Question:
What do you do when you crave unhealthy foods?

I am 9 1/2 wks post op. I just crave junk food. I have given into a few of these cravings but I feel so guilty. I want to eat chocolate and most of all chesse tortellini- I want to know what you all do when a craving comes along that seems to hard to beat. Any advice would be great- I would hate to ruin my chances with success by eating junk foods.    — Jan S. (posted on June 10, 2003)


June 10, 2003
If you have cravings, chances are you may not be getting enough protein. At 9 1/2 weeks, I think I put some low-fat cheese cubes in the fridge for such occurrences and it always worked for me. I would reward myself with a sugarfree popsicle at night and that worked well too (but no protein there). Now at 10+ months out, my "craving solution" is a piece of beef jerky. Just find out what works for you to turn off the cravings.
   — Cathy S.

June 10, 2003
Know that you are not alone . . . remember, you had stomach surgery and not a lobotomy so all that earlier learned behavior regarding food is still there. I still struggle with these issues despite dropping over 220 pounds in just 8 months. I found it helpful to write about it (which I did on my webpage and in my profile). A few things (aside from the obvious ones of getting involved in a support group and having friends and family with whom you can discuss your cravings before acting on them): drink lots of water which will satisfy some of the cravings, think about pork rinds (they have no carbs and satisfy the urge to crunch something) and consider trying some of the protein bars and protein shakes that are low in carbs but offer some good nutrition. Lastly, check out this site's chat room when the cravings are at their worst and someone will be there to help you through it.
   — SteveColarossi

June 10, 2003
Drink a protein shake... willpower in a bottle (or shaker as the case may be).
   — mom2jtx3

June 10, 2003
I don't agree with the first poster that it's a sign your not getting enough protein...BUT for you it may be and for them it might be too, I suppose. Personally, when I REALLY crave something unhealthy I try to eat the healthiest version of it I can find. I find one or two of the little sugar-free Hershey Dark bars kills my chocolate cravings. If I crave chips, popcorn will usually kill that craving. If I crave cereal, I choose a really high fiber, low-sugar version. This works for me...may not for you :>)
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 10, 2003
If I were you, I would not eat the Sugar Free Hershey bars as they have Lactitol in them, which is a SUGAR and will cause the dumping syndrome...go for a walk, drink water, anything but giving into the temptation to cheat is your best chance!!!! Good luck!
   — kariebelser

June 10, 2003
Run, run like the wind and don't give in. Drink water or eat something with protein in it. No sugar
   — Justin F.

June 10, 2003
Hi,I was craving cheeto's a lot and had just 3 or 4 and that help make the craving go away but also, I find if I eat a lot of carbs, I crave. So maybe check out your intake of carbs.
   — Kim J.

June 10, 2003
One other note about Sugar Free Hersheys foods, they have the same fat and essentially the same calories as regular Hersheys chocolate products. Keep in mind MOST sugar free products are for diabetics, where alcohol sugars wont affect their blood glucose levels, but alcohol sugars will affect GB patients because it is a sugar. Hope this info is helpful.
   — kariebelser

June 10, 2003
Where do you get your info that sugar alcohols affect gb patients?? I'd really like to read about that because that contradicts everything I've learned from doctors, nutritionists and items I've read. I don't dump on them and like I said, I find one or two of those little suckers kills a craving...it's not like pre-op where I'd eat a whole king sized bar!
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 10, 2003
I am trying SO hard to learn (for the first time) what MODERSATION means ? What do I do...if I want a chip ? I EAT one (or two) but refuse to sit and eat the whole bag...When I'm at a resturant- and someone orders dessert, I take my little teaspoon and take a LITTLE taste (better then none) MODERATION, MODERATION, MODERATION....that is the only thing that will get me through (not morbidly obese) the rest of my life.
   — WABBIT F.

June 10, 2003
Hi, I'm 9 weeks post-op. I learned way before surgery, when I would crave to have pizza and would have to fight myself not to order a whole one for myself, that if you resist the cravings eventually you will stop having them. However, I've also learned post op to try and find substitutes for the bad food. For chocolate I have SF/FF pudding and the tortelini...well for me I can have pasta now so just a small portion shouldn't be so bad. Best of luck!
   — Sarahlicious

June 10, 2003
Hi Jan- I am certainly no expert, I am still pre-op and have not conquered my food demons yet, but this is what helped me with the chocolate. I make like a SF chocolate pudding- about 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Then add SF cocoa powder, 2 or 3 packets of Splenda to your taste, and a dash of vanilla extract. Let it get cold in the fridge and then enjoy. Sorry I don't have any answers about the tortellini, maybe a whole-wheat or spinach-pasta version, if there is such a thing? Good Luck! Mea
   — Mea A.

