Craving sweets or flavors?

[Fozzy]

I'm really craving something sweet, but I know that sweets are really my enemy. I have forgone all sweeteners on this round of induction. I really dont have too much of a problem at home, but I go out of the house and its amazing how much I notice (stare and drool) at the foods that are no where near atkins freindly... I'm not sure if its the sweets or just something different. I drank a LOT of flavored waters and such before. They were ALWAYS of the diet variety though. I have hated the taste and the "thick" consistancy of "real" sodas for years. But I do/did drink waaaaaaay too many of them.

I really blew it the last time and am really being rather hard nosed. I want to really enjoy the feelings of getting lighter and being able to move around better. I know that I carried the majority of this weight with me for a lot of years. No this gain back of thirty pounds has me feeling like a Walrus.

I look forward to the 13th to see (hopefully) the results of being on induction. I may even crack a smile... I've been kinda in the dumps for a while!

[wienerin]

Re: Craving sweets or flavors?

Fozzy,

I can relate to that, I'm the same way - fine at home, but when out, non-Atkins foods shout to me. I think there's two reasons for that: first, I'm out of my routine (at home I comfortably stick to it), and second, it's the forbidden fruit that's attractive. Both aren't good reasons to go off. What works for me is to get distracted, concentrate on the company I'm with, get away from the food. Flee, if need be.

Case in point, yesterday I was at a party where everyone had brought homemade cakes. Scrumptious-looking, fragrant cakes. And since everyone was eating them, it was somewhat difficult to find someone to socialize with who wasn't eating, so I wouldn't be drooling over their plate as they ate. Eventually I found the kids... spent time with them, had fun telling stories and jokes, which they loved and the parents certainly appreciated having them occupied as well. ;-)

As to the flavored waters: I used to drink them, and I don't think they did me any favors. Like you, I cut out all sweeteners, and while that was difficult at first, I really find my tastebuds adjusting to much more subtle flavors now, which means I'm actually enjoying my food more and discovering new nuances in familiar dishes. It's great! But it is a matter of discipline, especially in the beginning but ongoing as well. There's always the thought "it's diet anyway, won't hurt" - and no, it won't hurt like a candy bar would, but it'd just be another processed, unnatural thing I impose on my body. I'm a big believer in eating natural things as naturally as they occur in nature, so these fake foods/drinks are disqualified even though they may be sugar free.

[Fozzy]

Re: Craving sweets or flavors?

I hear ya. Yesterday I was out and about with the youngest and decided that I needed to go to the Dollar General to go and "buy something". Mainly it was just to get out of the house and to spend time with my youngest who is not as socially active as my other three older kids. We went in there and I quickly realized that I felt surrounded and outnumbered! There was litterally nothing that wasn't sugared up or baked junk. I bought my boy a $1 squirt gun and ran for the door. I wasn't hearing voices or anything, but I was definately uncomfortable. Earlier in the day, My boy and I (and my silly little rat terrier) walked down town (It was about a mile and a half or so) to an street art show just for fun and for me to get some exercise. The artshow stunk, but the walking was actually quite fun... the dog however didn't think too highly of it