Cravings have returned!!!
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| Sun, 08-07-2005 - 10:19pm |
I never thought I was someone who had cravings. Once in a while I'll get a candybar craving, but I never thought I got them regularly! Well, due to my formerly ocasional cheats, and my bad weekends, my cravings have returned! I knew they had come back when I baked brownies because they 'sounded good'. Um, hello! Craving! So I baked them, ate several. This morning I was full from my SBD breakfast, but I kept slicing off slivers of brownie and eating them! Why? Each time I did it, I was getting more stuffed. So I decided to do Phase 1 for a week or so. Just until the cravings go away. And if I understand it correctly, this the proper time to return to Phase 1.
My BIL is getting married in 1 month, and I would like to be at my goal by then -- that's 5 more pounds unless I did a great deal of damage this weekend. But I'll never get there if I keep having and succombing to these cravings. So I'm going to give it at least the next 3-5 days to see how it goes. That should alleviate the cravings.
And the timing couldn't be better -- I'm out of apples, cantalope, and Kashi Waffles. Those are my main Phase 2 carbs that I use. So even if I didn't decide to go back, I'd be on Phase 1 tomorrow just because I'm out of everything!
Stephanie
125/120/115


Stephanie,
You need to do this for you. Not because your Brother-in-law is getting married next month or any other outside reason.
How funny Stephanie! I had a similar situation/story this weekend, so I thought I'd just post my story under your thread. I babysat Friday morning for three hours for a 6 year old who started throwing up. I thought nothing of it, went to my waitressing job and then went out for my best friend's 22nd birthday party. Well, my idea of "a glass of red wine--maybe two" went straight out the window! (How can you turn away free drinks for more expensive glasses of wine..) Anyway I drank way too much, and yes, finished the night with a slice of pepperoni pizza.
The next day I got to waitressing late, but wasn't worried because its usually very slow. I was planning on leaving early, getting a salad and going to the gym but instead it was crazy hectic, I was there all day running around and the only food available AT ALL was tons of pre-shift waffle fries, an old can of V8 I found in my locker, a Pria meal bar, and quesadillas another waitress bought and didn't finish. This day ended with a huge cup of tasti-delite ice cream.
The NEXT day was finally my day off, and determined to get back on track I woke up to stomach pains and vomiting. My stomach has felt TERRIBLE all day. I think it's a combination of being over tired, the bug my babysitting charge had, and yesterday's menu. It's funny, the alcohol wasn't even a problem--of course I was tired the next day but no hangover or stomach problems. IT was definitely more of a reaction to the waffle fries, greasy food and chemically altered sugar free ice cream. Unfortunately, the brownies sitting in my fridge all week finally started to look appetizing, and my sick day food has been brownies, tons of sugar free jello, sf nf ice cream, peanut butter, hummus, and triscuits, and tortilla chips. Oy. I was told when your sick your body does not crave vegetables because they are too hard to digest. (not that brownies are the solution!)
Anyway, needless to say it's back to P1 for me, at least for a couple of days until i'm back to normal. The cool thing about this was that I really didn't fall off the wagon because of general cravings or emotional eating. This is a first! I just fell off because life just happens. Phewf.
I guess that's it for now. I can't wait to read all the posts i've missed this weird weekend.
-Catherine
Its really important to understand what SBD defines as a "craving". The type of cravings SBD rids you of is strictly one type - physical cravings caused by a swing in blood sugar from a high glycemic meal. If you didn't have a high refined carb meal withing 3 hours before you started thinking of the brownies, they weren't a "craving".
Seeing a commercial on TV and thinking "yum, those cookies look good, I miss cookies" or driving by a fast food place and thinking "hmmm, so fries would sure taste good right now" or smelling the bread from the basket they put on the table at a restaurant and wanting some - those are all mental cravings. Those are NOT times when your body/blood sugar has taken over and feels hungry even though you just ate. Those are times your MIND is craving something...very different. And going back to phase 1 doesn't do anything for mental cravings.
I still get them all time - I just have to make a conscience choice not to listen. SBD doesn't help with that honestly, its all up to the power of my own choices. Right now that darn commercial for those Burger King Chicken Fries is killing me at night. For some weird reason they look so good, makes me consider jumping up and going down and getting some! Is it a swing in blood sugar causing me to "crave" some fast food - nope, just a good marketing department at BK!
Here are some things Maggie posted in the past about "cravings":
The South Beach definition of “craving” – what it is, and isn’t:
"Craving" is simply defined as: getting hungry 1-2 hours or sooner after a meal. The explanations below are SBD Nutritionists' answers about cravings vs. hunger, types of cravings, etc.:
Cravings are actually reactive hypoglycemia. The drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is caused by eating a high glycemic food. The pancreas responds by overproducing insulin which in turn drops blood sugar levels. When this drop happens, cravings occur.
Cravings feel like hunger. It also takes more food to stop and correct the cravings. In other words, you end up overeating and are unable to maintain/achieve weight loss.
Cravings can be not only physiological, but also psychological. I think the psychological cravings are what you wrote about. This is a craving for a particular food. The particular food may be associated as a "comfort food". An example would be parents using food to comfort a fussy or upset child. During one of Dr. Agatston's chats he discussed cravings. He states, "Cravings due to reactive hypoglycemia (carb cravings) usually occur within a couple of hours after a meal. If it is more than 4 or 5 hours since your previous meal, then your hunger is more likely due to a normal and gradual drop in blood sugar rather than overreactive hypoglycemia."
