A New Direction

Hello Everyone,

It has been over 6 months since I posted because I became disheartened with my obsession over food. The last 6 months have been at times an uncontrollable food frenzy. I have had significant weight gain but some interesting revelations.

Here is what I am up to now: After a particularly gluttonous vacation, I asked my husband to join me in doing South Beach Diet. He agreed. We did the two weeks of no carbs starting on 11/30. It wasn't easy. I had 3 days of headaches. This time I have actually been following the diet correctly. After the 14 days of no carbs, I add one thing in and see if I get cravings. If I do, I take it out of the diet, eating only protein and veges and fruit (doesn't cause cravings) and wait until I feel craving free then try something else. Last night I tried 12g fiber tortillas and so far so good today.

The cravings: I couldn't describe and understand the craving feeling. it is a gnawing hunger that can never be satisfied. I could eat boxes of cookies and maybe get some relief for a short time but then it starts again. It takes over my life. I can't think of other things except satisfying the craving. Must be like what a drug addict feels. So when I don't have the craving, I can do other things and even get quite hungry before I need to eat. The hunger pang is very different and manageable compared to the craving.

When I do eat something that triggers the craving: champagne, sweet potatoes, perhaps my hot cereal (I need to experiment more), obviously anything with sugar in it, it takes about 12 hours for the craving to leave and then I am fine. So on New Year's I can have champagne, I just have to eat no carbs the next day until it leaves. I've lost about 9 lbs. since doing this and maintained over Christmas week which has included more drinking and eating than usual, although no sweets.

So where I thought I was an emotional, stress eater, I am not so sure. I think the craving becomes so strong that it takes over your life...when you can eat so you have no craving it is liberating, like being let out of a prison.

I have found that starting my day with a protein and a vegetable gives me lots of energy.

Lastly, the experimenting seems like a pain in the butt but it is actually not hard. You know you can eat vegetables and proteins, that's a lot of food. I have crossed off fruit, even bananas are okay. It's the starches that you do one by one. Once you realize the craving is physiological it is easier to deal with and it does go away and then you feel fine. Good luck!

I was able to bake Christmas cookies all day without a lick. It did it during a no-craving time. It has been somewhat challenging seeing them around but they are almost gone and things will be easier.

Giving up sweets has not been difficult because I feel a million times better...