i was banded about 2 months ago. i have not had a fill yet. I have progressively been losing weight. but i will say when i sit down to eat i eat a bit more than i have been. but my sweet tooth cravings have become stronger. i have decided not to deny myself i little bit of sweet because if i do i will binge. But what do others do to help curb your cravings either sweets or carbs. Just needing a bit of advice.

Exactly what you do I usually give in as a craving ignored usually leads to a bigger binge. I usually workout a little bit longer on those days and that's about it. I'm slowly learning that no food is bad. Everything is okay in moderation, and it wasn't 'bad' food that made me fat; it was overeating on ANY type of food and no exercise.

I first try to figure out if I am truly craving something.....or am I hungry? thirsty? If I can't shake the craving, I will indulge it, but not right away. I will plan on feeding the craving--but later.....in the hopes that the craving goes away. My typical craving is for ice cream. I don't crave others because I try to have something sweet planned into my day and my meal plan for the day.

I don't crave carbs anymore.....although I am sure, if given the opportunity, I could still at a bag of chips in one sitting.......I just don't give myself the opportunity!!

I drink when I get my cravings.

However, I don't mean alcohol! I drink lots of diet Snapple teas, Crystal Light and other low calorie drinks. If that isn't working I'll have black decaf coffee or tea because sometimes I need the warmth to feel "full". If none of those work, then I have to leave and do something. I go window shopping, walk the dog, clean the house, do laundry--whatever will help me to get past the moment. If all else fails, I set aside 3 whatevers (usually cookies) and eat them slowly. The times that I haven't followed my own advice, it has let to a binge. I now recognize the warning signs and try to control the moment.

I give in to it, or I find a lower calorie version. Like a piece of sugar free chocolate, or frozen yogurt instead of candy and ice cream.

But honestly to me, when I find out how many calories are in what I want I usually don't want it anymore haha. Luckily for me, in LA, every chain food joint, coffee shop, and restaurant has to post the calories on the menu. When you find out there are 562 calories in a serving of ranch dressing at Mimi's Cafe, you won't eat it!

Or I don't feel guilty about ONE piece of pizza, or a small slice of cake. Before it would of been 5 pieces of pizza, or 2 cupcakes..

I discovered that my cravings were directly linked to carbs (most likely because they affected my blood sugar levels) and when I consistently kept my carbs below 30gm per day, eliminated all wheat/gluten from my diet and eliminated sugar free stuff, my cravings finally went away.

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I don't give into carb cravings and for sweets I just eat frozen yogurt or something a little less treacherous than the hard stuff. Sometimes you have to live a little, and sometimes you have to exert good old fashioned willpower. Don't despair though. Once you've had a couple fills the willpower part will still come into play, but it won't be as hard. Until then just do your best. I don't think I became really disciplined until after two fills and I think that's sort of typical. So don't beat yourself up at this stage in the game.

You say you have not had a fill yet ! Maybe it's time for one, to help the craving, and how much you can eat.

You got banded for a reason,,, stick to your plan. I buy sugar free pudding in cups and instant.

Cups are only 60 calories, and they fill up the need from hunger.

Good Luck !

Shirley.

Right now is my "time" and I am having serious salty and sweet cravings. I like sugar free chocolate pudding and I crush 1 or 2 oreos into it or I have a handfull of nuts and eat it slowly. I like sliced strawberries with sugar free cool whip too for a good dessert.

I've learned to really think about my cravings and can now distinguish between an "impulse" and a "craving". Impulses I can ignore. I feel the urge to eat something, usually because I've seen it - like in the foodcourt and if I just take a minute to think I realise that I dont want it enough to deal with the consequences of eating it - like having to adjust for the rest of the day so as not to have a huge calorie day, usually its something small but horrifically calorie dense that will take 2 seconds to eat and give no lasting satisfaction and its just not really worth it.

Other times, I might have a feeling that I want somethign specific for several hours and that happens only occasionally, so to be honest, I go with it. I dont believe in totally denying myself. Lately, since I've got an ileostomy and am having chemo, my sweet tooth has disappeared and i tend to get cravings for salty foods - its important that I actually EAT them, becuase my body needs the salt since it loses so much. So I try to identify that its salt I need and not necessarily hot chips covered with salt. At times like this, a can of Soup for lunch actually might work to satisfy the craving and drive the thought of hot chips from my head (soup is pretty salty).

I just think it through is all, but every now and then, when I really want something, I have it.

Thank you for all replying. i go to the doctor tomorrow. i am probably going to get a fill. i am not getting hungry between meals and i dont overeat. my willpower has been in check until lately. Thank you for some great advice and encouragement. I look forward to logging into the March Madness tomorrow. I hope i have lost a bit. I hope everyone has a great week. Keep up the great work.

I've learned to really think about my cravings and can now distinguish between an "impulse" and a "craving". Impulses I can ignore. I feel the urge to eat something, usually because I've seen it - like in the foodcourt and if I just take a minute to think I realise that I dont want it enough to deal with the consequences of eating it - like having to adjust for the rest of the day so as not to have a huge calorie day, usually its something small but horrifically calorie dense that will take 2 seconds to eat and give no lasting satisfaction and its just not really worth it.

Other times, I might have a feeling that I want somethign specific for several hours and that happens only occasionally, so to be honest, I go with it. I dont believe in totally denying myself. Lately, since I've got an ileostomy and am having chemo, my sweet tooth has disappeared and i tend to get cravings for salty foods - its important that I actually EAT them, becuase my body needs the salt since it loses so much. So I try to identify that its salt I need and not necessarily hot chips covered with salt. At times like this, a can of Soup for lunch actually might work to satisfy the craving and drive the thought of hot chips from my head (soup is pretty salty).

I just think it through is all, but every now and then, when I really want something, I have it.

You are an inspiration. Hope all continues to go well for you.