Magic Answer???

Hello,
I had VSG in 2009 I lost over 70 lbs
I am NEVER hungry.
I have gained 20lbs back.
From Carbs!
I am a night eater. not hungry.
I crave carbs. I do my best to not keep them in the house.
I will get up and go out and get them.
I eat b fast, lunch and dinner, and graze thru out the day.
I am SICK in the head.
I am a live-in caregiver.
I know this is stressful but that is no excuse for the eating.
I have tried so many things to stop this insanity.
I was a toothpick growing up.
I have to get this 20lbs off.
HELP please....grateful for any ideas....

"I am a live-in caregiver.
I know this is stressful but that is no excuse for the eating."

Exactly it is. Stress increases chemicals in our brain that cause us to feel the need to eat.

So next time you will know it is stress hunger, not "My body needs calories" hunger and maybe that will make it easier to resist. And, for the times you can't resist anyway (and there will be some), you will know that you are under the influence of powerful chemicals and maybe not beat yourself up as much. Because beating ourselves up just contributes to the stress so it doesn't help.

Is it possible there's a physiological basis for your carb cravings? 

For me, the pre-op days of high-protein, super-low carb eating were a huge eye opener.  Suddenly, my cravings vaporized, and I was so grateful, it was like a miracle.  I could think straight, and didn't spend my days and nights obsessing about food.  Apparently, glutamine is present naturally in protein foods.  And, I do consume a LOT of protein - at least 100 grams / day.  But lately, I've been fighting a losing battle with carb / sugar cravings.  Like you, I couldn't seem to stop, even though the sugar consumption made me feel ill, I was gaining weight, and starting to feel hopeless.  After reading two different holistic nutritionist's books on supplementation, particular amino acids, I decided to give L-Glutamine a try, and the difference was shocking, and immediate (less than an hour).  Suddenly, I understand how others can say "just don't eat carbs".  Sure, that's not so hard if your body isn't screaming at you all day for them!  I've worked with a therapist on mindful eating / emotional eating, I've cut unnecessary carbs out of my diet (or tried), I've worked on stress reduction techniques, I've basically thrown every strategy I could think of at this problem.  I can't tell you how grateful I am to have something that is actually helping.

I still have to manage the stress eating, and the treats still look good, but I feel like I've made it a fair fight, and it's SO much easier to say "no" because I know they're not going to get me where I want to go.  For the first time in months I feel like reaching my dream goal weight is back within reach.

Obviously this isn't the answer for everyone, and it may be the roots of your eating are entirely emotional, but it might be worth looking into nutritional supplements.  Some people find Chromium works better for them, but I'm under the impression that's more likely to have side effects - I haven't tried that.  If you want more info, read anything by Maria Emmerich, or check out Julia Ross's The Diet Cure.  Or better yet, talk to a nutritionist who will help evaluate what you're experiencing and make suggestions for supplements that might help you. 

Amino Acids are wonderful! L-Glutamine really does work!

 

Infodiva,
What are they and what do they "work" for?