When you have a craving what do you do???

ebonie · 03-12-2008, 11:18 AM

Do you give in, as in having a couple of small bites or do you totally try to fight it off? Was wondering which would be the best way to handle it.
Thanks

**coltonwade** · 03-12-2008, 11:39 AM

I have crave chocolate i eat it , If i want some ice cream I eat it .
Why ? If not your depriving yourself , which IMHO is not different than a diet which lets face it obviously did not work for any of us . I feel if you deprive yourself then you are more opt to go over board.
So if you crave something then have a small portion of it .

HTH
MIndy

HarleyGirl · 03-12-2008, 12:02 PM

I haven't been banded yet.....but in the past when I have a craving I just gut through it.....my 'off' switch is defective....if I have one hershey kiss, I have ten....or fifteen.....if I have a handful of potato chips...I have half of a bag......so until I am able to repair the off switch, I just suck it up and try to think about something else.

maryrose · 03-12-2008, 12:15 PM

I know, that's a tough one.

I thought maybe of having a donut once a week and look forward to that.

If you crave chocolate, I agree and have a little bit. Just get a candy bar.

I can't handle having any "bulk" food in the house and I have throw it away. Why torture myself.

georgia girl · 03-12-2008, 12:16 PM

I think it's different for everyone. I am the type of person that can't handle eating just a small portion of something sweet. Sweets have always been my downfall, so for me, it's best to try to avoid them. Once I partake in them, that's all I want. If you have the willpower to eat a small portion and stop, then go ahead and enjoy.

maryrose · 03-12-2008, 12:16 PM

Also just wanted to add that I keep my frozen diet treats in the freezer in the basement. I have to make the extra effort to go down there and get on.

I also keep any sweets on my husband's bureau for him. That way he can tell if I have been into them.

Frangipani · 03-12-2008, 12:30 PM

I do think it works for some people to have a small portion of whatever they are craving, and the Band certainly makes it possible to do so.

That said, I never feel good about myself after giving in to temptation. Therefore 98% of the time, I start out by reminding myself of my goal and how I will feel about myself if I give into this craving, then I try to ignore the craving completely, if that doesn't work then I find a substitution. If I am craving something sweet, a nice ripe pear usually does the trick for me.

I will be more lenient and forgiving with myself when I reach goal, but right now I am very focused on reaching my goal weight by (or hopefully before) my one year Bandiversary. It also helps to remind myself that in a few more months I will be able to enjoy a small treat from time to time.

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**coltonwade** · 03-12-2008, 01:20 PM

I do think that some people might not be able to do this . However I do think you can for instance, Chocolate , Say you want some ,, you can find a "healthier" alternative to satisfy your craving, the band is not going to let you eat an entire bag of chips .
Even for chips, if you crave that salty crunch , get some healthier version of your favorite chips they are all over now. Also what I do , just so its not as hard, If i have a bag of chips, I will take it and get those snack size zip lock bags, (This goes for anything thats not individually packaged) and say 12 chips is one serving, I break the WHOLE BAG up into this snack bags so each bag has 1 serving, that way if i want chips i grab one LITTLE BAG and not the WHOLE bag, it helps to trick your eyes. You think " OH Ok bags done " It works, for me its less tempting to just keep eating. I do it for my kids too so they dont sit there and eat a whole bag of something.
Also you can get chocolates, Like the ghiradeli ( Spelling) Chocolates that are individually wrapped one serving!
HTH
Mindy

shortgal · 03-12-2008, 01:56 PM

An open container of ice cream or chips ( or anything like it) is NOT safe around me. If I was able to handle single portions of those food while the rest sat in the freezer or cabinet, I would not have needed the band.

One bite and the whole thing is gone! Before I was banded, for halloween, I had my husband buy Skittles and Starburst only. The leftovers are still in the cabinet. Those are about the only two candies I could think of that I wouldn't eat.

I can also not be left alone in a house with Twizzlers and Tostitos!

I have not had a twizzler since surgery. Fear keeps me away. I just think it will sit like a lead bullet in the pouch.

Please don't tell me they won't....

Maybe with better restriction ( still waiting) I'll have more willpower, in the meantime those foods are not allowed in the house.

georgia girl · 03-12-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortgal

An open container of ice cream or chips ( or anything like it) is NOT safe around me. If I was able to handle single portions of those food while the rest sat in the freezer or cabinet, I would not have needed the band.

One bite and the whole thing is gone!

Maybe with better restriction ( still waiting) I'll have more willpower, in the meantime those foods are not allowed in the house.

Shortgal, you sound just like me! I totally agree with your opening statement. It's just best for me not to indulge!

I consider myself at very good restriction right now, unfortunately for me, those foods are still a no-no. The fact that they go down so easily (especially the sweets) makes me try to stay away from them. They pretty much go down like a slightly thick liquid and I could eat that kind of stuff all day long if I let myself. I'm still working on the willpower part, lol!

shortgal · 03-12-2008, 02:32 PM

LOL, yeah don't they just sit there and whisper to you, "come get me, you know you want me". Actually, I think they scream it to me.

I doubt I will ever be safe around those foods. I just keep them out of the house, as much as possible. The worst time is if you have company and there are leftovers of anything.

Let's face it we're addicts.

ReadySteadyGo · 03-12-2008, 02:49 PM

I try to find substitutes for cravings. Like I love Icecream but I eat frozen yogurt or reduced fat icecream when I want to indulge....but really the only thing I crave that I can't seem to find a sub for is freaking bread. And I think that is going to be a lifelong struggle. Bread has been my weakness since I was a little girl. I would rather eat nothing but a loaf a bread a day for a year then have any sweet anytime I want.

make33 · 03-12-2008, 03:01 PM

"Hi. My name is Make33 and I'm a chocoholic!!" (C/A Meeting talk: Chocoholics Anonymous)!!!

That's the old me--now I avoid chocolate any way I can (other than my protein shake) by simply not buying it. Luckily in my office the candy is out front and I would have to walk out in front of everyone and get a piece--much too degrading!

BUT, I'm no angel for sure. I love potato chips and wheat thins, so my answer when I simply MUST have some is to look on the bag/box and find out what "one serving" comprises: usually 15 chips/crackers. I then count them out and close up the bag/box. And I do not allow myself to go back a second time!

Funny the games we have to play with ourselves in order to win this battle of the bulge...

VegasGrace · 03-12-2008, 03:03 PM

Satisfy the craving.

socalgal3 · 03-12-2008, 03:22 PM

I've tried both ways-avoiding/substituting or just giving into the craving. I have to say it depends on the day which one is most effective! For the most part, I just don't have those foods in the house and I avoid them. I was never a big ice cream eater anyway, but if I crave it, I go get nonfat frozen yogurt at Golden Spoon. Sometimes(like yesterday!) I gave into my craving for chocolate cake and I was totally disappointed. Not only in myself, but in the taste. I don't get the same satisfaction or "high" out of shoving food down my face anymore. I have a few bites and I'm full and it doesn't taste as good as it did in my dreams! I admit, it took me awhile to get to this point and I still have "bad" days where I slip up, but overall, I am so happy that the band reduces my cravings.