Question:
4 1/2 months post op and starting to crave sugar again!

I am almost five months post op down 82lbs., before I had surgery I can say that I was addicted to sugar..so badly so that I had to have it everyday.Since surgery I completely stopped craving sugar and was so pleased with that. well,since my last period I can not stop thinking about sweets! I get lots of protein in and all my vitamins.Why am I craving sugar again? I stay away from it but I feel like I'm obsessing over everything I eat. I hate feeling this way. I want to be free of cravings like these. Are these normal feelings? What do I do to stop cravings?? Please help.    — Vel K. (posted on June 17, 2001)

June 17, 2001
I don't know what causes the cravings other than the fact that we all have to have a certain amount of sugar in our bodies. They say to listen to our cravings, because it means something's missing. I wouldn't cut out sugar all together. You're doomed to fail, as I'm sure your diet history will show. The key is moderation. (Like I'm an expert! LOL) Try things containing fructose, fruit sugar. There are way less calories in those than regular table sugar. Some yogurts are made with them. Diabetic cakes are sold in most grocery store bakery sections. They come in poppy seed, chocolate, etc. Low sugar angel food cake with fruit topping is a nice treat. Also, CVS and other places carry sugar free candy. Butterscotch, mint, and cinnomon buttons, and even "Reese's cup" type candy. Maybe allow yourself a certain amount occasionally to keep the cravings at bay.
   — Amy K.

June 17, 2001
I agree with both of the posters. I to had a HUGE sweet tooth before the surgery. Needed something mega sweet every day! Wasn't till recently (4 months + post op) that I desired sweets again. I really like the low cal popsicles. They only have 15 calories and to me are really sweet. I also agree if you try never to have something sweet that it might sabotage you. Just try to make smarter choices. Or only have a bite (if you can do that) otherwise, try the popsicles, yogurt, toast with a little jelly, etc. Actually, anything more sweet, and it does bother me - - thank goodness!!
   — Karen A.

June 17, 2001
Just an observation on people eating something because it says "sugar free". Just becasue it says it does not mean "sugar free". My nutritionist told us to watch for ALL sugar forms. This means mannitol, sorbitol or anyother word ending in "tol". Also, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, etc. Any of these in food make me ill. so I know that they are a form of sugar. Just a note.
   — Tere F.

June 17, 2001
I also went through a major sugar craving stage about about 3 or 4 months post op. I made the major major mistake of giving in to it and stopped and got some Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Got home and had just the tiniest little scoop (would have just been a tease prior to surgery it was that small). Well, needless to say, I had THE WORST case of dumping syndrome. I had never experienced this before and I guarentee I never will again...it was that horrible. Since then I have learned that a bite or two of some treats allow me to satisfy my sugar craving and keeps me from feeling deprived. Deprivation feelings are the worst in my opinion...its a 100% set up for failure. Learning moderation is what is needed and our body changes help us to learn moderation in all manors of eating. Good Luck to you.
   — Denise P.

June 17, 2001
Oh honey .... I can soooooo relate to your problem. Pre-op I was queen of the sugar junkies .... I also had to have my sugar fix at least every day! I considered M&Ms to be the "breakfast of champions". I occassionally give in and eat something sweet, but usually find that whatever it is that I thought I wanted so badly usually doesn't taste all that great. If I take more than a bite or two, I also dump like crazy. A good dumping episode usually keeps me on the straight and narrow for a while. So, for the most part ... I stick to tiny bites of sweets occasionally or "licking the spoon". That seems to work well for me. Good luck on conquering demon sugar!
   — Lynn T.

June 17, 2001
I was also a sweet-o-holic -- that's all I ever wanted. My basics were cookies, candy and ice cream. YUM!!! I'm 5 mos. post-op (rny open) and I found out that I was definitely a stress eater. Now when I get stressed my mind goes straight to wanting ice cream and cookies, but it's only a thought. I feel that I'm lucky because I dump and will only think about sweets now. The closest thing to sweets I can get is sugar free/fat free: whipped cream & angel food cake and strawberries. And I really can't have too much of that. Oh, I was in to large quantities too. I used to smoke many years ago too and still dream of smoking, but would never want to puff on another cigarette either. Some cravings just never go away. Good luck!
   — Betty Todd

June 17, 2001
The sugar thing didn't hit me til almost 2 yrs post-op. But then, I'd been taking about half the protein supps I really needed, but didn't know it. Every now & then I crave certain textures that are found in sweets, but usually, I am able to keep the general sugar cravings under control with lots of protein supps. But I am VERY careful not to get "incidental" sugars, which just make the cravings worse. So, no milk, no applesauce, no creamed soups or graham crackers. I do eat yogurt but keep the serving size to less than 6g of sugar. I will dump, but at a higher sugar g level. But if I mess with it, I will just increase my tolerance AND my cravings for it. Sugar is SO addictive that I am far better off if I never get any closer than the sugar content of a banana or a can of peas. If I do, it'll own me in about 5 seconds.
   — vitalady