Question:
How to deal with cravings

I am ten days post op and the craving for junk food has returned. Any advice on how to deal with this. Thanks.    — Randy W. (posted on May 1, 2004)

May 1, 2004
I felt very similar. Finally, after all that craving, I just chewed up a few bites of junk and spat it out. It wasn't all it cracked up to be and the food lost its enchantment. As soon as you can chew real food up, you'll most likely lose the cravings.
   — jenn_jenn

May 2, 2004
I remember that well! Drink lots of water to flush out the system and protien will help. Good Luck!
   — ZZ S.

May 2, 2004
I pretty much tried to dwell on how sick I was afraid I would get if I ate that stuff at ten days out. I envisioned staples popping, intestines *boinging!* apart, incisions ripping open, whatever action-movie kinda stuff I could think of. Rather dramatic, I know, but I just didn't want to get sick and feel like I was so out of control with cravings for junk that sick was better than resisting. Scary.<P>Alternatively, I thought about how hard things were going to get later on, if I found out that early on that I in fact would *not* get sick on junk. I knew it'd be hell staying on program, and making the surgery work, if I found out junk was still doable so soon out. So that was my other mental game -- I didn't want to make things 100x harder by starting up on junk so soon.<P>I also ate a lot of whatever I did like that was allowed at that stage (woo hoo! gimme a whole baby teaspoon full of refried beans and cheese, I'm a gonna go to town!). Sounds stupid, but from the beginning, I started ditching stuff that I didn't much care for (jello, anyone?) and substituting whatever was allowable, that was good. I'd have pureed a pizza if I could've (just kidding . . . but I did buy lowfat ricotta cheese and put a tiny bit of spaghetti sauce in it, and pretend it was lasagna without the pasta).<P>Hang in there. It is torture to know you can't eat what you want so badly. Take advantage of the fact that you've just had WLS to scare yourself straight for the time being, anyway. If all else fails, go online and look at pictures of the surgery. Verrry unappetizing. That also helped, at the time.
   — Suzy C.

May 2, 2004
Even at 13 months out, I still find that drinking something first often kills a craving for junk. I make a deal with myself to drink a 12 ounce of glass of (water, Crystal Light, decaf coffee or tea, fill in the blank with your sf/caffeine free/carbonation free beverage of choice), and then I can have whatever it is I think I wanted. More often than not, I don't want whatever it was anymore. If it's really bad, I play the same game, but promise to eat a few ounces of some protein (cheese, leftover meat, lunchmeat, some soy nut butter on whole wheat bread or crackers) first. By the time I'm finished with the protein, I have neither the room nor the desire for junk. And, though it may be hard to believe now, the cravings do get easier to deal with the longer you maintain control. Hang in there a bit longer; it will pay off.
   — Vespa R.

May 3, 2004
When I was first out of surgery and had a craving for junk food I ate some sugar free pudding. I ate it before surgery too so I didn't feel like I wasn't getting something good. The sweetness of the pudding helped reduce my cravings and tasted like a forbidden treat. I ate lots of SF popsicles as well. I also drank lots of lemonade crystal light. That was the only thing that helped with my thirst. Since all of this the only cravings I have had have been for tomatoes, chicken wings and peanuts. All things I can eat now. Good luck! Tiff (Lap RNY 2/17/04; 245lbs. - 207lbs.)
   — Tiffany B.

May 3, 2004
Took you ten days, huh? I was crying for my beloved Pizza Hut at 5 days, so I've got you beat there! The best advice I have for you is to meditate on the decision to take a new direction in life and then to keep yourself busy and your mind off of food. It WILL pass, but you've got to will it to. Find something to kep your mind and hands busy, or train youeself every time you think about eating junk food to have a healthy bite of something or go do something physical. Good luck to you.
   — LMCLILLY