Question:
Why am I craving chocolate?
I'm almost three months post-op and have been dying for chocolate. I've been eatting m&m's ver slowly so a bag seems to last forever. But when they are gone, I feel like I'm going to die if I don't get more. Any suggestions? And is there a physiological reason this is happening? — adeas (posted on August 10, 2003)
August 10, 2003
purchase some suger free chocolate from walmart or CVS. They have
chocolate bars, and other variations. I don't know how to stop your
craving, but at least you won't be getting the suger. You could try
chocolate protein drinks or protein bars, like u-turns or detours.
— thekatinthehat
August 10, 2003
I notice that I am craving more sweets after the surgery than I did before.
I was never a sweet-eater, but now I notice I need something every
day...fruit can do the trick, but I find the Atkins Wafers are the best.
They are real chocolate, but no sugar. I can't tell the difference between
them and Twix bars. They have a cookie crunch and come in vanilla, peanut
butter and mint. I have gotten others hooked on them and you can get them
at GNC for cheap if you have the gold membership. I just buy a box during
the discount week and keep a bunch in my "junk" drawer along with
some sugar free hard candies like butterscotches...Caution: these candies
usually contain malitol for sweetness and can cause excessive gas. Keep the
Gas-X handy!
— missmollyk
August 10, 2003
Chocolate *is* a feel-good food; eating it helps release serontonin in your
brain (the substance found in many anti-depressants). It's also why a lot
of us reach for more of it during "that time of the month," or
just generally for comfort.<P>Eating chocolate by the bagful (even a
little individual M&M bag) on a daily basis is a red-alert problem at
your stage, especially if doing so isn't satisfying your craving. There's
about 200 calories in that little bag (I've done 'em, too!). Nothing for
it but to go "cold turkey" -- and in your case, I wouldn't
recommend substituting sugar-free stuff, because often eating the
sugar-free stuff does NOT crush the cravings either, it just keeps them
alive. Protein snacks will probably crush the cravings, though -- time to
add some new ones to your regime. Good luck!
— Suzy C.
August 10, 2003
Stop eating the M&M's....now. You are starting to graze, and that is
not a habit you want to pick up at this stage. I caught myself doing the
same thing....eating a few M&M's, munching on a few crackers.....And, I
do believe, that once in while it will be ok for me to have a treat. But,
when I realized that I was having bites of treats and "just a little
bit" all the time... I had to stop. I make sure I read (over and over
again) about the way WLS patients regain weight and, most of the time, it
is from grazing! So, my suggestion to you is to stop eating the chocolate
right now and leave it alone for awhile. I'm not telling you forever...just
a while! Once your body is on a good protein regiment for eating and you
know how to keep your body satisfied with the healthy foods. Then, you can
incorporate some occassional snacks. Start by keeping track of everything
you put in your mouth (fitday.com is a good tracker system.) You'll start
seeing your "good" calories and your "empty" calories.
I wish you the best of luck... Open RNY 3/20/03 -65Lbs
— teresa M.
August 10, 2003
May I suggest that you try some of the protein bars like Detour, U-turn or
One-Way. They taste just like a candy bar and have 30gm or protein. So
you are not cheating, satisfying a craving and getting in some much needed
protein. By the time I finish one of those bars I do not want chocolate
for a while for sure.
— Charlene W.
August 10, 2003
Fifty - 50 (a diabetic food company found in most grocery stores) makes a
bag of small chocolate candy bars - like the bite size hersheys. I keep a
bag in the frisge and when I get a chocolate craving I have one, however I
can go for a week or two without having any. I also make sure that I have
it with a meal, so that I am not grazing.
— Heather M.
August 11, 2003
Chocolate does have a physiological effect on the body. It makes us feel
good because of chemical reactions it sets off in our brains. But stay
away from the M&M's because it can set off the "grazing" that
will get you in trouble long-term. Try some of the sugar-free chocolates,
but try to do it in a "meal-structured" environment. Wal-Mart
carries a line of chocolate bars called Pure-Delite that's low-carb and
sugar free. The dark chocolate ones are great for an occasional treat.
