Re: feeling overwhelmed/kill the carb monster

[Guest guest]

,

Getting stuck in the carb cycle is a real monster. Nothing

is " wrong " with your body; it's doing exactly what it's supposed to

do when you eat carbs. The insulin peaks rapidly and just as rapidly

falls, creating intense, unbearable cravings.

I found, through a lot of research, both reading and trial, that

there are two ways to bust the cycle.

1) whiteknuckle it out

2) still eat the carbs, but combine it with another " serving " of

protein at the same time

#2 allows your body to maintain the insulin level at a more moderate

rate and for a prolonged period of time, so you don't get the brutal

down/craving. It's like weaning yourself off of pure carbs. As you

do this, the amount of carbs ingested decreases. It becomes easier

to control cravings, and if you up the protein, thereby decreasing

the carbs you can minimize or even eliminate the cravings.

If you do still crave carbs, eat them in moderation and only with a

protein and don't get busted up about it.

My physical cravings have disappeared recently using this approach,

but I still have head cravings. For the past two days, I have wanted

to munch like crazy. However, just like an alkie, I am afraid that

first carb binge will send me on a bender. So I made a huge amount

of asparagus yesterday and ate them like potato chips, dipping them

in light Ranch dressing (HATE the f/f!!). Too bad I ate it watching

TV late at night, a super bad habit, but I couldn't fight it. So I

gave in to a healthy alternative. Today I STILL felt head hungry, so

I made a huge pot of zuchinni with Italian stewed tomatoes and ate to

my hearts' content. Sometimes I marinate mushrooms, Brussels sprouts

or whatever is in season, eat half a baked potato topped with f/f

sour cream out of hand like a potato boat, or I may pick up one of

those huge jars of mainated veges.

This may sound yucky to you now, but as you get off the carbs, this

stuff probably will actually seem yummy. It does to me!

Once in awhile I'll pop some popcorn, but I eat it with a piece of

string cheese.

So that's my method. It couldn't hurt to try! Good luck with

getting the monkey off your back.

Vicki A.

> Hi,

> My name is and I had surgery in Mar 2000 I initially lost

about

> 114 lbs needed to lose 25 more but never did get to that goal. I

> gradually gained back about 10 lbs but was still okay with that. In

> May 01 I had my job at that time eliminated and got transferred to

a

> position that although was higher pay it was not what I wanted to

do,

> I had also just quit smoking 2 months prior, well I embarked on a

> year long pity party replacing cigarettes with bbq potato chips, I

> finally got transferred in Mar 02 to another position that I

thought

> I would enjoy, but it took a while to get used to. Well I stopped

the

> BBQ chips (cold turkey) but in that year I had gained like 30 lbs.

I

> kept vowing to start dieting again, and even joined Weight Watchers

> for a short while, but couldnt seem to lose it, in the meantime, I

am

> currently mentalpausal... but not having any symptons per se, but

> just battling the depression of getting older and life in general..

> last week I decided this is it... as of last Friday I stopped

> snacking and stopped eating carbs (I am a carb addict) any 12 step

> programs out there? But I already see a difference in the scale

just

> in the 5 short days that I have controled my eating. I also ordered

> some sample protein powder from vitalady and it was wonderful. I

> realize this is no free ride and I have to go through this one day

at

> at a time. Since my surgery I have been unable to take vitamins due

> to my stomach I had a ulcer for a short time but that healed and

> still have to take 300 mg of Zantac daily or else my stomach kills

> me.I have never taken B12, nor ever had my levels drop I have had

to

> take 1 iron infusion a year ago, but have maintained my iron count

> since then. I am going to start going to the Y next week and start

> working out again hopefully I can start losing even faster. I am

> hoping I can lose another 35 lbs and go ahead and get a tummy tuck

> done. I think mentally that would be a boost for me as well, as I

> hate my stomach, arms and thighs.

> But I just wanted to say this list means alot to me, even though I

> dont normally post, I do read them religiously and it helps me to

see

> other people going through some of the same delimas that I go

through

> with food.

> Thanks so much to everyone for being a friend without even knowing

> it!!

>

> /

> Winter Park, Fl

> 270/156/166/191/currently 185 and losing