Banded June 24, 2008 - Scared!

[DesertRose 0]

Hello, everyone. I am a 40 y/o proud wife, mother and nana. Been banded for almost two months and I'm discouraged! Things aren't going quite like I had planned. I've had two fills, the first was 6 cc's, the last one, 5 days ago, was 2 1/2 cc's. They both gave me more restriction, but I still have cravings and I loooong to drink with my meals.

Although I haven't been able to choke down bread, doughnuts, etc - I'm still hungry...a lot. Yes, I've cheated a little but my main problem is I am still a sugar addict. Is there ANYONE who has had the same problem? Can you offer any advice on how to break the sugar addiction? That's where most of my calories are coming from and I've gained back much of the weight I lost during pre/post op. Help! I want to HATE sweets!

[Debski 0]

Hello there, I know what your saying, I feel the same way. I beat that craveing by drinking a sugar free carnation instant Breakfast. I add a tinch of nonfat dry milk powder for more Protein and I add two splenda packets to make the chocolate taste sweeter n add crushed ice...Its good...mmmm I'm having some as I type! :thumbup: Usually craves my taste for chocolate and is healthy! Good luck hope all goes well, take care...Debbie:smile2:

Edited August 21, 2008 by Debski

[mtnman428 1]

Maybe try some sugar free/fat free or reduced fat fudgesicles. They taste great are chocolatey and solve some of the sugar cravings all with little calories. There are many sweet, healthy things that still taste great like low-fat or sugar free puddings (butterscotch with Fat free Reddi-Whip is my favorite), yogurts. You can have a few chocolate covered strawberries. Now a days they even make a ton of 100 calorie packs/things, like klondike bars, oreos, etc... Then there is always the Dr. favorite, fresh fruit, but that doesn't always completely cure my cravings. Good luck!:thumbup:

[Jodi_620 37]

In my experience getting the bad carbs out of my system is the only way. You should get your carbs from natural sources only (high Fiber fruits & veggies, milk) and avoid the starchy veggies. No flour, no Pasta, no sugar, no potatoes, no corn etc. When you eat these foods, you get a big insulin spike then a big drop which causes you to crave another carb for an insulin surge...you eat another carb and the cycle keeps going. Just allowing yourself a little can put you on this craving roller coaster.

It takes about a week of avoidance to get it out of your system but if you stick with it that long, those cravings get much easier. I still crave sweets every once in a while but I will eat a SF popsicle or SF fudgecicle, SF Jello, SF pudding or even some sweet berries will do the trick without giving me an insulin surge.

Also, even with the good carbs try to eat a Protein first. The Protein will help keep your insulin leveled. Once you gain control of your appetite and weight loss, you may be able to add back a small portion of potato, Pasta etc. every once in a while but you should be mindful of how much and how often you eat them.

[krtork 0]

Jodi gave you some great advice. Also watch the other foods that you are eating that contain sugar and you don't know it. Make sure you read the labels of all the canned foods you are eating. It is amazing what they add to just a can of plain black beans! When you have the sugar, you crave the sugar.

Good luck and stick with it, you will start losing again!

[lessme 0]

Jodi said it really well and I second everything she said. I will also say that many people have said that it takes 3 or 4 fill to really lose the cravings. Something about the appetite receptors in that sector of the stomach. Actually my doctor said that too. I love sweets too but it is like an alcoholic, you can't have one drink. Even starch can signal a binge like Jodi said. Good luck and I haven't lost any weight and in fact gained back my pre-op fast weight loss too. We will get there.

[Penny Joy 0]

Hi DesertRose,

My heart goes out to you - sugar cravings are no fun! I am a sugar addict but back in 2000 I found a book that changed my life. Dr. Kathleen Desmaisons has written several books on sugar addiction and offers a stepped plan to get off of sugar. The great thing - taking sugar out of my life was just a small part of the plan, life without sugar is so much more!

Feel free to check out her website - where you can get the steps, meet lots of friendly folks and find out about sugar addiction:

www.radiantrecovery.com

I live craving-free, without sugar and I can tell you it's wonderful!

Penny

[gone 4 ever 6]

If you can when you get a craving for sweets, eat a pickle or some green olives. I learned this trick years ago from Richard Simmons before he came up with his meal exchange. It really works. Especially the pickles. They have to be a dill pickle tho. Good luck:thumbup:

[JerryFLA 0]

I haven't been banded yet, but I know all about the sweet cravings. I will say that I have been amazed at how quickly I lost the sweet cravings when I strictly followed a South Beach plan. Took about 5 days, and then magically, I could look at candy or Cookies and think, nahhh, what else do I have? I just wasn't interested in them! Amazing!

Of course, now I am a meat addict.

So, good luck to you!

[Donna113 2]

DesertRose, are you by any chance on anti-depressants? I read another thread in here about someone who had major sugar cravings and it turned out it was her anti-depressants.