Fell off the wagon, need tips
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JennifrClaire
Posts: 141 Member
After doing so well low-carbing for about 18 months, I've found myself eating just "just a wee bite" of high carb food, always sweet things, at least once a day, this past month. Now we're heading into Christmas, I'm really struggling to get out of this habit.
Any one experience this situation?
Any one experience this situation?
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Replies
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When a doctor told Mark Twain to cut back on his cigars, he said he couldn't. He said he could quit, but he couldn't cut back.
I bring this up because I think it is much easier for most of us to just avoid the carbage completely than to try to limit it. My suggestion is to not even touch any of it. Go more strict than you ever have and include cutting artificial sweeteners because those often trigger cravings for more sweets. If you spend 4-6 weeks without touching any of this, you will find things you didn't think of as sweet, sweet. If you fall off the wagon and taste some one of those sweets with which you are struggling now, they will taste sickening sweet and you won't want it.12 -
cstehansen wrote: »When a doctor told Mark Twain to cut back on his cigars, he said he couldn't. He said he could quit, but he couldn't cut back.
I bring this up because I think it is much easier for most of us to just avoid the carbage completely than to try to limit it. My suggestion is to not even touch any of it. Go more strict than you ever have and include cutting artificial sweeteners because those often trigger cravings for more sweets. If you spend 4-6 weeks without touching any of this, you will find things you didn't think of as sweet, sweet. If you fall off the wagon and taste some one of those sweets with which you are struggling now, they will taste sickening sweet and you won't want it.
I agree because this is exactly what I had to do. I even avoid low carb sweets.3 -
I try to formalise how much of the sweet thing I will have before I start. I had a bite of a cookie the other week, but just one. A girl I work with was handing out mateasiers(?) and I decided in my head I'd have no more than 5 (but stopped at 2). Are you eating enough? Drinking enough water? I find it much easier to turn down snacks and other junk when I'm full. When I'm really hungry/ haven't eaten for a while is where I struggle
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cstehansen wrote: »When a doctor told Mark Twain to cut back on his cigars, he said he couldn't. He said he could quit, but he couldn't cut back.
Great line. That's Cliff notes for Addiction 101 - pretty much sums it up.
(BTW, the only difference between Twain and W.C. Fields is that the latter would have sneered at both non-options.)
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cstehansen wrote: »When a doctor told Mark Twain to cut back on his cigars, he said he couldn't. He said he could quit, but he couldn't cut back.
Great line. That's Cliff notes for Addiction 101 - pretty much sums it up.
(BTW, the only difference between Twain and W.C. Fields is that the latter would have sneered at both non-options.)
Something tells me W.C. Fields did not deprive himself of anything.1 -
cstehansen wrote: »cstehansen wrote: »When a doctor told Mark Twain to cut back on his cigars, he said he couldn't. He said he could quit, but he couldn't cut back.
Great line. That's Cliff notes for Addiction 101 - pretty much sums it up.
(BTW, the only difference between Twain and W.C. Fields is that the latter would have sneered at both non-options.)
Something tells me W.C. Fields did not deprive himself of anything.
Except for virtue and moderation, perhaps.4 -
Ok thanks. Its the truth. I really had to go cold turkey. Yesterday was my first sugar free day in weeks.
I stopped eating sugar years ago. before I even went low carb, but its like smoking. I'm so crazy addicted, I am back on it in the second I let my guard down.
I've even put back on a couple pounds now.
Dark chocolate is the biggest weakness. And home made cake. All other carbs I can happily do without forever- bread, spuds, rice, pasta, etc. Don't miss them at all.
So day two, onward and upward.
Thanks again!
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JennifrClaire wrote: »Dark chocolate is the biggest weakness.
I can't begin to count the number of times I have stood in a store and fondled a dark chocolate bar only to drool and put it back on the shelf, go back, drool some more, fondle the package then put it back on the shelf. I know me. 1 piece would never be enough.
Some may argue the physical addiction of sweets/sugar/carbs whatever one wants to call them but I look at the "behavioral aspect" of an "addiction" also. Obviously the thoughts of chocolate cause me behaviors, abnormal to my being. I've never fought the urge regarding a carby bag of frozen peas like I do with chocolate.
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JennifrClaire wrote: »Dark chocolate is the biggest weakness.
I can't begin to count the number of times I have stood in a store and fondled a dark chocolate bar only to drool and put it back on the shelf, go back, drool some more, fondle the package then put it back on the shelf. I know me. 1 piece would never be enough.
Some may argue the physical addiction of sweets/sugar/carbs whatever one wants to call them but I look at the "behavioral aspect" of an "addiction" also. Obviously the thoughts of chocolate cause me behaviors, abnormal to my being. I've never fought the urge regarding a carby bag of frozen peas like I do with chocolate.
I am so glad I am not the only one that spends an equal amount of time in the store taking things OUT of my cart, as I do putting in
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I caved recently and had a few pieces of dark chocolate. I am glad I did because I had been using fat bombs to curb my dark chocolate cravings. I realized I prefer the fat bombs to dark chocolate bars now. Fat bombs are simply raw cacao powder, coconut oil, a touch of stevia liquid, and I add coconut flavored extract, almond extract along with vanilla extract. I love these now, I walk right by my old favorite aisle in the grocery now.3
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retirehappy wrote: »I caved recently and had a few pieces of dark chocolate. I am glad I did because I had been using fat bombs to curb my dark chocolate cravings. I realized I prefer the fat bombs to dark chocolate bars now. Fat bombs are simply raw cacao powder, coconut oil, a touch of stevia liquid, and I add coconut flavored extract, almond extract along with vanilla extract. I love these now, I walk right by my old favorite aisle in the grocery now.
