Cravings!

A recent support group session was devoted to cravings.  Some group members felt that giving into the craving in moderation was the best way to get past it, while others felt that a little of a craved food led to even more desire to have it and therefore supported avoidance of the food entirely.  So my question is.......How do you handle it when you crave a prohibited food?  Please post your thoughts.

As still pre op I probably shouldn't be contemplating this question right now but here's what I think in my limited knowledge.... I think now, as a pre op patient, I have to be VERY careful.  When I have cravings, watch the hell out.  I dont' eat just a "taste" of anything.  Before you know it - it's gone.  It's actually ridiculous how much food I can consume if I dont' measure things out before hand. Now after surgery, that will be impossible to do.  I get that.  I will get sick.  But you know what...I don't want to tempt the fates.  I don't want to find out that I'm not sensitive to sugars by having a "little bit of ice cream" and not dump.  I personally am planning on finding substitutes.  I'm having this surgery not to continue eating the way I used to - rather I'm having this surgery to CHANGE everything about my eating habits.  I want to eat to live, not live to eat, I want to be healthy, I want to do things the "right way" Now...ask me in 3 mos and we'll see what I believe in. Pam

I haven't had the "cravings for prohibited food" tyhat i had pre op where I would consume a bag of cookies or cake in one sitting.  But, I have had the craving for things like hot sauce and olives which are high in sodium and I guess I have taken the road of a little is better than a lot and have had a small amount.  That way I don't sit there thinking and lingering on the thought of eating it and making myself feel guilty. maxine

I think that one of the things that makes food addiction so hard is that you cannot simply give it up.  In treating patients with alcholism for example I never suggest that they have just a little!

Hi Dr. Mike! I actually use both methods.  Sometimes I have a little, most of the time I avoid.  I guess it depends on a number of factors.  For example, I would NOT stock my kitchen with the trigger foods and expect to have a little of it in an attempt to try to "normalize" my relationship with (those) foods.   Depending on what it is, I might eat it occasionally when out.  I pay VERY careful attention to what that food does to me (i.e.: does it make me dump - even mildly, sweat, cramps, gas, etc.) so that I can use that as a negative self talk about how that food is not good for me... to help reinforce and strengthen the avoidance behavior. For the most part I try to stick to PROTEIN foods since they are known to kill the appetite, while carbs are known to cause hunger and cravings because of the insulin surges that naturally occur with consumption.  Overall, I am TRYING to develop a more moderate approach to food, eating, etc., and not make it the center of my life.  I think most would agree with me that in our society, this is not an easy task! Irene

One more VERY IMPORTANT thing that I forgot to mention - I find it essential to stay involved with a support group!  It's the most important thing to keep my head on straight! Irene

Hi Irene, Nice to see you here! You are correct:        SUPPORT GROUPS ROCK! This is too hard to do alone. My thanks to those who took the time to respond to my question.  How do others feel about it? Dr. Mike

Hi Dr Mike,  Nothing is really prohibitted the further out you get from surgery..  so at this point for me .. I can eat anything and cravings have deminished.. but taking stock of what is good for you and what is not was key for me..  I never deny myself.. so a taste is all I ever really need these days.. although certain foods do push my buttons and lead me to other foods and those I try to avoid.. like bread.. 1 piece is not enough.. 5 macoroni's don't satisfy em.. so total avoidance works best.. but easier said than done..  Donna

<< How do you handle it when you crave a prohibited food? >> I've chosen to not deny myself from eating whatever it is I'm in the mood for ... but at the same time I am well aware that I MUST moderate and not get carried away into overdoing it.   I think a lot of it has to do with strength of mind over matter.  If I'm still hungry and/or craving to eat .. let's say a cookie because I just had two of them .. then I'll switch to eating a fruit, or something more appropriate in order to take care of the 'still feeling hungry' feeling.  That's always worked for me to get me to the point of 'feeling full again.'   I've also noticed at different times, too ... that when I have had a STRONG craving for something I know isn't all that great for me and/or isn't likely to settle well ... I've gone ahead and had a taste of whatever it is and ended up totally not enjoying it all.  It's tasteless and/or doesn't digest or settle well at all inside.  I've learned, for example, that breads, pastas, rice are bland and totally unappetizing ... so at the times my brain is reallllly wanting to eat said food .... (eg. at a restaurant) ... I'll have a small bite of whatever it is and that'll be all it takes to 'ease the craving.'   Again this, for me, is an example of the power of the mind over matter.  I also justify the odd time when I'll have a handful of chips and/or popcorn and/or ______ ... by telling myself that it's OK since I run 5 miles every day ... and 'tomorrow I'll just do an extra lap around the lake to compensate for the extra bad food I've eaten.'   Now that I think of it --- it's all about mind games for me.   I don't believe in total food abstinence.  So far soo good .  2+ years out and staying steady on course. - Carol

So different strategies seem to work.......