Junk Food Compulsion Is Ruining Me

[VeggieLifterChick]

I have come a long ways since I started reading the boards again (since January). I've been lifting 4 days a week (heavy one week then moderate the next), started doing my cardio about a month ago. This week I started FTITM cardio. I'm weird I guess, because I actually like it! I wake up with all this energy and I just go. Awhile ago I asked for diet help, and you all gave me some awesome info. I now eat a minimum of 140g protein, and I eat all clean foods. No more bread, no more pasta, nothing processed. I have definitely made some strength gains and I have developed the beginnings of some muscles too. My shoulders, back, and legs have made some noticable improvements. Unfortunately, there is just one thing holding me back from my goals, especially with the summer coming up. I can't lose any fat because of F*&%ing Sweets! I am seriously addicted, no joke. I've tried everything, from banning them to having just one a day or one every other day...No matter what, I end up eating them binge style. It ruins my carb intake, its always around 220g and that's way too much for me. I want to steady my carbs at 150-160. I need some help, this is totally ruining my confidence and holding me back from reaching my goals. Its seriously some sort of a compulsion. I can be thinking that I don't want to eat the chocolate bar and yet a second later it will be in my mouth. I'm open to whatever ideas you gals can offer, even they're critical. I'm sure some people will say I just need more will power, but how can that be the problem if I want so badly to eat right? Ughhh I feel so frustrated. My self esteem is really suffering too because a) I feel like I can't help myself and b) I have nothing to show for my efforts in the gym.

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

I just read about how eating tons of sugar can cause recurrent yeast infections. I certainly do eat a ton of sugar, and I have been getting them a lot lately. I wonder if maybe I can try to look at the junk food avoidance as an essential health issue and whether it might help?

 

[wilson6]

Do you consume meat? What are your protein sources?

W6

 

[Night Fly]

This is a good question. I could use some help with this also, veggie chick. I just can't seem to control those cravings sometimes...well...most of the time, that is.

 

[Temple]

First look at your diet as W6 suggested. You might also want to consider some St. John's Wort if nothing else works. I believe it was MS who talked about carb cravings and seratonin levels at one time. When I was in prozac (and I am not recommending that you do that) my desire for sweets went to almost zero. St. John's Wort should have a similar effect.

 

[Night Fly]

First look at your diet as W6 suggested. You might also want to consider some St. John's Wort if nothing else works. I believe it was MS who talked about carb cravings and seratonin levels at one time. When I was in prozac (and I am not recommending that you do that) my desire for sweets went to almost zero. St. John's Wort should have a similar effect.

Good suggestion, Temple. I will have to give that stuff a try.

 

[Gladiola]

OMG - VLC, you're like my twin!

I feel the EXACT same way - I could have written that post. Sugar is the ONLY thing holding me back! I get all my protein & veggies, I LOVE pumpin' iron & have no lack of motivation in the gym, it's the damn sugar. My office is FILLED with it too - no exaggeration, it's supplied for us & it's everywhere. I HATE it.

I have been struggling with this for literally YEARS. I will tell you all the things I've read & tried - most haven't worked or didn't work long term (like a band-aid on a gushing wound!) but I'll send them anyway.

When you want to binge: distract yourself. Call a friend, do something else indulgent (get a manicure).
JOURNAL.... you'll realize later how glad you were to be be strong.
Eat something that will be moderately satisfying but not sugar - I LOVE chocolate protein bars with peanut butter. Fats help too - cashews or macadamia nuts. Diet soda, you can buy sugar-free hot choclate with splenda (still has carbs, but not so bad), gum, altoids.
Another good tip is to have one idulgent thing (someone mentioned Lindt choclate truffles - which are also among my fav sweets) each night to help satisfy the cravings. This doesn't work for me - as it makes me want MORE MORE MORE - it's awful. I swear I can feel it messing with my brain chemistry!!!

I tried St John's Wart & didn't see a diff - but that's just me. I've also heard that it can interfere with the BC pill, so I won't try it again & risk that. I DID just buy 5-HTP, which is supposed to be the precursor to seratonin & have some of the benefits of a SSRI (Prozac, etc.) - I've only taken one so far - scared it's going to make me drowsy (I'm drowsy driving as it is).

Maybe turn to us for support here as well.

I usually find it's not so bad as long as I get enough protein AND once I go a few days with none, it gets easier.

My problem is that I turn to it when I'm sad/depressed/stressed... at which time I also simply DON"T HAVE THE WILLPOWER - I just don't WANT TO BE STRONG when I feel like dirt. It's at the times I feel weak (sadness & self-loathing, whatever) that I can't be strong & resist. I haven't been able to break the sadness--> food connection yet. Maybe eventually....

 

[Temple]

Spats - that may be true but the other thing that I forgot to mention was that IMO Sugar is an addiction not unlike any other drug. I used to consume LARGE quantities of the stuff, tried cutting back and that didn't work. I have been totally sugar free for almost 3 months and the only thing that worked for me was to bite the bullet and go COLD TURKEY. I meant that if it has sugar in it I threw it in the trash - granted I work from home so I am able to isolate myself from the rest of the world for long periods of time while I did this. The first week was like going to hell but after that it was better. The stuff now makes me feel sick.

 

[Genie]

First look at your diet as W6 suggested. You might also want to consider some St. John's Wort if nothing else works. I believe it was MS who talked about carb cravings and seratonin levels at one time. When I was in prozac (and I am not recommending that you do that) my desire for sweets went to almost zero. St. John's Wort should have a similar effect.

St. John's Wort may really help, but be wary if you are on birth control. St. John's Wort can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the pill. I read somewhere up to like 30% less effective. Keep that in mind when purchasing supplements. I bought a new bottle of thermogenic supplements at my gym recently and was about to pop them in my mounth when I noticed that there was St. John's Wort in it. Just be careful!!

 

[SheHuLK]

I think SUGAR IS THE DEVIL Its everywhere. Making it nearly impossible to stay away from. My fiance brought over an easter basket he made for me, he put it together with all this pink stuff (its one of my newfound fav colors), so he put pink hay in a pink basket, pink eggs, candy, etc, and i swear the pink marshmellow peeps are taunting me... i can almost hear them saying "EAT ME!" I'm trying hard not to listen