The general rule of thumb is: if it is approximately 2 hrs or less after a meal it is due to reactive hypoglycemia (this could be due to high glycemic carbs). If it is approximately 3 - 4 hrs after a meal then it is true hunger.
There is a difference between cravings from a physiological cause (reactive hypoglycemia) and a psychological cause. Psychological causes can result from feelings of boredom, stress or because of associated pleasure associated from a particular food. The SBD eliminates foods that can trigger a craving from reactive hypoglycemia (a physiological cause). When reintroducing carbohydrate-containing foods during phase 2, this is what you are to monitor for. Some foods may trigger cravings.
Member Question: Can you explain what cravings are, what they mean, and their effects on the body in the short and long term?
Dr. Agatston: Cravings are due to exaggerated drops in blood sugar after we eat. Traditionally in the past, man consumed slowly digested foods, and it took many hours for blood sugars to fall and for hunger to return. Hunger coincided with the next expected time for meals. Consuming rapidly processed carbohydrates and fast foods results in more rapid digestion and blood sugars falling soon after a meal. This is why we are hungry again so soon after eating. This results in us consuming more calories and fat (different amount for each of us, and it also depends upon genetics). This leads to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance amplifies swings in blood sugar and causes more intense cravings. This is what happened to the star of Super Size Me. Often what we interpret as psychological food cravings are drops in blood sugar. The SBD stabilizes the swings in blood sugar.
Overcoming the Urge to Splurge
(Published 1/19/04) Are you wrestling with the urge to splurge on junk food? You have two choices: Either indulge yourself and make up for it later, or figure out a way to work through the temptation. One Beachgoer shares her strategy for staying on the wagon:
"When I quit smoking about 20 years ago, I was able to cope in the following way, and I think it might work when a cookie is calling your name: Change your environment-that is, get up and walk away. You might want to put something legal in your mouth to help the cravings, but then go into another room or walk around the block. And while you are walking, remember why you are doing this to begin with! Picture yourself in that dress that you are longing to wear, or the bathing suit or the skirt. Just get through those difficult 10 or 15 minutes as best you can!"
-Member 36521112982
If you find yourself cheating on a regular basis, try these tips for avoiding temptation:
1. Skip the chip and cookie aisle at the grocery store.
2. Empty your cupboards and refrigerator of all "illegal" foods.
3. When going out to eat, don't tease yourself by looking at the dessert menu. Instead, eat a bowl of sugar-free Jell-O or a sugar-free Popsicle when you get home.
4. For "emergencies," always carry a healthy snack with you, like a low-fat cheese stick or a handful of plain nuts.
5. If someone gives you an indulgent present, like a box of chocolates or your favorite cookies, share it with your coworkers or donate it to a local shelter.
The Emotional Attachment to Eating
As many of us know, it isn't always hunger that causes us to eat. Our moods and emotions can play a huge role in how vulnerable we are to food and in our ability to stay in control of our diet.
Feeling fatigued by our daily schedule and overwhelmed by responsibilities can spark emotional eating. Depression and loneliness are other causes — many people eat to fill a void or use food to keep themselves company. Some look to food to distract themselves from a traumatic event, such as the loss of a job, a death, or an unexpected breakup. But most who suffer from emotional eating find that it can't be traced to one specific reason — it's often simply a pattern of falling back on food when we need comforting in one way or another.
However, it's not impossible to change our behavior. There are other ways to deal with complicated emotions, and it's much healthier to process our feelings than to block them out with food. It's important to realize that, ultimately, we do have power over our actions. Eating is something that can be controlled and still be enjoyed.
spring06sig2
Oh, I know I'm my own saboteur. Just like the movies, I have the angel sitting on one shoulder saying, "Don't make brownies, you'll sabotage yourself!", and the devil sitting on my other shoulder saying, "Eh, go ahead, what'll it hurt!" It sounds cheesy, but this is totally what's going on in my head.
For me, though, I do best if I have a short term goal to keep me focused on eating right and exercising. So if I can tell myself to be good because of the upcoming wedding, that will help me focus myself, honestly. I'm still doing it for me, though. I wouldn't start Phase 1 again to kick start weight loss, I know it doesn't work that way. Hopefully I can kick the cravings without doing that. I think if I could have a cheat-free weekend, it would do wonders for my weight and my psychological sabotage factors.
Thanks for the encouragement! I'll stick to Phase 2 -- at least once I make it to the store to stock up on fruit! Today may be phase 1 out of necessity, though. Perhaps I'll have time to go to the store after my Dr. appointment this afternoon...
Stephanie
125/120/115
Stephanie - 154/152.5/130
Thanks for the feedback, Catherine! I hope that bug has worked itself out of your system. I also hope the brownies have worked themselves out of both of our systems!
What a weekend!
Stephanie
Stephanie - 154/152.5/130
Thanks, MichaelAnn. Honestly, I have a hard time distinguishing between the two types of cravings. My prior suspicion that I wasn't typically a victim of cravings probably still holds true. My cravings are usually more mental, I guess.
You know, the brownies for me are more fun to make than to eat. We have a work carry in on Thursday, and I can "make" brownies for that, and not have to eat them. People here will eat them, that will hold me off on my baking urge, and I won't be stuck with the sweets at home to eat.
Thanks for the cravings info. I'm still pretty confused about cravings, but I do think that mine are mental. Oh, I hope that doesn't mean that I'm mental! :)
Stephanie
Stephanie - 154/152.5/130
Hi Stephanie,
I love that "angel/devil" analogy.