Have you tried sugar-free low-fat ice cream. A half cup of it here or
there won't hurt anyone. Something with chocolate in it occasionally might
curb that chocolate urge. Wal-Mart also carries Russell Stover sugar-free
chocolates and they're pretty good. Nobody said you don't get treats, but
just don't partake in a grazing fashion. Occasionally won't hurt any of
us, but just be aware of the calories in these things and don't put them
ahead of good nutrition that essential for us to be healthy long-term.
— Cathy S.
August 11, 2003
I have not had surgery yet but I am doing Atkins and might I suggest that
you try the Atkins Advantage bars. They only have 2 net carbs and will
satisfy your chocolate craving. They also have a peanut butter cup one
that is really yummy. Good luck.
— classite
August 11, 2003
I wish I could give you a definative answer here. I seemed to recall
having chocolate craving about that same time. I kept a partial bag of
Dove milk chocolates I got before Christmas and it lasted until about
Easter, or longer. (And I had help from some of the big "mice" in
my house!) I had one or two pieces when the need for chocolate really hit -
like you, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The craving seemed to go
away. I still sometimes have some chocolate, but it isn't that
overpowering urge like I had then. To be honest, don't try to make a bag
of M&Ms last. Eat some sort of protein, then eat them at one time and
get it out of your system. (In other words, get a big "bolus" of
chocolate.) Maybe that will get rid of the craving. Shakes and candy bars
didn't do it for me. It had to be real chocolate. It does go away, and
that is one "food friend" I can't give up completely. Maybe it
has something to do with the chemicals in the chocolate.
— koogy
August 11, 2003
I have a little bit of a different take on chocolate than the other
posters. I don't consider any food-protein, carb, sugar etc- as off
limits. I can't imagine life with just sugar free chocolates (Bleh, I've
tried them all..)or substituting protein for my sweet tooth. Just won't
cut it. I agree that trying SF chocolates, or SF hot chocolate, or
chocolate protein shakes should be the first step and if that works, more
power to you, but for me, none of that worked, and I felt deprived (like
the pre-op days whenever I tried to diet). Now the Detour bars did work,
so when I want chocolate, I head for that first. If I still want chocolate
later, I'll have a few hersheys kisses, or mini choc chip cookies.
Moderation is the key, and I ensure that the calories from my sweets are
incorporated into the daily calorie total and only if I get in my protein
too. It works for me- I don't feel like anything is off limits and I can
enjoy my daily sweet treats as well as ensure that I eat well during the
day. It would be different if I ate a bag of M&Ms every 2 hours or a
plate of brownies. In other words, if you lose or cannot maintain control,
which many post-ops fear they would do, it would lead to regain or at your
stage, a huge slow down in weight loss. And truthfully, I waited until I
was further out before I made it part of my daily diet. At 3 months
post-op, your not eating enough calories yet and need to concentrate on
eating protein first. I'd try staying away from chocolate if you can for
another 3 months or more to maximize the weight loss.
— Cindy R.
August 11, 2003
I am the same way! Mostly when my monthly shows up, then I crave it really
bad. I am 11mo post-op and until recently I ate the chocolate protien bars
and now I still do, but I also will eat a couple small tootsie rolls. I do
agree with the others and you should stay away from the M&M's for now.
Train your mind and body not to crave the REAL chocolate and stick to SF
candy or protien bars:o) Good luck to you!
— Sandy M.
August 11, 2003
I have the perfect thing: Flourless chocolate brownies! I posted the recipe
(which I created, thank you :) on my profile. They are low carb and have
protein and a bit of fiber and lots of nuts so they fill you up. They have
a rich chocolate taste to satisfy your craving. I am normally a bottomless
pit when I PMS, but I haven't noticed that this month. I think these saved
me from myself! LOL
— ctyst
August 11, 2003
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE - Thanks for all your great suggestions! As a rule I
don't consider eating a few M&M's (like 5-10) grazing. I'm not eating
the small bag in one day - maybe in a week. In any case, I do meet my
protein needs every day (at minimum 60 gms). I've tried protein bars and
loved them pre-op but can't stand them now. I also have to be careful with
SF foods - aspartame gives me headaches. The cravings just seem
overwhelming at times and it takes all I have to drive past the stores.
Anyway, thanks again for your suggestions. What a great resource we have
in this site!
— adeas
August 11, 2003
I go through food fettishes! One of them was eating plain m&m's with
dry roasted peanuts. (NOT peanut m&m's)This is a really good sweet and
salty snack! Shelley
'
— Shelley.
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