Question:
How do you all deal with temptation?
If you have any sorts of triggers from talk of sweets you should not read on. I am a nurse who works the night shift. The floor that I work on has tons of potlucks. You name a reason, we have a potluck for it. Also, I work in labor and delivery, so we get a lot of presents of gratitude from patients. Huge boxes of candy, donuts, pizzas. The doctors are constantly sending us some sort of food. About once a month (around my period usually) I start to get a sweets craving. I happened to start feeling it yesterday. I am not making this up, last night at work we had 4 dozen donuts given to us by the enfamil lady. 4 ice cream cakes given to us by a patient who owns an ice cream store in town. Later in the night 3 more dozen donuts given to us by another patient. We also have a big storage unit full of candy and chips that we sell (mostly to the staff.) I was not a big sweets person before surgery, I was a total carb in huge volumes person. My #1 biggest problem since surgery is a cracker addiction. I have to practically run past the aisle with the crackers in it at the store. Since I live alone though, it's pretty easy to just not buy something that will get me into trouble. At work we have little packages of two saltines. I must have eaten at least 10 packages over my 12 hour shift. That's 40 carbs! I think it's because I was so stressed over wanting some of what was in the break room. It probably would have been better to just have a little bite of the sweets now that I think about it. I did not sit in the break room except to eat my lunch so I didn't have to look at the stuff, but it seemed like everyone was constantly talking about how many donuts we had. How much cake we had. I am just wondering how everybody else deals with situations like that. I am pretty careful with my sugar and I know that I dump. I have dumped on strange things though, like cornbread. I was thinking that maybe I should just eat something very sugary on purpose so I dump and learn a lesson. Wouldn't that scare me away from wanting it again? Just an idea. Thanks for any suggestions. — Nichole B. (posted on July 26, 2002)
July 26, 2002
I'm 24. 5 months post-op (-80lbs) I work full time in an office and there
are constantly cookies, cheese & crackers, you name it. I don't know
how but I just tell myself it's not worth it. I think of how soon it will
be when I'm sliding on a size 7 pair of jeans, that means more to me or I
think of how that really hot guy at the gas station checked me out the
other day. You just have to if you want to succeed. On the side I also
bake for a little extra money, breads, rolls, cookies, coffee cakes, just
about everything or anything someone requests. Even after surgery I still
continue to do this because I love to cook but somehow I still manage to
resist.
— Angie B.
July 26, 2002
Boy, I feel your pain on this one! Prior to surgery, sweets were not an
issue for me, but sweets and carbs in general are my downfall. I don't
think, however, that you should have 'just a taste' as that will only fuel
your desire more - trust me on that! While protein,protein,protein is
boring, it will indeed curb your cravings. If you can hit the protein and
supplement with at least 2 protein drinks a day, you'll be surprised how
your hunger will subside and you won't crave the sweets so much. And
crackers! OMG!!! I swear I could LIVE on Ritz crackers. But again, I try
and eat them with protein, so cheese & Ritz are my 10 a.m. snack. The
battle goes on, but try upping the protein just to see if it doesn't help
you with the cravings.
— scottiemaam O.
July 26, 2002
If I have a craving I do NOT deny myself! That is diet mentality to me and
I am not on a diet. I make sure I have my protein first and then if I want
a bite or two of dessert, I have it. I sometimes do the "bait and
switch" with a protein bar (after I finish the protein bar I can have
it) after which I usually don't want it anymore. I also really THINK about
it and DECIDE ACTIVELY that I want it. I often crave a chocolate bar for
days or weeks before I actually get one. I get to the machine and think,
"Well, this isn't the one I want most. The peanuts have protein in
them. I'll just get the chocolate bar later." I usually end up with
nuts or a granola bar. You are fortunate that you dump. That should keep
you within bounds as long as you don't push your limits often--the more
sugar you eat the more you CAN eat. But denying yourself can backfire just
like with dieting. It can make you resent the good food you need to eat. If
it is something you REALLY WANT--like your favorite kind of cake or cookies
like Grandma used to make--go ahead and have some. But if its just
something sweet, you probably won't enjoy it anyway and you're better off
just eating some fruit. I find that lots of that stuff doesn't taste nearly
as good as it did before. Good luck!
— ctyst
July 26, 2002
I am 3 1/2+ (almost 4 mo)out and I'm down 81 lbs. so far - I am a major
sweet head - carb person...was before and am after but I get the taste from
different places yet. I won't eat anything that is over 13 gms of sugar -
there are tons of options out there that I use to keep from feeling
deprived. Snackwell came out with a no sugar added cookie and one or two
of those does the trick each time. I also have picked up 50/50 brand
chocolate bar in the diabetic section of the grocery store...it helps as
well. A lot of calories some time but it helps to take off the edge of
feeling deprived. I too work in a place that has a lot of sweets &
whatnot - my daughter who is 20 lives with us and her babysitter works for
a bakery....he was constantly CONSTANTLY bringing her yummy looking foods -
I was able to ask her to either keep them in her car or don't take them at
all because it was real hard - I'm glad she listened so at least I don't
have that hassel at the house anymore. Good luck to you though - I know
how tough it can be.
— Lisa J.
July 26, 2002
Nichole, I feel for you! My goodness, your work area is a nightmare for
those that want to stay away from sweets. I, too, am a sugar and
carbaholic and thats what got me into trouble pre-op. But like Cheri
Stewart said, I don't deny myself either, and believe it or not, I find
that just a small amount of the treat is all I need to be satisfied. At
work, I am often faced with leftover food from meetings, like danishes,
brownies, cookies. If I can't resist, I break off a 1/4 of a brownie or a
danish and nibble slowly. At home, I have some SF treats, like the SF
chocolate and ice cream, and I also eat some little mini-bite size
chocolate chip cookies (each one has 1.8 grams of sugar so I limit to 2 or
3). Its great if you have the willpower to resist it all, but I didn't
have this surgery to deny myself little treats. Moderation, if you can
handle it, is the key.
— Cindy R.
July 26, 2002
Hi, Nichole... I understand your delima as well. I'm about 18mo out and I
have convinced myself that if I eat candy I'll go into a coma! HA! I'm
afraid if I do have it and I don't dump, I have no reason not to have it.
— Molly W.
July 26, 2002
Crackers? YUM. I totally have a thing for crackers too and seems like I can
eat just as many post surgically as I could before. I have not really
tested the idea, but it sure feels like I can. In fact, most things
salty/snacky I can handle alot of..like crackers, gardettos, goldfish,
peanuts. I dont have any great words of wisdom except to say that I am
with you. Fellow cracker-girl.
— Julie D.
July 26, 2002
Yes, it sounds as if your work is a battleground! When you eat a cracker,
why don't you top it with some cheese or peanut butter. That way you are
less likely to keep eating the crackers. You could also try a protein
drink or bar to keep the hunger and cravings at bay. These things were
mentioned by other posters and I think they are great ideas. And of
course, like Cheri said, have that little taste. I wouldn't do it when you
are ravenous though. Have a little something first, then I say go for it.
Make sure that it is just a tiny amount so you don't become more resistent
to the dump-o-meter!
— Cheri M.
July 26, 2002
What I do is if I want a BAD choice first I eat something good, then if I
still want the bad choice I have it but dont eat much of it.
— bob-haller
July 26, 2002
Don't try to dump on purpose - you might find out that you don't and that
could become a slippery slope to temptation!
— jen41766
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