I consider myself a carb addict, but then again I also consider myself a food addict.

Last week after eating some jelly beans I found myself totally out of it, staring blindly at my computer with my brain wavering around somewhere in a fog. I've never taken drugs, but that's pretty much how heroin users nod off after shooting up, right?

It's horrible. I just started here today and am doing a low carb diet.

Thank you for that link to the Yale study.

I'm not certain about sensitivity. I have none to think of towards sugar, i like it or love it, but it doesn't really do anything to me at this point. I'm absolutely in love with carbs, i'm doing much better to eat only whole grains (love Dave's Killer Bread), but i'm not certain about sensitivity. I do tend to notice i become hungry again sooner after a meal with carbs, but i'm not really certain. I'll have to try a week of limiting them at lunch time to see how i do as thats where i notice it.

I'm not certain about the whole eating "clean" thing. It seems to be a word tossed around. Eating healthy and fresh, yes, eating clean has negative connotations. As if their are clean or dirty foods. By all means if carbs are an issue don't eat them but I don't think that makes them not clean. It reminds me of juicing or gluten free (apologies to the true celiac suffers).

As for wanting to eat organic i can understand but nutritionally their is no difference (their might be a taste difference but that has more to do with the variety and growing method), though it certainly makes us feel good. When i buy organic is usually not for health reasons, its because i can either support a local farm (most of whom tend to be smaller and organic) or support a farmer who is using agriculturally sustainable methods (though that can include none organic). Everything else i buy normally because of budget. I do buy a lot more fruits and vegetables now so budget is an issue. I haven't done a comparison but i imagine now that I have cut fastfood out the balance goes to the produce so i don't think im saving anything.

I hear you on the prep time. I feels like I spend a lot of time prepping and eating my meals. I made a late breakfast and then did yoga and it felt like it was time to eat again. Lunch took at lest 45min. Granted i eat later since i'm not an early riser (i work at home thank goodness), but by the time i was done with lunch it was only an hour and a half before my 5pm walk. Doesn't feel like i got much done today except figure out what to eat, go buy it, make it and eat it.

Linda, I have been reading posts in a group called Say No To Sugar! and so many of the stories are mine... that craving that won't stop and has nothing to do with hunger or emotions. The new studies behind sugar addiction (and usually it's a sugar-fat combo addiction like ice cream or baked goods) and carb sensitivities are pretty enlightening. Like you, I do much better staying staying sugar abstinent and avoiding most carbs. I'd love to be able to have just one small piece of cake, but the one piece triggers such a strong response, I turn into a junkie doing anything for a fix (including eating out of the trash at a party--there's a shameful secret). I suppose that could be the question that separates addicts from non addicts--have you ever eaten cake out of the trash?

I haven't done that but I can understand the overwhelming cravings. For me - it is at night after I have gone to bed - if I have eaten carbs during the day - I get this overwhelming sense of hunger(?) that just won't stop - like a constant voice to get something to eat…I drink water and wait but the thought just won't leave my head.. so sometimes I do get up and eat something…but when I am eating cleaner - that voice is not so strong and can be drowned with water and I can go to sleep and surprisingly - I am not hungry in the morning and so glad that I didn't eat.

I also am an emotional eater and I have noticed that sometimes I catch myself grabbing something to eat mindlessly after an upsetting conversation and I realize that I am not hungry and put it back. The first time I noticed that - I was kind of surprised - so now - I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks and don't eat standing up or graze. It helps me.

Linda, are you the Night Eater? I thought I saw a post from you about that. One of the eating disorder programs I went to put the binge eaters and night eaters together, and we learned about the interesting hormonal anomalies associated with both. For instance, the hormone that signals sleep, melatonin, is greatly decreased in night eaters. They also don't have a nighttime rise in the hormone leptin, which suppresses hunger, and the stress hormone cortisol is elevated all day.

I used to skip breakfast and lunch (really no appetite) and then become insatiable from about 4 p.m. on. Breaking this habit has been even more difficult than giving up sugar, but I'm getting better at it.

My shrink told me two weeks ago not to believe anything I tell myself about food right now. I can't be trusted! Instead, I need to listen to the voices of my experts and support team who have outlined a meal b plan, calorie count, and exercise guidelines for me to follow. When my voice tells me it's okay to skip a meal, my meal plan says it's not. When my voice says I should stay up late and eat cheese and crackers, my calorie count says no. Seems counter-intuitive to not trust myself, but I guess I'm learning not to trust the voice of the eating disorder.

I was not the poster but that sounds like me -terrible sleeper - I have been taking melatonin and it helps - also I know that my cortisol stress level is high and has been for years - did they give any advice about what to do? Is there anything you know that I can read about it? Thanks, L

Thanks Karen - I also love to research things and I am feeling slightly obsessed with figuring out what will work for me to get where I want to be> I will google that and let me know if you ever do write your book - I would love to read it!