Okay, I have been totally obsessing and reading /watching everything I can find about sugar and carbs.

I have realized that I am a sugar addict and the sleeve has not changed it. No matter how much I read about how bad it is for me, I still go for that cookie, or seek out that pastry. And let me tell you: they go down fantastically well.

Any tips from my fellow sugar addicts on how to kick this habit?

I know it's why my weight loss has been so slow..... I know better, so much better, but seems like sweets have power over me! Crazy that an object controls my behavior.

The sleeve has only limited the quantity I can have at one sitting, nothing else.

preop wt 240

surgery date wt 220

surg date 1/23/12

current wt 173

goal wt 120

Some people apparently find Chromium works better for them than Glutamine - I haven't tried it.

I definitely need a combination of strategies. Keeping the carbs in my food low is key, Glutamine helps me fight the cravings I still get, and I have to work on stress relievers and avoiding other food triggers. There's no single magic wand, but with enough weapons at my disposal I know I can win this!

I tried glue to mean again and it is having a more positive effect. I'm taking 2000 milligrams a day. Although I still think about sweet treats, I can at least think clearly long enough to have fruit instead

*glutamine

I feel your pain

I'm a sugar addict too. The thing that I've been doing lately is forcing myself to "sit in my feelings." By that I mean I feel the craving, call it what it is, and try to let it pass. I just had a conversation with my daughter about it being ok to have what ever feeling you have, but being responsible with your actions. Just bc you feel it doesn't mean you have to do it. For me this isn't about willpower it is about responsibility. I choose what goes in my mouth and I'm not a victim. I'm don't always win (I had Walkers shortbread Cookies two days last week - then I crumpled what was left into the trash), but I am accountable to ME and I'm honest to myself.

The constant self berating for not being strong enough and then the self punishment of eating a pie to compensate for the fact that my willpower waned is what led me to morbid obesity. I now have the chance to resolve my sickness and I'm going all in bc if I don't heal the emotional part of this (or at least be honest w myself about it) I'm going to continue to be obese - eventually.

I'm trying to learn to love myself and respect myself and I can only do both if I'm honest and act with integrity towards myself. Eating a bag of M&M's like I wanted to yesterday while telling myself that I must eat them or pretending that I don't know how that bag ended up in my cart, in my house, in my hand, in my mouth is not living with integrity where myself is concerned.

We can do this.

My two cents.

I think there is something behind building all your food consumption around protein that neutralizes the desire for sweets. I am not sure how it works exactly, but the longer you stay away from them the less you will want them. When I do want something sweet, I have my daily dose of caramel chews as a treat. They are very low calorie and do not spike the insulin levels as sugar would do. I know it is hard, hang in there.

If anyone wants to, a few of us started the 5 day boot camp, the thread is under BOOTCAMP ANYONE. It feels so good to have made it thru the first day w/ eating in the manner that automatically equals weight loss. I messed around w/ Sees candy before Vday & Reese's cups after Vday. I did not gain any weight but for the first month since surgery (month 6) I did not lose my standard 10 lb's, I lost nothing....ugggghhh the honest truth.

Anyhow for me, knowing a bunch of other people were on day 1 of bootcamp kept me on track. I kept telling myself staying off carbs/sugar will reduce the cravings, thank goodness for the support and thanks to the struggling sugar addicts that posted, I am not alone.....part of the premise of AA meetings. Together we are stronger