I want to eat carbs, NOW.

Thank you.  One of the reasons I post things like this is that I really don't want you or anyone to think that I am some super strong person and that it's easy.  It is NOT easy.  My hunger came back at about six months.  Never as strong as before surgery (but before surgery, I would literally shake with hunger and cravings). It is much more manageable, probably closer to what "normies" experience as hunger.  Cravings, or head hunger is always there. I build strategies to deal with it and most of the time I win, but not always.  When I say that this is a life long battle...I mean it.  It was easy in the beginning, but it is not easy now and I don't anticipate that it will get any easier later.  As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure that as I age and as I hit menopause, it will get much harder.  I am doing everything I know to do to keep what I have into the future.  If you read the stats for long term maintenance, you will not like it much, most of us regain some, many regain quite a bit. This is my last shot at this, I will not have another surgery, so this is what has to work.  So far, it's workable but NOT easy and there are many days when I fight with my cravings for things I should not have but would like to have a "bite" of here and there.  My weight history makes it impossible for me to believe that moderation isn't a dangerous thing for me.  I choose my "tastes" carefully and only when I feel strong.  It can all fall apart at one really great pancake...just ask the people with serious regain, quite often they can pin point the moment when the regain started.  

Hi Elina!

boy do I know the battle and you are so right that it doesn't get easier. Actually I'm in an eating disorder group right now trying to work some of this stuff out. 

You know I go at things a little differently. I've worked a lot on changing the good vs bad thing w food. So for a carb craving, especially if I knew it had to do with TOM I would cut myself some slack and have an ok carb. Cause sometimes a girl's just gotta have carbs. 

Sending big hugs!!!!!

Than you.  I will take the hugs, I can use them.  :)

I am trying to fight this off with more fat.  The trouble with carbs and me....they bring friends, relatives and compatriots, before I know it, they have taken over, moved in and declare a party.  :)

Swish with mouthwash  =)  cravings will be averted! lol

Alanna

That's a good one.  I do that too sometimes, swish and even brush my teeth.  It can really help.  My friend also chews very strong gum or takes a sugar free mint.  Good thinking.  Thank you.

Nutritionist told me at the very beginning carry listerine strips wherever i go. it signals the end of a meal. I use them when i get that kind of craving b/c who likes to eat aftter one of those. Stay strong and remember you are human. You dont make this a daily practice. You know when it happens, and its ok to tend to that need the way you see fit. Accept it and dont beat yourself about it. Have a great weekend!

Thank you for your post.  I too think of you as being just perfect; you are precious & so very helpful; It's a comfort to know that even vets like you who have it all figured out still have struggles but are human enough to share them.  Anybody who ever says it's an easy road is just plain wrong; it's a fork in the road full of choices about where to turn next & what to do to stay at or get to goal.  We can't just stop once goal is reached we still have to make life-time better choices & make sure we exercise.  I've learned quite a bit from you & other kind vets on OH.  Hang in there; chew on some baby carrots til your mouth hurts or like mentioned above grab a SF peppermint.

Head hunger never ever really goes away.  It can be triggered by smells, passing by familiar eating spots, times of the day, hormones, there is no end to what can trigger us.  We only have a given amount of will power and hormones seem to make it worse.  I remember writing a post about Dutch mints about two years ago, you might find it amusing.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4487432/curse-you-food-addicts-compulisive-brain/

You are one of my heroes on this board!

being new at this, I'm a little confused. Are you not allowed carbs a little? Or a small cheat once in a while? You eat so little to begin with.

my surgeon told me that I can and will slip once in a while, we are human. As long as we go right back on track and don't continue slipping for the days! He also said, if I exercise regularly and incorporate weights, it should be fine. 

Best if luck.. 

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, I am allowed to have some carbs, but when this craving hits, "a little carbs" turns into endless and bottomless carbs.  There is really no difference this far out in how many carbs I can eat now and how many I could eat before surgery.  I do have carbs, even "bad" carbs such as cookies or slice of cake, but I never have them when I have cravings.  I only have them when I am absolutely certain of my strength, am at goal weight and have already eaten my protein.  Even then, carbs are a very slippery slope for me and I did not have any off program carbs during my losing phase or even early maintenance.  I know that other programs are different...this works for me.