June 10, 2003
Hi.....I have a different approach to this surgery/new way of life. Since the beginning of this journey, I decided to choose a diet plan/philosophy that's livable for the rest of my life. I'm not considering this a "diet," where I stay away from certain foods to "lose weight." I've just let myself accept the fact that I will lose weight and what I should focus on is learning a new way to think about food. I've taken the excitement out of food and just learned to enjoy it in MODERATION. I've allowed myself to try almost everything that I've craved -- and you know what the result was? I know longer see the excitement in the food anymore. After a bite or two, I am bored and disinterested! And guess what...I crave things less and less now!! Another thing to remember, normal people know what moderation is...and if our goal is to be normal with a normal life/diet style, then we need to learn that mentality! Good luck to you and hope you find a good philosophy to stick with as well! Luv, Iris
   — Iris B.

June 10, 2003
Ruth and others...the alcohol sugar information I learned at my nutrition class, plus I read on the Hersheys website about the fat and calorie content. I just wanted to say WOW! You have lost almost 100 lbs! Way to go and good luck!
   — kariebelser

June 10, 2003
Maybe I am alone here, but I don't see why cheese tortellini would be all that bad of a food choice..Cheese is protein. I know it is pasta, but a little won't stop all the work you've done. If you make it yourself, they make wheat pasta now, which is a complex carb, and much better for your than white pasta. If I want chocolate, I eat the suger free kind. Never had a prob with dumping from it, and 1 or 2 pieces will kill that craving
   — thekatinthehat

June 11, 2003
I must say that this is the best question and answer that I've read on this site. I am 14 months post-op and am craving all the wrong foods. I'm so afraid of gaining it back because my eating habits are coming back. Reading the suggestions here to this particular question has really motivated me to re-think and make some changes. (more then any of you may realize). I thank you all who have responded and also for asking the question in the first place. Love ya all my wlsisters & brothers!!
   — Peggy D.

June 11, 2003
I saw an answer on here that said "run like the wind". I have a tendency to AGREE. I am still Pre-OP but I am trying to still "diet" and when I eat the so called "bad foods"... sugar and carbs.... once you get a little "taste" you always want More and More and More. I agree with drink water... and BREATHE DEEP and maybe the craving will pass. It is almost like quitting cigarettes. We have to "breath deep" and water down our cravings. Good Luck to you!
   — Eleanore Davis

June 11, 2003
I tend to agree with Iris on this one... I made a decision to be normal. The surgery is helping me do that. That means that I can't go from the extreme where everything is okay, to the other end where I can't eat anything. The therapist who runs our support group tells us that if we have a SPECIFIC craving, we should eat a little of what we are craving. Otherwise we will just continue to eat and not feel satisfied. She says that if we are just generally suffering from the munchies, but nothing specific, then those are the times to seek other things--drinking water, exercising, eating protein--to curb the munchies. I find it's working. Occassionally, I crave something specific and I have just a little bit of it--I don't worry about it's fat or sugar content. One or two bites, sips, etc, are not going to make a huge difference. My craving is satisfied and I can move on to other things. This is how normal people live. My personal therapist agrees with me.. And I know that perhaps my weight will come off slower than people who stick to only protein, but it is coming off and so are the inches. Plus, I feel normal and have a better relationship with food. It's working for me...
   — Janet S.

June 11, 2003
I agree with Iris, I don't think there's anything wrong with eating some of what you're craving. I don't know about y'all, but I'd go nuts if I couldn't have a little of the good stuff from time to time. However, some things, once I eat some of them, I don't want them anymore. I've found its just not as fun or interesting to eat just a little of what I crave, and obviously I can't gorge out like I did before WLS. Basically I think its not the particular food so much, but the sitting down and eating huge portions that I crave (at least for me). Does that make sense? Anyway, I'm reading a book called "It's Not About Food" (you can search at Amazon.com) that is helping me understand where the need to overeat comes from, and how to change your thinking about food. I highly recommend it. Good luck to everyone! :)
   — Laura R.

June 11, 2003
This may sound a little weird, but I get my husband to have whatever I'm craving. That way I get to have a taste or two, satisfy my craving, and eating the whole thing is not an option because it's not mine. As for the cheese tortellini, I'd wait because those things swell big time and I learned that the hard and painful way. If you do try them, only have about five, I'm serious and then wait for a few minutes to see how full you feel once they expand in your pouch. Anyways, my point is don't deprive yourself because then you'll be tempted to binge and that simply is not an option anymore. Good luck!
   — cjabates

June 11, 2003
I haven't read anybody else's response b/c I want to answer your question from my gut (pardon the pun). I am not on a diet. Let me shout that from the mountaintops - I AM NOT ON A DIET!!!! I did not have this surgery to have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life. Now, let me preface that by saying I do not eat foods that are high in refined sugar due to being afraid of dumping. However, I bought one of those "Big Grab" 99cent bags of Twisted Cheetos last weekend. My mother asked me "Should you be eating those? They have no nutritious value." to which I replied "I used to eat one big bag of Cheetos in one sitting. Now it takes me an entire weekend to eat a little "snack" bag. If I want to eat a Cheeto, I'm gonna eat a damn Cheeto!!!" LOL and that was that.
   — RedHeadBeauty




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