Stealing this.
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JennifrClaire wrote: »Dark chocolate is the biggest weakness.
I can't begin to count the number of times I have stood in a store and fondled a dark chocolate bar only to drool and put it back on the shelf, go back, drool some more, fondle the package then put it back on the shelf. I know me. 1 piece would never be enough.
Some may argue the physical addiction of sweets/sugar/carbs whatever one wants to call them but I look at the "behavioral aspect" of an "addiction" also. Obviously the thoughts of chocolate cause me behaviors, abnormal to my being. I've never fought the urge regarding a carby bag of frozen peas like I do with chocolate.
I've done this too! We eventually bought some Ghirardelli squares Intense Dark and they are still in the freezer. Think it was just the thought of chocolate for me.
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JennifrClaire wrote: »Ok thanks. Its the truth. I really had to go cold turkey. Yesterday was my first sugar free day in weeks.
I stopped eating sugar years ago. before I even went low carb, but its like smoking. I'm so crazy addicted, I am back on it in the second I let my guard down.
I've even put back on a couple pounds now.
Dark chocolate is the biggest weakness. And home made cake. All other carbs I can happily do without forever- bread, spuds, rice, pasta, etc. Don't miss them at all.
So day two, onward and upward.
Thanks again!
I'm the same. I compare it to cigarettes too. I cannot just have a little bit of sweets. It just makes me want more - it wakes up the cravings. I try to tell myself I'll have a little and then i'll be satisfied. ohmygod no! it just makes me want more and more. I've read here a couple times about people getting sick when they are off the carbs then back on. I would almost welcome this. My big thing is SUGAR.1 -
kimberwolf71 wrote: »JennifrClaire wrote: »Dark chocolate is the biggest weakness.
I can't begin to count the number of times I have stood in a store and fondled a dark chocolate bar only to drool and put it back on the shelf, go back, drool some more, fondle the package then put it back on the shelf. I know me. 1 piece would never be enough.
Some may argue the physical addiction of sweets/sugar/carbs whatever one wants to call them but I look at the "behavioral aspect" of an "addiction" also. Obviously the thoughts of chocolate cause me behaviors, abnormal to my being. I've never fought the urge regarding a carby bag of frozen peas like I do with chocolate.
I am so glad I am not the only one that spends an equal amount of time in the store taking things OUT of my cart, as I do putting in
Bwaahahahaa!
BTW, no thanks to youse guys, I'm now afraid I'll be overcome with an irresistible impulse to grope the dark chocolate bars....
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When I quit smoking (11-1/2 years!!!) I had to just stop. The patch didn't work, the gum didn't work.... I loved (or thought I did) smoking! It was my best friend...besides fat and carbs!! Lol. Once I made my mind up to put them down...it became easier. The first week or two.....I was a beast.
I have to attack carbs the same way. It is a slippery slope covered with whatever varnish Clark Griswold put on his sled in Christmas Vacation!!! I can not have anything without going absolutely overboard. I am dreading making the Christmas goodies and treats my husband and kids love!!! (Because I love them too!!!)5 -
Just an update to tell you what you already know : cold turkey seems to work well. Two weeks later, and I'm still on the straight and narrow, even surrounded by all my favourite Christmas carbs.
Gradual withdrawal, after a bad few weeks, may work for some people, but definitely not me.
I'd say to anyone still struggling, giving up sugar entirely is easier and more reliable.
Thanks again all of you and happy Christmas!10 -
Ughhhh! I am still struggling. My husband argues sugar is not addicting but for me it is. I did 5 weeks no problem. Gave n2 cravings at Thxgiving and now Im struggling. What do u do when ur head is telling u 'its the season, go ahead an have just one'?0
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Juliegray1963 wrote: »What do u do when ur head is telling u 'its the season, go ahead an have just one'?
Know that your head is a lying liar pants, just like your scale!
It's like the line in that song that says "One is one too many. One more is never enough."
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cstehansen wrote: »When a doctor told Mark Twain to cut back on his cigars, he said he couldn't. He said he could quit, but he couldn't cut back.
Related:
"Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation."
Saint Augustine
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My few bites used to knock me out of ketosis and take me a week or more to get back in. Sugar is so addicting. It takes me 3 days to detox from it. I found that erythitol has no after taste, comes in powered sugar form and won't raise my blood sugar. So I make fudge out of erythitol, coconut oil, butter, and cocoa powder (peanut butter sometimes). A little bit a day solves my cravings and helps me get through the 3 detox days.
Recently, I've discovered ketone products: Ketone O2 and julianbakery has one. Puts you back in ketosis in 1 hour. Sure beats the week or more I use to do. Not that it means I could eat junk now! (ok, I thought about it!) But, it sure helps the devil on my shoulder that convinces me one bite won't hurt. Then I beat myself up for a long time for being so stupid.
I hope this helps.2
