Sarah1950's Journal, 15 August 2016

Refined carbs are EVIL!! And for me they are addictive and sound like they are for you as well. I crave sweets so bad. Once I get off of them and get them out of my system it does get better. Stay strong! 

Great job there, Sarah! 

Congrats on being halfway! 

The combination of complicated family relationships and our relationship to food is a killer, isn't it? It's so exhausting and frustrating, and I know it can feel overwhelming sometimes. But I have found rhontique to be right: I started weaning myself off refined carbs when I began eating low-glycemic, and then I was forced off most refined carbs once and for all by developing IBS. I am astounded to find that now, when I crave something sweet, often all I can think of is eating a ripe peach or a bowl of cantaloupe and blueberries. I don't know if this happens to everyone, and it took me a long time (several years) to get to this point, but seriously: I'm not nearly as likely to fall victim to eating a pint of ice cream or half a chocolate cake as I was 5 years ago. That's not to say NEVER. This week, I am planning part of my week around an outing for frozen custard. It takes planning, not only because I have to carefully manage my calories and carbs between now and Thursday when we plan to go for custard, but also because I have to make sure I don't plan to leave the house on Friday, because the custard will go right through me. It's one of the few killer treats I still crave. And honestly, as I look toward spending the rest of my life at a healthy weight, I don't see any reason why I can't have frozen custard every few weeks. Good luck Sarah -- we are all routing for you. 

Every time you resist temptation, you WIN! 

It's a matter of redefining yourself, I think. And it's not just psychological, it's also physiological. Addictions are cellular, so you are literally remaking yourself every time you don' succumb to eating junk. 

erikahollister -- you are very wise. 

Sometimes, you just gotta go cold turkey. I cut out all refined sugar and flour a couple of months ago. Totally broke my cravings for them. I've started introducing the occasional sweet -like dark chocolate. So far so good, but I was a total addict before. Sugar is like a drug. 

You are halfway to your goal, which shows just how strong you are! 

Keep up the good work! Sugar is tough to resist, but it looks like you have been doing well. Congratulations on being halfway. 

Good advice here ladies. Thank you for your ideas, input and well wishes. I too have experienced the no craving or hunger doing the low carb diet. But every now and again I get an urge to eat a carby sweet. Of course it sets me up for failure. Resistance is the only way. (For now) " new strategies" is my plan.  

Sarah1950 -- Not only do I wish you success in resisting. I also wish for you and all my FS friends to get to that place where you can eat a carby sweet as a treat, and not fall off the wagon completely. We all need to cultivate a long-term healthy relationship with food, but it is very difficult.