Craving Sweets - Can't Stop!

So here I am.....almost 9 years out from a RNY that was text book....never problems....lost about 164 total and now since have been menopausal for the last 2 years or so....have gained about 35 pounds and crave sweets so much I can't believe it.  I will get the dump feeling if I eat too much but I can't stop...I know how I'm supposed to eat but I've not been as diligent in those pursuits lately.  Getting ready to join a gym right near work....they have a motivational boot camp style program for an hour..ust..gonna do that 3 times a week.  I am headed for 200 and I refuse to go there again and that's whereus I'm headed.  I need some support....one thing I saw was the Accountability posts....those have impressed me.....love how you get your protein and then some...I have tried the pouch test and it works , but very easy to go right back.  I worked too darn hard to get the surgery and lose the weight to just let all this go down the tubes.....I will never e the size 4 and 6 like I was after the initial loss...that was so kewl!  But  I just can't figure out if the menopausal state of my body is affecting some nutrients am I lacking or getting too much of something commo n in menopausal women?  Just don't understand the insatiable cravings for sugar and sweets.  I would just like to take off about 20.now and just need to find the starting point again.  I'm hoping that the exercise I start doing will tighten me up and motivate me because I'm feeling thinner......I take a multi, 5000 mcg of B12 sublingual, and also have slightly high blood pressure which is in check now with beta blockers....could that be the culprit????  Tell me something I don't know.....please.....

Sorry to hear you are going through a rough patch, but it sounds like you are taking control of the situation and I commend you for that!!  Exercise will defenitely help.  I don't know about the meds.....if they would contribute or not, but I'm thinking menopause might have something to do with it being that your hormones are all funky right now.  Have you asked your OBGYN?  I keep the "no sugar added" fudgesicles in my freezer for my chocolate cravings and they help a lot.  Only 40 calories in one. 

Hang in there.

Tammy

Try chewing sugar-free gum--Extra Wintergreen is my favorite flavor, but there's tons out there.

Also sugar-free candies--there's quite a selection nowadays! One caveat: too much will have a laxative effect. Yikes!

Cravings are MURDER! But eating sugar is a TRAP. Sucrose gives you a high, then a huge depressing low, which makes you crave more sugar because it will get you back up again. The only solution is to gradually replace the sugary foods with longer-lasting foods that provide a  steady blood-sugar level. You really don't want the Hostess-like stuff because it makes you feel like crapola later.

For inspiration, I totally recommend watching "Supersize Me." It always helps to get me out of a slump!

I've never heard of the "pouch test" what is that?  I too am suffering from horrible cravings of chocalate and can't stop, and have gained 35 pounds after losing 150.