Thoughts on CARB craving...long
Different folks have different issues and ideas on this topic. I have a real problem with carb cravings. It does not take much intake of carbs to set me off down the path to glucose oblivian. Having pondered on this topic for over 60 years with much self derision and harsh opinions from some others I have come to the conclusion that it is a biochemical and psycho neurological, and genetic issue. Some of the following might be considered when exploring why one cannot put the carb foods down.
Psychoactive medications are notorious for eliciting carb cravings and for weight gain with or without dietary modifications. If one is taking any one or more combinations of these types of meds they may have a dilly of a time getting control over their predispositon to the forbidden demon carbs. antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications are EVIL as it pertains to weight gain and appetite excesses.
Wellbutrin is typically the exception.,It does little in the way of increasing serotonin .It increases availability of other types of neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of wellbeing. .
There is research that would support the premise that persons with depression have problems with carb craving because serotonin molecules (just one of the neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of well being and pleasure ) are not adequate in number.. Serotonin requires glucose molecules to be transported across the blood brain barrier. It is very complex but it appears that the glucose molecule is needed to trasport the serotonin across this barrier so that it can be utilized. It there is a lack of serotonin the body does everything it knows to help so it signals the brain to increase intake glucose /carbs to assist with making the serotonin available. Thus when down in the dumps a box of chocolates is sometimes seen as a first line of defense. Almost always the problem is not a shortage of glucose but rather a shortage of serotonin. No increase in glucose is going to help serotonin that is not there to go anywhere. 'Therefore antidepressants are given to increase the serotonin levels thereby possibly increasing the desire to increase glucose molecules to help transport the new glut of serotonin. What a mess.
This type of medication however is not the only type of medication that can interfere with attempts to make progress in the weight loss battlefield. There are many other offenders as well.
Persons taking estrogen will size up and tend to crave carbs as well. That is why these hormoes are given to livestock ....to fatten them up for market. Ho hum....Not calling anyone a cow here....lol Since the start of the use of hormones in the food supply some theorize that there is a correlation in the increase in childhood and adult obesity.
There are some medications, opiates and amphetamines that suppress appetite and carb cravings. The bad thing with these meds is they are subject to abuse and addiction. When stopped there is a HUGE increase in levels of depression. (now go back and read about what happens with depression)
The antidepressants Cymbalta and Wellbutrin are good for decreasing cravings but then again they do not focus on serotonin production but rather other neurotransmitters.
All of this is very powerful and not to be underestimated as to impact on various individuals. There are natural ways to increase seritonin supplies that dont seem to complicate the issue. Exercise and sunlight. I wont even go into why these work.....I have said enough.
Hispanics and Native Americans are predisposed to carb cravings and diabetes due to genetics. Wont go into all of that either.
Just making a comment with all of that just said... it appears that carb craving is not an easy thing to cope with or to understand and all persons are different in their ability to manage it. However the inability to manage those cravings have the same outcome .... a huge increase in fat cells.
This is not meant as anything other than a reflection of my own past readings on this topic.
Sorry for the long entry. Just thinking out loud here.
ARustyRose
youll probably get as many thoughts on carbs as there are nuts and surgeons programs.
but not all carbs are evil to me, but the ones that make me crave them are, that being said some of the ones i crave are listed as good healthy ones. but they no longer become healthy if they going to make me eat 2x the calories i should be getting.
before surgery i really was not an emotional eater, i wasnt what i considered a binge eater, but i was a volume eater.
my gp (general practitioner) in new zealand warned me once i hit age 20 to watch my weight because it was in my genes to gain weight based on my parents.
back then i was in a 10 the smallest came in a 8 but big boobs i was never getting into a 8 LOL.
but i also walked every where ... then i got married and pregnant with my first child... i sat my drivers licence when i was 8 months pregnant.
and lets just say exercise became rare, 3 more pregnancies later and i had a weight issue. eating for two maybe??
moving to america was way different for me, everything here comes in a package.. where i always cooked or baked everything from scratch in nz adjusting i had to because everything was either a different name or i couldnt get it here... id never ever seen icing, already made for you before,instant potatoes was only something we took camping ....
our food portions were never as big in take out places and food in general tasted overly sweet, eating a ham sandwich here tasted like eating cake with my meat every bite (so i never took to eating alot of bread here)
i soon adjusted, my good home rules of eat everything on your plate still applied i found lots of new foods i had never eaten and needless to say 10 yrs later im 15 months out of wls.
but my problems since surgery have become different, i no longer can volume eat
but, since having it i have noticed i have trigger foods, even supposed healthy ones, so i avoid things or put limits on how much or often or where i can have them.
i have also noticed since surgery most high carby food is slider food... meaning i can eat way more than if i eat protein. and my sleeve holds way more of this stuff than i ever imagined could fit.
and if i eat carbs then i get hungry so much sooner that it becomes grazing.
so have i become strict with my carbs since surgery?
i dont know if im strict, i still have my allowable treat every two weeks or so, but its because i know that walking down the carby path could lead to failure for me.. i limit my intake to make it so life is easy for me and im not constantly struggling.
everyone else will on their own journey, figure out where, what, and how much carbs will work for them.
I only know that for me eating "everything in moderation " will never work... some one else might be able to but not me..
so thats my thoughts on carbs.
6lbs under goal weight
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I have found it very helpful to supplement with amino acids. It helps me with staving off depression and pain management.
L-glutamine, an amino acid available in protein foods (or as a supplement, carried in all health food stores). L-glutamine reaches the starving brain within minutes and can often immediately put a stop to even the most powerful sweet and starch cravings. The brain is fueled by L-glutamine when glucose levels drop too low. Don't be intimidated by the strong effects of supplementation. L-glutamine is a natural food substance; in fact, it's the most abundant amino acid in our bodies. It serves many critical purposes: stabilizing our mental functioning, keeping us calm yet alert, and promoting good digestion.
Also another thing to check out is The Diet Cure: The 8-Step Program to Rebalance Your Body Chemistry and End Food Cravings, Weight Problems, and Mood Swings-NowSource: excerpted with permission from The Diet Cure: The 8-Step Program to Rebalance Your Body Chemistry and End Food Cravings, Weight Problems, and Mood Swings-Now, by Julia Ross.
