Gidget's progress thread

[beelzebabette]

I like fruit but I can't see it satisfying a sweet craving. I would want to put sugar on my peaches, caramel on my apples or honey on my pears. Is this just me?

Replacing it with fruit worked for me. I was living with a family member the first time I tried it and just kept applesauce in the fridge for a handy substitute for the moments I was tempted to cave. It also helped that I'd made a bet with someone over whether I could go a full month. I'm stubborn enough that there's no way I was going to choose the craving over the eventual victory.

I'm not one for caramel on apples, etc, but you sound like my roommate. She does the cold-turkey thing a few times a year whenever she feels like her sweets cravings are getting out of control so I think it'll work for you.

[TripletDaddy]

I just spent several days in Utah at my in-laws' home. They eat pretty poorly all the time. Everyone in the house tears through Oreos, ice cream, pie, pizza, mac and cheese, etc like it is going out of style.

The first day I was there I found myself eating some cookies. I hadn't eaten cookies in a few months and within hours, I was eating some because I was bored and there was nothing else to eat.

I went straight to the grocery store and bought my own food. I explained to them why so that there would be no offense and they were cool with my wanting to stay on a diet.

For the rest of the trip, when everyone else started eating root beer floats, I sliced up some oranges. When they were eating brownies, I ate strawberries or peaches. etc. Yes, their stuff looked pretty tasty, but after awhile, I was actually empowered to eat better. It was shocking how much crap they ate on a daily basis.

It is scary how addicting food can be.....that the thought of eating certain sweets consumes us and causes these feelings of temptation.

I would say this: don't deny yourself every gastronomic pleasure. There is nothing wrong with a scoop of ice cream now and then, or a brownie, or whatever. Just make sure you continue to exercise regularly and don't make dessert a daily event. If you moderate, you are more likely to stay on the wagon. If you try to go cold turkey, the odds are higher that you will relapse one day and just down half a pie. Admittedly, that doesn't sound too bad right about now.....

[Gidget]

Replacing it with fruit worked for me. I was living with a family member the first time I tried it and just kept applesauce in the fridge for a handy substitute for the moments I was tempted to cave. It also helped that I'd made a bet with someone over whether I could go a full month. I'm stubborn enough that there's no way I was going to choose the craving over the eventual victory.

I'm not one for caramel on apples, etc, but you sound like my roommate. She does the cold-turkey thing a few times a year whenever she feels like her sweets cravings are getting out of control so I think it'll work for you.

It's weird. I was never a sugar eater until after I had a child. Now I love desserts. Still I hate licorice, jelly beans, not a big fan of cookies or pie, and can't stand a lot of chocolate at once, and I hate any peanut butter dessert as I am not the biggest fan of peanut butter. So it sounds like I should only have a road block every now and then. But now that I am on this diet, I been craving desserts a lot recently. Sugar cookies (my own are the best), cinnamon rolls (my MIL recipe is actually a family secret since they are so good and unmatchable), and ice cream, are the real temptations for me. I love ice cream. I really don't think I could say no while living here, and even a bet wouldn't help me. I have not one stubborn or competitive bone in my body. (This is why team sports and games don't work for me). I really just have to want it so bad for myself. And I already feel like my free will has been stripped away quite a bit. Without sugar, would I die from lack of options? I just might.

This is good. I think when I mentally feel in a better place, and quite possibly when I live in a better place, I will try sugar for two weeks and see what happens. Like I said my soda cravings stopped after 2 weeks so it sounds logical. Did you see any weight loss from your month without sugar? I need the success story . . . there is one right? You didn't go through the misery for nothing right?

[Gidget]

I just spent several days in Utah at my in-laws' home. They eat pretty poorly all the time. Everyone in the house tears through Oreos, ice cream, pie, pizza, mac and cheese, etc like it is going out of style.

The first day I was there I found myself eating some cookies. I hadn't eaten cookies in a few months and within hours, I was eating some because I was bored and there was nothing else to eat.

I went straight to the grocery store and bought my own food. I explained to them why so that there would be no offense and they were cool with my wanting to stay on a diet.

For the rest of the trip, when everyone else started eating root beer floats, I sliced up some oranges. When they were eating brownies, I ate strawberries or peaches. etc. Yes, their stuff looked pretty tasty, but after awhile, I was actually empowered to eat better. It was shocking how much crap they ate on a daily basis.

It is scary how addicting food can be.....that the thought of eating certain sweets consumes us and causes these feelings of temptation.

I would say this: don't deny yourself every gastronomic pleasure. There is nothing wrong with a scoop of ice cream now and then, or a brownie, or whatever. Just make sure you continue to exercise regularly and don't make dessert a daily event. If you moderate, you are more likely to stay on the wagon. If you try to go cold turkey, the odds are higher that you will relapse one day and just down half a pie. Admittedly, that doesn't sound too bad right about now.....

I fee like moderation has been good for me so far right? I mean I have lost 20 pounds in just over 3 months right? But I can just tell the diet is wearing on me. And for some reason I have never found fruit to completely satisfy a sweet craving. Is there something wrong with me? I think a bowl of fruit loops sounds better than an orange or applesauce when I am having a sweet craving. Maybe I am just messed up.

Good for you on sticking to your diet DDD. Luckily, in my in laws house (which I live in) they eat pretty good. It is just my MIL's need to be the wife and mom she always has been by her homemade goods and goodies. She is really just trying to be nice. But as far as regular meals go she has been really great at accommodating her cooking to my and Surfah's needs. It has been awesome. And on my nights to cook (which you can tell since we never eat red-meat or bread side-dishes) I am cooking light and lean too. It is just the sweets that are slowly knocking me over.

[beelzebabette]

Did you see any weight loss from your month without sugar? I need the success story . . . there is one right? You didn't go through the misery for nothing right?

