NUT wants me to increase my carb intake

It sounds counterintuitive, but her logic makes sense, so I thought I'd see what you all think.

I saw my NUT for a follow-up today, and I told her about my worrisome addiction to Tums lately (I'm afraid I'm going to give myself a kidney stone). She looked at my MFP entries and thinks the problem is that I'm restricting carbs too much, making me crave them in anything else sweet that I can try to justify as "not counting" because it's a supplement. She thinks if I add more carbs like beans, quinoa, and squash -- and also increase my fat percentage by adding nuts or avocado -- I may be able to quell the cravings with better carb choices than Tums or Double Bubble. Has anyone else ever gotten a similar recommendation? She did say to experiment with it and to take my intake back down if it doesn't help the cravings, so it's not like she's pretending to have it all figured out or anything.

I currently get 60-80 carbs a day (not counting the Tums), and she wants me to aim closer to 100.

Personally I think 60-80g is very normal. I know some people try to stick very low-carb, but 100 seems a lot for weight loss. I agree with adding fats, we need them and they help with feeling satiated. Now that I don't have bread to put my butter on, I need to think of other ways to add it LOL... Maybe add another snack/meal to the day, are you having a protein shake? that might help... or if you want that 'sweet indulgence' maybe have a piece of a protein bar.

I am not totally sure why you are taking so many Tums? GERD or just tastes good? If it just tastes good, maybe you need to bite the bullet and get off them. If it is because of GERD maybe you need to be on a PPI. Just some thoughts.

I already have 5-6 small meals a day, the first of which is a protein shake (Unjury chocolate splendor with unsweetened cashew milk). Honestly, I haven't had any GERD symptoms since surgery, but I was just in the habit, and now I just eat them while lying in bed reading because they're sweet and I like the texture as they dissolve (I know, I'm weird). I think you're right about biting the bullet -- it's just a habit, and I'll only change it by breaking it, so I just need to stop buying them period.

I agree and I would not add any starchy carbs either.

 Yes, complex carbs and good fats;  totally necessary.  

Just make sure to measure your servings--it's all to easy to sit down to munch too many cashews.

I'd take one step at a time - if you crank the carbs up to 100, PLUS add fats, you might gain some weight and not know exactly why. 

I have been advised to increase my healthy fats - using avocado (great on salad!) or raw almonds (just a few). As for the carbs, it sounds like she's suggesting "hefty" carbs for you, which may be satisfying and certainly delicious!

But I am not following the story where Tums are concerned. Do you munch them like breath mints or a snack? Are you hungry or just want something in your mouth? (I love having something going into my mouth - lately it's been celery hearts). When you have a craving, what are you craving?

So....add one thing at a time. Sort of the scientific method, you know?

Thanks, I definitely agree with the scientific method! I pretty much just munch the Tums like candy, always right before bed. Sometimes 20 or more at a time, which is where I'm getting concerned. She actually told me to switch to Sweet Tarts -- I won't risk the calcium overload that way, and if I want them because I'm craving candy, she said I should at least be realizing that candy's basically what I'm eating.

Why aren't you counting your supplements? I put everything from vitamins, calcium, etc into MFP. If it goes in my mouth, it goes in my log.

I wouldn't increase carbs. If anything, I'd lower carbs and increase fat.

Cut the other crap out. I know, it's really, really hard. But it's not your body demanding it, it's your head. It's a bad habit, and now is the time to kick bad habits.

If you are craving carbs, then its a head craving not a really hunger craving since that grelin (sP) isn't being produced in your stomach anymore? Surprised you can have gum, its on the no no list for us along with straws. 

Both gum and straws were no-nos for my plan, but only for the first 2 weeks. I definitely feel real hunger, and have since the second day after surgery. It doesn't matter what I eat at that point, so it's not a craving, and I get full really quickly. But I definitely know when it's time to eat again.