Excessive sugar/carb cravings are against my weight loss

[pamper64]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if any of you would be able to help me with some advice.
I have been battling with my weight loss for the last 10 years now and I noticed one thing:
I have uncontrollable cravings for carbs and sweets that seem to stop me on my track. It is so bad that I really can't keep it under control. No one can understand this ,except for those who actually go through the same thing.
It has nothing to do with intelligence,or education.....I am a smart woman in my mid 50's.
Shortly,I had a car accident 12 years ago and it threw me into early menopause.Since then it has been going downhill and put on 50 kg.It is true that I also stopped smoking.
So I started reading articles about health and weight.
So where I am at now?
I drink alkaline filtered water,take supplements as I also had stomach banding (didn't work for me....but it stopped me from putting more weight on),like magnesium,zinc (lost a lot of hair),chromium picolinate,colloidal minerals.
I read that chromium picolinate is not the best one to use for weight loss....but I did notice a definite decline in sugar cravings. I am considering getting the "Angstrom" liquid minerals....but I am a bit confused as to what and how to take them.
Can you help in anyway with info about different types of chromium and what would be the best (and mow much to take)?
Thank you kindly
Pam

[gwynne2]

Please take this for what it is, my experience only:

I never really stopped being excessively hungry and having cravings on Atkins the way other people do--until I stopped cold turkey and combined it with Intermittent Fasting.

Chromium, L-glutamine, trying different artificial sweeteners--none of that stuff ever worked for me.

I also have a suspicion that trying to keep up sugar habits with sugar free substitutes, especially at first (such as "low-carb" ice cream) perpetuates the cycle of sweets addiction, even if only mentally. So by 'cold turkey' I mean I had nothing sweet except hot tea--nothing that my brain could really construe as 'dessert'.

Many people will disagree with this (there are plenty of people here who have lowcarb desserts every day and have lost way more weight than me), I just know what I personally had to do to stop the cravings and hunger. And I can say, 100%, I no longer crave sweets or carbs. And with the Intermittent Fasting, I seemed to short-circuit the normal 'withdrawal' period where I would kill for (insert sweet carby food here).

[pamper64]

Thank you Guyenne2. I also did an intestinal parasites cleansing and I have to say that the little critters were nasty.....lol
I did feel sick(ly) for a while but the result was extra energy....for me anyway. Aparently by having the extra carbs and sugar you throw your balance out of sync and promote the over-growth of intestinal nasties like Candida and so on...and again,apparently they make you crave sweets....'cos they live on it. Worth reading up about it even if it is just as an info.
I strongly believe that artificial sweeteners are VERY bad for you.The only two things I could substitute for would be Agave sirup and Xylitol (sounds nasty but it is actually good for you....Google it and read up). I read a lot about artificial sweeteners and a friend of mine gave me a movie called "Sweet misery" (again,,,Google it)...and it scared the daylight out of me regarding any artificial sweetener.But I have to agree....The brain is a powerful tool and it would recognise anything sweet as an excuse to crave it.....lol

[cs_carver]

Seems to me that if the cravings are still uncontrollable after everything you're doing, they might need some additional approach.

1. Presumably you've figured out all your "trigger" foods? You don't mention gluten; that's a sneaky player for some people.

2. What's your serotonin status? 5-HTP, plus l-tyrosine, plus taurine, make a difference in what I "need" to be eating.

3. Cravings also come from the leptin-glucagon cycle, and that can benefit from rigorous attention to habit. See Mastering Leptin for more on that front.

4. Similarly, but not necessarily encouragingly, Rethinking Thin has some sound information about leptin and its effect on weight maintenance, although no useful prescription for action.

5. In the US, one can find "alternative" MDs who are willing to listen to stories like yours and make subtle and long-term recommendations for supplement programs that may be much more involved that what an untrained person would figure out on her own. In the US, these MDs are expensive and off-insurance. Don't know what you have available to you.

6. Given that it all started with the wreck, I'd wonder if there were some subtle pituitary or other brain damage that has set you off balance. It's way possible to have undetected long-term consequences. My own life changed after I was nearly struck by lightning, but not in any way that could be observed by current medical tests.

good luck.

[pamper64]

It all makes sense....and seeing a Natural MD is a good idea.My doctor doesn't believe in natural therapy,even less in vitamins and minerals but he is a good doctor nevertheless.
Every single point you brought up makes sense...but I never thought of Gluten.Just never occurred to me it could be a problem. In fact I put it all down to "going through menopause".
At one stage,doing the Atkins diet,I lost a lot of weight (before the accident)and I would love to go back on it but I read that all that protein creates a lot of acidity in the body ....and I already suffer with sore joints and muscles (like acid in them)...so I am scared to do it again ,fearing more pain. On the other hand,it would get rid of the candida that thrives with carbs and sugars.
As for my brain having been injured.....I feel fairly normal (even if I have to say that myself.....lol),but for sure, an injury is possible.
I have seen a couple of "naturopaths" (that's what we call some natural therapists here...although they are not doctors) and they just put me on what you would call "a balanced diet".What a waste of money that was. I can do that on my own.Every time I was talking about the cravings,they told me to be stronger and control them....Duh!....a relative of Einstein.... :idea: ....lol
Anyway....I am going to try a few things but it makes sense to see a naturo-MD.
Thank you again
Pam

[cs_carver]

At one stage,doing the Atkins diet,I lost a lot of weight (before the accident)and I would love to go back on it but I read that all that protein creates a lot of acidity in the body ....and I already suffer with sore joints and muscles (like acid in them)...so I am scared to do it again ,fearing more pain. On the other hand,it would get rid of the candida that thrives with carbs and sugars.

