Junk Food Compulsion Is Ruining Me

[VeggieLifterChick]

Thanks Temple! I am going to start by cutting out the blatant junk. Tonight, I heated up some chocolate soy milk and mixed it with the diet hot cocoa powder (25 cals, 4g carbs) and this was very very good. Hmm...maybe I'll start a thread on recipes and suggestions for pseudo-sweets, to help the other struggling sugar junkies and the dieters with a sweet tooth...

 

[Temple]

VLC - have you tried plain soy milk with 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder and maybe a little ice? can you say chocolate milkshake???

 

[MS]

Mmmmm deficiencies???? Various reports will have us believe that sweet cravings can be reduced by increasing chromium, fiber, glutamine, tryptophan, and various vitamins, others will tell us to cut down on caffeine, high GI foods and exercise more. Then there's the artificial sweetener method which feeds the craving but keeps the sugar intake low. If you're eating a lot of soy products, you may be mineral deficient from poor absorption (especially zinc, magnesium and iron). I have never seen one of the above supps work for everyone, and you may have to try them all! Also, where you are in your menstrual cycle can certainly affect your cravings and blood sugar.......

 

[Gladiola]

Anybody want to be Spats Amino Acid guinea pig???

surely!

VLC - Good idea to start a 'sweet craving cure' thread! I already saw one on the 'diet' board if you want to check that out too.

Too funny - I'm drinking my nightly soy milk & chocolate protein powder shake right now!

 

[Shak]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person struggling with this!!!
I have a clean diet all week long, and then the weekend hits. My number one problem: my parents' house. I go over there to visit on the weekends and the house is always stocked with food - ice cream, donuts, candy, cookies, chips - you get the point. I can tell myself all the way over there that I'm not going to eat that much, but when I walk in the door, my mind goes blank. I'm almost robotic - I lose all will power.

I love seeing my parents, but it's killing my diet!!! The thing is, as much as a dread shoving down the junk food, I also kind-of look forward to it. All the junk food I can eat, all day long. I know it's bad, but it tastes so good. It's a vicious cycle.

 

[maddie121]

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! No matter what, I end up eating them binge style. 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? 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.

Hey VGL- I know exactly what you are going through. I am a recovering bulimic. It's been something I struggled with since I started college 6 yrs. ago. I got some counseling and I'm over it, but mostly it was me being so fricking tired of letting this food thing control me. It was also very painful, physically and emotionally.
Anyway, I know this thread isn't about ED's so I'm gonna stop, but I just wanted to say that I still get mad cravings just like you explained. And I DO believe some people are addicted to sweets and it's a lot easier said than done. I am currently doing a no starches/fibrous carbs only diet. I DO eat post w/o carbs like a banana/gatorade, but that's it, as I have found I look my best w/o starches. Anyway, sometimes, I WILL give in to those craving and I just suffer the water retention/bloating, etc. I haven't binged/purged in a looong time. HOWEVER, I'm gonna tell you, once I stopped giving in to the sweets and just started eating mad protein and guzzling tons of H20 everytime I got the munchies, it REALLY MADE A DIFF. Eat more protein cals if you need to! It's better than the sweets and won't "do a thing to your diet." Last night, I had 2200 cals( usually it's only 1700) b/c I wanted to binge and instead of ice cream, I had 4 oz. of steak w/ Heiz 57. I was watching Will and Grace and wanted sweets soooo bad! Lol! I woke up this morning and thought for sure I'd be holding H20 or something b/c of the late night eats and excess cals, but lo and behold..nothing!
I am MUCH more cut since I got more strict and now people actually ask me about my workouts and stuff in the gym. I used to do lots of cardio and lift JUST AS HARD as I do now, but no one knew b/c of my crappy diet. I'm serious, girl. So...if only for a month, try it and maybe seeing some results will help keep you more motivated to keep the cravings in check.