I didn't lose any weight--this was during a time period where I was trying hard to maintain weight so that's not really a that-won't-happen-for-you-answer--but I did lose at least an inch around the waist each time. So, yes, I looked better in addition to feeling better.

[Babs]

I fee like moderation has been good for me so far right? I mean I have lost 20 pounds in just over 3 months right? But I can just tell the diet is wearing on me. And for some reason I have never found fruit to completely satisfy a sweet craving. Is there something wrong with me? I think a bowl of fruit loops sounds better than an orange or applesauce when I am having a sweet craving. Maybe I am just messed up.

Gidg, this is that thing I mentioned before in the post about carbs. Your body is desperate for the artificial sugars because they're an instant source of energy, and you've trained your body to expect those surges. Apples and whatever, while they're still fundamentally sugar, they take longer for your body to break down and absorb, so you don't get into those craving cycles as much. BUT, for that same reason, if you're already *in* a craving cycle, they won't satisfy your craving. So what you're saying absolutely makes sense.

I would guess that if you cut out refined sugars cold turkey, for one week, that you'd find that fruit and other natural sugars become more satisfying, and that eventually your cravings subside altogether. This is certainly (anecdotally) what most people experience. As far as weight loss, there are a lot of health benefits to cutting out sugar, regardless. But I'd say you're pretty likely to drop a couple of pounds if you do. Me, when I've cut out sugar in the past I've found it difficult not to lose weight.

[Babs]

And Gidg, I always assume that this goes without saying, but I might as well reiterate every once in awhile: It's well established that what I don't know I make up, so take everything I say with a salt shaker or two. My understanding of nutrition is limited at best.

[Pheidippides]

I would guess that if you cut out refined sugars cold turkey, for one week, that you'd find that fruit and other natural sugars become more satisfying, and that eventually your cravings subside altogether. This is certainly (anecdotally) what most people experience. .

Matches up with my experience. A nice apple is now all the sugar I need, where I was looking for a candy bar before.

[marsupial]

Gidget, you are an inspiration. I have been off the wagon for a few weeks. I was within a couple of pounds of my goal. I just weighed myself yesterday and had gained a pound. Only a pound, but it will be more if I don't turn around.

So you've got me recommitted. I'm giving up sugar too.

I tell you though, Fitday is cool but more than I can handle. Having to measure and weigh every single bite drives me batty. I don't know how you all keep up with it. It did help me recognize some easy areas where I could cut back, which is why I think I kept losing even though I stopped logging in.

[Gidget]

Gidget, you are an inspiration. I have been off the wagon for a few weeks. I was within a couple of pounds of my goal. I just weighed myself yesterday and had gained a pound. Only a pound, but it will be more if I don't turn around.

So you've got me recommitted. I'm giving up sugar too.

I tell you though, Fitday is cool but more than I can handle. Having to measure and weigh every single bite drives me batty. I don't know how you all keep up with it. It did help me recognize some easy areas where I could cut back, which is why I think I kept losing even though I stopped logging in.

I don't measure and weigh every bite. That's my secret to sticking with fitday. I try to remember to weigh entrees of meat the most though. But usually I just pay attention to what it looks like I am putting on my plate and then record it the best I can into fitday. I am sure I am off a couple hundred calories a day give or take. But I do time my workouts so I know pretty well what I am burning. And as long as I reach my caloric deficit everyday. I am happy. So far this has worked for me, but you also have more kids than I do. And recently just one kid has been way too hard for me, so I can only imagine how you don't want to fit fitday into your daily routine.

I am glad that I am somehow inspiring you though. Someone, anyone, that makes me feel great. So thanks for mentioning it, you made my night.

I am just teetering on the edge right now though (obviously from my posts these last couple of days). I am only EVER about 3 miles and 10 minutes from a huge box of cheese danishes I have been eying for a few weeks now in our closest grocery store. I am literally scared to walk into the bakery dept. But I am getting good advice here that is helping me better understand myself and also better understand that I am not the only one out there that has gone through this. And that always makes me feel better. Get back on that wagon 'Soup, we're waiting for ya!

And Babs- I only take what you say with one salt shaker, never two Actually giving up sugar for one week sounds WAY easier than 2 or 3. I will have to do some adjusting in the house for myself to actually make this possible though. And right now my girl is giving me heck, I am really am scared I would throw myself through a window if I gave up sugar AND had to deal with our menehune right now. What a week that would be. I am entering into a mental prep phase for this though. Right now. Ommmmmmmmmmmm.

[Gidget]

I have decided

to give up sugar for 2 weeks. Starting tonight. Or rather, refined sugar or whatever it is called. Basically no cookies, cake ice cream, pastries, and stuff like that. I will allow myself one sugar free chocolate pudding or sugar free rice pudding or fat free light Yoplait as a dessert maybe a couple times a week. And I am not going to feel bad about that. Surfah and I finished up the last few cookies from the ones I made for our primary class this evening, and that is it. I decided to make this commitment because if you can't tell from my posts over the last month I have really begun to lose enthusiasm for the diet. That and this morning I justified eating a piece of cake for breakfast.

This will be hard for me, and hopefully won't make me even more bonkers than I am with my potty training, attitude full 3 year old. I am looking forward to the cravings going away and also I am looking forward to it possibly helping me trim just a couple more pounds over the next month or so. I have been at a total stand still (weight wise) for over a week now. But I am still maintaining (which is awesome), and I feel good about my size now. I didn't feel good about my size before. But most of all I honestly just want the cravings and my lack of control to stop. So these drastic measures are needed for me to take back the control over my diet. So I will be replacing my cravings with fruit or yogurt basically or maybe both. Wish me luck! And wish me luck in saying no when my MIL inevitable whips up her next homemade heaven in the kitchen!