1. Real Atkins is high fat, not high protein. No more protein than you're eating now.

2. Could be that you're suffering in your current situation because of a theory? I suspect you'd find out pretty quickly if a LC WOE actually increased your pain, and it's not like they're going to stop making carbs. You can always switch back.

3. Many people find that carbs themselves cause cravings.

4. Many people find that high-cycling insulin doesn't do any good for chronic pain.

Might just be worth a little controlled LCing for a week or two to see what actually happens in your body, as opposed to what theoretically will happen. Especially if you do the high-fat approach, rather than the high protein variant.

Good luck.

[medialady]

Please take this for what it is, my experience only:

I never really stopped being excessively hungry and having cravings on Atkins the way other people do--until I stopped cold turkey and combined it with Intermittent Fasting.

Chromium, L-glutamine, trying different artificial sweeteners--none of that stuff ever worked for me.

I also have a suspicion that trying to keep up sugar habits with sugar free substitutes, especially at first (such as "low-carb" ice cream) perpetuates the cycle of sweets addiction, even if only mentally. So by 'cold turkey' I mean I had nothing sweet except hot tea--nothing that my brain could really construe as 'dessert'.

Many people will disagree with this (there are plenty of people here who have lowcarb desserts every day and have lost way more weight than me), I just know what I personally had to do to stop the cravings and hunger. And I can say, 100%, I no longer crave sweets or carbs. And with the Intermittent Fasting, I seemed to short-circuit the normal 'withdrawal' period where I would kill for (insert sweet carby food here).




Me too! I have nothing that resembles anything "dessert" or sweet. I had soy bread with splenda in it cause cravings and binging that you wouldn't believe. I allow myself one diet soda a day in the afternoon and that is IT. I don't crave sweets unless I eat them.

[muffles]

I also used to have terrible sugar cravings. I felt almost crazed by the intensity, such an addiction to the stuff. For me going very low carb helps. Doing the meat and egg diet for 3 days showed me how my body will stop the cravings - it's actually easier to do very low carb than moderate carb, becasue higher carbs equals more cravings. I know it is hard, but next time, try meat and egg for just 3 days, and at the end of that , see what your cravings are like. You will be amazed!

[pamper64]

Thanks to all for all your comments. In a way,they all help to create a clearer image of the situation.
Muffles: when you say meat and eggs....would you consider ham and salami part of it? How about the eggs.....could you add a bit of Mayo(unsweetened,home made)to give it a bit of taste?
I do remember that my cravings stopped after a few days.....but so hard to motivate oneself......lol
But just for your infos....try and do a search for the followings:
* intestinal parasites and weight loss
* Angstrom liquid minerals and weight loss
* 5-HTP
* Water OZ
All interesting reads and insights on how our bodies work and their need
One thing is for sure....I would never use anything with artificial sweetener in it since I saw the movie (real by the way....and it is on Youtube) called "Sweet misery".Scared the daylight out of me.
Oh well! The fight goes on.....gram by gram.....lol :yawn:

[muffles]

I ate protein and fat, so mayo or an oil and vinegar dressing were just fine. In fact ,I think I ate a lot of egg salad with mayonaise. For me high fat really helps me feel full and cuts cravings.
I also ate ham and salami, also bacon. I think they are inferior products because they have so much extra salt, plus the nitrates but I did eat (and still do) small amounts of them.

[amandawood]

Hi everyone,

I have uncontrollable cravings for carbs and sweets that seem to stop me on my track. It is so bad that I really can't keep it under control. No one can understand this ,except for those who actually go through the same thing.
It has nothing to do with intelligence,or education.....I am a smart woman in my mid 50's.

Pam

I wonder if you are especially sensitive to "opioid peptides"? These are in dairy and wheat products. Some people can get really addicted to them, which can lead to the kind of cravings you mention.

Dr Eades published an email from a lady on this forum (Rightnow) recently which mentions this problem. Maybe you could check out his blog and find the post.

Perhaps if you go cold turkey completely from wheat and dairy products, this will get rid of the problem.

At any rate, the issue of "opioid peptides" is definitely one to research further. I can also recommend "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig as a book which will open your eyes to many new nutrition issues.

Since adding enzyme-rich foods to my diet (as recommended by the ladies above), I have much better energy levels. Coconut oil has also helped, as has apple cider vinegar, (1-2 dsp. 3x a day before meals, using a concoction of the following ratios: 1tbsp ACV, 2 tbsp water, 1 tbsp raw honey - put in jar and put jar in freshly boiled water to melt honey).

Good Luck!

amanda

[Nancy LC]

I had awful muscle spasms and joint pain. Two things helped it. Going completely gluten free and taking vitamin D3 supplements. I had been diagnosed with a bad autoimmune arthritis but it is in remission now and I think the diet and perhaps the supplements were responsible. I also have associated dairy to muscle spasms.

I find a Paleo style of diet is really beneficial for those of us plagued with autoimmune or other health disorders.