Do cravings go away???

sndrd49 · May 2016

BinaryFu wrote: »

Start with calories...healthy eating (At a level you can be satisfied with) will follow. I have explained this to my friends who felt I was a little off my rocker to say "I'm getting back in shape" only to watch me eat a single portion package of M&Ms. It goes something like this:

Calorie deficit = weight loss.
Okay, I can have cake and ice cream and Cheetos and lose weight, right?
Sure.
Yay!
After a day of this, you realize it sucks not being able to eat anything after the 3 snacks you've had burned up all your calories for the day. So, you live, you learn and you start looking at what you *could* have had instead.

Then you go to things like fast food and realize that what you used to eat to fill you up was almost a day's worth of calories in one shot. Well...crap. I guess I'll just have the value meal...wait, that's two meal's worth...dammit! Fine, a salad...wait, HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN THAT DRESSING? I COULD HAVE A SLICE OF CAKE FOR THAT!!! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

And so on.

Eventually you realize, sodas are empty calories - toss them to the way side, get diet soda instead and start upping your water instead of soda all the time. Maybe swap out a bottle of water for a can of soda.

Next you realize that fried = more calories. Baked is better. But even baked chips have half a meal's worth of calories in them, so you better really be craving chips (and be willing to only eat one serving...wait, you don't know what a serving size is yet!!!)...

Then you start to measure out your servings. You start by counting chips. Eighteen in a serving? Seriously? I thought half the family-sized bag was a serving...well crap.

But then you learn that gauging things by volume isn't accurate and can actually lead to robbing you of yummies! (Seriously, one of my snack foods claims 18 chips is a serving (28g) but when I measure out 28g, I swear I've got 25+ chips on that plate!)

Then you start to prioritize...Hamburger is yummy and delicious and....and you could be having TWICE as much chicken for the same calorie count...hmmm...well, maybe chicken is better...

Then you find out about Seafood and the high protein to calorie ratio...and this thing called Omega 3 fatty acids...whatever they are...supposed to be good for ya...

And then you move up into the veggie world and realize that your mom had it right - eat your veggies, they're good for you (and really low in calories, too!)

Eventually 90% (or more) of your diet consists of yummy but really healthy things, you feel better, you look better...but you still have something...that 10% piece of junk that you *adore* and wouldn't leave behind for the world.

For me, that's my chocolate. Don't get between me and my chocolate, you could get hurt. To satisfy my health needs and my chocolate cravings, I have found that M&Ms are awesome. I can pop one or two in my mouth and savor them...or if I am really desiring that feeling of gorging, I can pop a dozen and (again) savor this big ol' lump of chocolate just overwhelming my taste buds. Mmmm...

What I'm trying to say is that slowly, almost without effort, you will move from being a junk food junkie to a healthy eater.

But good grief don't try to run the Boston Marathon when you still haven't managed a mall walk! Baby steps, baby steps.

Calories first, the healthy eating will come naturally...just like your foods.

This is a craving-free process, because when those cravings hit, you can just have a little taste, not a binge and keep with the calorie count.

This. Very well said!

afatpersonwholikesfood · May 2016

I still eat added-sugar items, but I've reduced my consumption from what it was. I find myself craving fruit more often now. I had a bunch of pineapple and grapes with Greek yogurt for lunch. Fruit was practically spilling out of the bowl. It was fantastic. I had an 800 calorie whoopie pie yesterday, and it was soooooo good, but I think I may have enjoyed the fruit-with-a-side of yogurt today more because it was filling.

So, basically, you may find that you start to love and enjoy different things in your eating routine, but you'll still have a desire to eat this or that. If I want something, I fit it in, and I have a portion that I find satisfying. If I'm going to eat a slice of cake, it's going to be a decent-sized piece. People have different calorie goals that can make fitting things in more difficult, but I have learned to have days here and there where I plan to eat at maintenance if I need to. That way I'm not obsessing about "forbidden" foods, and that, in turn, keeps me from being bothered too much by cravings.

BinaryFu · May 2016

shanerichard1441 wrote: »

It's a control thing. As long as I stay away I'm good. I want it but can avoid it. Once I give in I over do it and blow my cal count. I can't just have one cookie or small taste of cake or coke. That's why I was asking.

Here's the solution and it's part of what I said earlier - count out the portions. That doesn't mean to do it every time you eat...do it before. Put the portions in zip lock baggies. Put the baggies in a hard to reach area. When the craving hits...start talking to yourself, "Okay me...I know we want us some BIG OL chocolate chip cookies and MAN they are AMAZING. We have some too...they're not easy to get to, but...while I'm struggling to get my butt up this ladder to find them, we're in agreement, one baggie, right? I'm not gettin' you high, I'm gettin' you a FIX. That's it. You want more, you're gonna have to walk up and down this ladder a LOAD of times before the next baggie. You want that? I didn't think so, neither do I....so nibble those cookies. Make them last."

And if it doesn't help, just remember that laughter burns calories.

All joking aside, what you're dealing with isn't cravings. It's called food addiction. When you start to eat something and you physically cannot control yourself and stop - that's an addiction and the above method helps. It's helped me end my Cheetos addiction, it might just help you.

ashleyjongepier · May 2016

A few years ago I stopped eating junk food, I didn't really mean to it just happened (stopped working at a Tim Hortons and couldn't stomach the smell of sugar or baked goods I guess) anyway I started eating it again when I was pregnant and haven't stopped. Like some other people eating one cookie triggers me to eat more and more, so until I can deal with that I also am trying to cut out junk. I find the first three weeks are the worst for cravings, after that I don't seem to want it anymore, after a few months my tastes change and I don't care for the taste of junk. Its just so hard to get past those first three weeks for moi.

TxTiffani · May 2016

If I try not to eat sweets I end up going nuts and way overeat on them, but if I plan for them in my calories I feel satisfied. I like to pre-plan what I'm going to have and always try to log before I eat rather than the other way around. I'm still losing well with chocolate and ice cream in my diet. I've done low carb and gone without and ended up being less satisfied and binging from time to time. I also exercise to earn more calories to fit my sweets in:)

Owlie45 · May 2016

Francl27 wrote: »

zoink66 wrote: »

shanerichard1441 wrote: »

Trying to get ride of the sugar ( soda, tea, lemonade cakes etc..). Does the cravings for this ever go away?

Yes, they do.

Plus, once you start eating less sugar, the sugary things you do eat will taste much sweeter, so you end up satisfied with strawberries instead of cake.

Funny because that never happened to me. Gimme cake and chocolate.

Didn't for me either. I would make it a couple months maybe 3 but I would fail. Now I make room for chocolate and that and its so much better.

Do cravings go away???

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