably both. I am the same way, but I have been doing that for so many years its probably just part of my mental routine.

    I have always had this craving, maybe it is a habit...I have never thought of it that way.
  • Tracepa98
    Tracepa98 Posts: 219
    I'm the same way...will always have a sweet tooth. But Ive found a solution some of the time. I love grapes and Ive found that if I put them in the freezer, they satisfy my cold and sweet craving.
  • 2BhappyBhealthy
    2BhappyBhealthy Posts: 181 Member
    I actually read that it is from a lack of "something" in your diet.. I wish I remember what that "something" was danggit :/ I was taking a liquid supplement for a while that was 100% fruit and plant based and I no longer had that strong craving so I believe it has some truth. I sometimes still wanted it - but I wasn't about to take out old people and small children to get to it like I was before. I am no longer taking that supplement so now I just take my regular daily supplements before I eat my lunch and that seems to help. I also drink an Emergen-C if I still feel like I want to shove an entire chocolate cake in my face and that seems to help too. BUT, 9 times out of 10, I eat a small piece of dark chocolate and account for the calories as part of my meal. It also brings closure to the meal and tells my brain to chill out dude, we are done eating.
  • livelivefree
    livelivefree Posts: 18 Member
    i have only realized that i have this... also i found that if i wait it out, it will take about half an hour, the cravings are gone and i feel good about myself for having withstood temptation.
    try it out ;)
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    It's worth considering if it's causef by *what* you are eating (or not eating). Does it happen *every* time or just after certain meals?
  • MellyGibson
    MellyGibson Posts: 297 Member
    I never used to eat anything sweet after a meal when I was younger. Then I dated a guy for a while that ALWAYS had to have something sweet after a meal - ice cream, usually. It became a habit for me...one that I STILL struggle with and it's been since 1997!!!!

    Thefore, for me, it's really a habit. I just grabbed 2 packs of gum to try to combat this phenomenon.

    By the way - anyone out there have a hard time working out while chewing gum? I can't breate right and get so much more tired! LOL
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Depends on what I eat at those meals. If I eat something with tomato sauce I crave a sweet. When I crave a sweet I eat something, frozen fat free fudge bar usually.
  • krazyforyou
    krazyforyou Posts: 1,428 Member
    Crap
    now I want a brownie.:grumble: :grumble:
  • Amabuela
    Amabuela Posts: 24
    I completely relate. I wonder if it's that "yin and yang" thing where we want the opposite of what we just had. Here's a weird suggestion that usually works for me: suck on a menthol cough drop. It has just enough sweet, and the menthol gives you that "brushed my teeth" feeling so you don't want to keep eating.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    I have the same problem. I think mine is mental or hormonal. I always end up with something sweet after lunch and dinner. Even if its just a mint.
  • k8lyn_235
    k8lyn_235 Posts: 507 Member
    this started when i was in college. i don't even really like chocolate that much, but i always crave it after a meal! what i do is buy a bag of hershey kisses and eat one after dinner. it's like, 20 some calories and satisfies my craving :)
  • mournemaid
    mournemaid Posts: 29 Member
    I have been taking a chromium supplement which has really helped the cravings
  • if you are craving sweets, you should talk to your doctor about taking Chromium Picolinate (I think I spelled that right). It kind of tricks your body into thinking its sugar so that you won't crave sugar...Used with diabetics a lot and its in some of the diet supplements out there. I have a CP pill that i take before dinner as that is my heaviest craving time of day. Good luck.
  • I must have chocolate after certain meals, but usually one hershey kiss or a fiber one brownie will do the trick. Sometimes I just don't feel full until I've had that tiny bit of chocolate. I just don't get it!!
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    I crave protein. If I've not had enough, I am not satisfied after a meal.
    Greek Yogurt (plain, sweetened with stevia) cuts this for me.
    Also a fizzy lo-cal drink like Cas Cal or Zevia or GT Dave's Synergy. Put it over ice, and enjoy!
    Also, sometimes it seems it's just TIME for a big bowl of steamed broccoli.
    We're all different!
  • Caz104
    Caz104 Posts: 62 Member
    I never used to eat anything sweet after a meal when I was younger. Then I dated a guy for a while that ALWAYS had to have something sweet after a meal - ice cream, usually. It became a habit for me...one that I STILL struggle with and it's been since 1997!!!!

    Thefore, for me, it's really a habit. I just grabbed 2 packs of gum to try to combat this phenomenon.

    By the way - anyone out there have a hard time working out while chewing gum? I can't breate right and get so much more tired! LOL

    Oddly enough I ALWAYS chew gum when I work out!! :)
  • BlueJean4114
    BlueJean4114 Posts: 594 Member
    i crave salty crunchy or fatty stuff, not sweets so much.

    When i eat, my stomach turns ON!!
    "More, more, more!" my stomach yells out.

    so usually, not always but usually,
    i only eat in the evenings anyway. Never hungry in daytimes, and if i DO eat in daytime, i end up having urge to eat more more more.

    plus, eating makes me sleepy. so i eat in evenings.
    always have,
    even back when i was a runner.

    but, if anyone wants to argue, that is not the way to do it, fine. whatever.
  • wildcata77
    wildcata77 Posts: 660
    It happens more for me after having a very carb/sodium rich lunch. I ALWAYS "need" to have a Coke with Pizza, or want something sweet after having a huge Moe's burrito.

    I still give in some days, but I'm working to retrain my brain. I try to keep greek yogurt stocked in the fridge at work so that when the old 3PM brownie and soda craving hits, I can sub with that.

    Today I was craving PB M&Ms so bad, so I went to Target to get a small pack, then decided to make my own trail mix with PB M&Ms, dark chocolate raisinets, and plain roasted almonds and cashews. Hopefully that will at least rpovide some nutrients and substance along with satisfying my craving. It's a positive step over eating handfuls of M&Ms all day, right?
  • Bluebox32
    Bluebox32 Posts: 100 Member
    It's worth considering if it's causef by *what* you are eating (or not eating). Does it happen *every* time or just after certain meals?

    It generally happens only after lunch and dinner...not breakfast.
  • LarsyRagnhild
    LarsyRagnhild Posts: 29 Member
    My guess is you have an addiction to sugar. It's common.

    If you're still craving after 30 minutes I suggest 2 pieces of 85% dark chocolate. It works for me.