S.O.S.

I think I'm becoming addicted to chocolate; I can't pass the stuff without putting it in my mouth. It's all over the place at my office - a dishful of the stuff on every other desk. I buy the sugar free kind thinking I'm only going to eat 1-2 pieces, and I just now finished off a whole bag of SF peanut M&M's in one sitting. I'm sick. And scared. Is anyone else going through anything like this? I haven't been able to get my weight back under 145 in quite a few months now and I'm just a hair's breath away from crossing over the dreaded 150 line - going in the wrong direction. Just had to put it out there. M.

hang on!!! can you try walking around with a cup in your hand?? I find that when I do this I am not tempted to eat as much mostly because I am pouring liquid in and feel full... Also I brush my teeth ALOT! especially at night when I want to graze the most... I brush my teeth probably 4x a night to keep that fresh feeling and then I won't eat beacuase everything will taste like crap (LOL) I could easily be an addict add to that the fact that it takes QUITE a bit of sugar to make me even slightly upset and I am in DEEP TROUBLE!!!!! hang on !!! nic

Thanks, Nic. Great ideas. I especially appreciate the supportive tone of your response to my post - it feels as if you actually threw me a lifeline...means a lot to me, thanks for being there. M.

I feel your distress. Chocolate is my downfall these days as well. I don't mess with the SF kind and can usually eat just enough to keep myself from being ill, but I need to be able to walk right by it and not be picking up things and putting them in my mouth at all. Hugs, Mo

I'm thinking in my head, "misery loves company" but that's not what I'm feeling, Mo. More accurately, it's comforting to know I'm not alone in this. Isolation is the most powerful form of self-sabotage. I need to be able to walk right by it as well. Today is a new day, a fresh new start...hugs, M.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I was the only I addict to chocolates. It's so difficult to control myself. I'm trying to do other things getting away from the candies, specially "sugar free" . It's more addictive sf candies than others. It's a good idea brushing your teeth to take away the cravings. Try counting to 10 before eating candies. I'm trying it. Let get together to help each other.

We're in this together, Yvette. M.

Before surgery, I wasn't a big chocolate eater. Now, I seem to crave it. I have found that the less I eat it, the less I crave it. If I can leave it alone for a few days, the cravings go away for a while. Luckily, I still dump on more than 15 or 20 grams of sugar so I have to limit myself. This last month or so has been really hectic and stressful and I'm a stress eater. I know I must have gained at least a few pounds, but I've been too scared to get on the scale. I'm afraid that if I get on the scale and I've gained, I'll spiral into my old habits of self-castigation. My poison of preference is starch. I've tossed all crackers out of the house. I realized last night that my popcorn habit is out of control so I'll take what I have into the office tomorrow. So Reenie, obviously I have no answers, I'm in the same boat. I do know that I'm not about to quit. Dina has been a huge inspiration to me. She started out with her Mondo Mexicali pouch and just keeps persevering. She's doing great and has never given up. While the rest of us were getting to or close to goal quickly, she just kept plugging away, a little at a time. I think that's the attitude that I need. I need to just keep on keeping on. Oh yeah, and parent myself better. I wouldn't let my kid eat a whole bowl of popcorn in bed right before sleep so I shouldn't either. Big, big hugs, Connie

It still amazes me, Connie, how closely our journeys parallel each other. I have that damned microwave "lite" popcorn every night! I make sure to eat it with Devin and Jim, otherwise I will scarf the whole bag myself. I'm gonna nip this, too. I just don't like the way I feel at this weight. Like you, I am also a Big Time Stress Eater. The problem with this is that life is stressful! That's never going to change. We have a layover in Atlanta en route to Jamaica in mid-April and so I will be seeing my inlaws for the first time in years, and certainly for the first time since I've lost the weight. I've never had an easy relationship with them--long story. But I am feeling very stressed over this, knowing that I will be more of a spectacle than anything else - that old 'naked in a fish bowl' kind of feeling. Silly thing to be stressing, I know. Listen, get on the scale. I make myself do it every morning, even when I know I ain't gonna like what I see. It holds me accountable. I don't stress over the numbers, it just keeps me in check, and motivated to continue the Good Fight. The more you stay away from the scale, the more power it has over you. On a final note, don't you want to come visit - and help us remodel both our bathrooms??? We'd have a blast! Love you HUGE. M.

My weakness is also chocolate, I stay away from milk chocolate and only eat dark chocolate. I limit myself to two pieces a day...for some reason this works for me. I freeze the chocolate, take just one piece and then just let it slowly dissolve in my mouth. It satisfies the craving and I don't feel like I'm totally depriving myself from a treat. I had a piece of milk chocolate Valentines day and it might as well been a chunk of butter flavored crisco...yuck!! If my cravings for other things start rearing their ugly heads I either resort to my water bottle (acutally Arizona Diet Green Tea) I drink about a gallon a day. Or I'll swish a mouth full of Crest Pro-Health Rinse. The flavor is strong enough to deaden any desire for anything for about an hour....phew it's some powerful stuff!! I also journal all my food, weigh every day and count calories. Gotta keep myself honest and this is what I've found that works for me. Good luck! Va