today right at this moment i am having a moment. the old me wants a big bag of cheetos and just sit watch tv and eat them. i know i had the surgery and i must keep that in mind and the reason i had it was to lose weight and eat in moderation, but i know they are a slidder food and will go down so easy instead of eating a few i will eat the whole back. JUST A MOMENT im having gosh lol

I always have those days, be strong and reach for healthy munchies. I wish I could take my own advice! But old habits are hard to break, even though at the begining I had more will power than now!

I have times like that all the time. I would have to drive to the store though. I don't keep anything like that in the house.

My problem are 100 calorie bags. I have several varieties that are my favorite. I can eat one, and that's fine. But later on I want another, and after that, another. It takes a lot of willpower sometimes!

I've been having a lot of those moments lately...and we have so much junk food for the kids so it's hard to avoid. I love my sleeve but hate that I can still eat a lot of junk if I want to. It's still about making choices.

Had a few of those moments as well over the past couple of months. I made a decision not to deprive myself as it would only increase the craving. Hit the corner store, purchased a small bag and had 4 or 5 cheetos which satisfied the need. I threw the remaining ones away and moved on.

While there will be some that will say this was a bad idea, I still see it as a victory. Once upon a time I would have eaten a grab bag size or larger without a second thought so to have 4/5 and be good was an accomplishment for me.

I had one of those moments the other day. I went on a road trip to see some family and I picked up a pack of gum I have in my car specifically for the purpose of keeping myself busy on the trip... Only to realize that was a big "no!" for my newly sleeved tummy. Old habits die hard, but imagine how wonderful everything else will be as you start losing all those pounds! Good luck!

I had one of those moments the other day. I went on a road trip to see some family and I picked up a pack of gum I have in my car specifically for the purpose of keeping myself busy on the trip... Only to realize that was a big "no!" for my newly sleeved tummy. Old habits die hard' date=' but imagine how wonderful everything else will be as you start losing all those pounds! Good luck! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

You can chew gum??

I highly recommend reading the book "The End of Overeating". In it, the author details how the food manufacturing industry intentionally manipulates the content of sugar, fat, and salt, in order to make foods cause a chemical reaction in your brain that is identical to the reaction triggered by cocaine and heroine. If you're "craving" foods high in these, you are simply exhibiting the evidence of food having become (literally) your drug of choice. I became so furious, while reading this book, and that anger made it much easier to avoid those foods before and after my surgery. I'm 4 months post-op now, and have cleared all the junk from my system. It's very rare now that I give junky foods a second thought.

Be strong, and don't give in to the desire...it is simply your brain wanting that rush of chemicals. The longer you avoid it, the easier it will become!

I highly recommend reading the book "The End of Overeating". In it' date=' the author details how the food manufacturing industry intentionally manipulates the content of sugar, fat, and salt, in order to make foods cause a chemical reaction in your brain that is identical to the reaction triggered by cocaine and heroine. If you're "craving" foods high in these, you are simply exhibiting the evidence of food having become (literally) your drug of choice[/quote']

I agree 100% with this. It IS an addiction, but it isn't viewed the same as cocaine, heroin etc. It should be taken as seriously.

I am quite sure I will encounter the same issues everyone has spoken about in this thread. I just hope I can keep it in check.

loly you are so right. i need to kick this habit thanks everyone.

You can chew gum??

My doctor and NUT said no. Something about it creates too much air in the new sleeve. I wasn't going to chance it, just in case.

I feel your pain. Been fighting head hunger a lot lately...just trying hard to stay focused.

I highly recommend reading the book "The End of Overeating". In it, the author details how the food manufacturing industry intentionally manipulates the content of sugar, fat, and salt, in order to make foods cause a chemical reaction in your brain that is identical to the reaction triggered by cocaine and heroine. If you're "craving" foods high in these, you are simply exhibiting the evidence of food having become (literally) your drug of choice. I became so furious, while reading this book, and that anger made it much easier to avoid those foods before and after my surgery. I'm 4 months post-op now, and have cleared all the junk from my system. It's very rare now that I give junky foods a second thought.

Be strong, and don't give in to the desire...it is simply your brain wanting that rush of chemicals. The longer you avoid it, the easier it will become!

Reading some of Michael Pollan's books will do that to you as well. The Omnivore's Dilemna and the Rules for Eating were very interesting.

I need gum! I quit smoking 2 years ago and I need my Trident Cinnemin gum!!!

Had a few of those moments as well over the past couple of months. I made a decision not to deprive myself as it would only increase the craving. Hit the corner store, purchased a small bag and had 4 or 5 cheetos which satisfied the need. I threw the remaining ones away and moved on.

While there will be some that will say this was a bad idea, I still see it as a victory. Once upon a time I would have eaten a grab bag size or larger without a second thought so to have 4/5 and be good was an accomplishment for me.

I did this one day with some Sonic tater tots. I bought a small order and drove up to the trash can 10 feet away and through them in. Of course, I crammed 4 in my mouth before I got to the trash can.

But here is where we are all different. For me, simple carbs definitely are a trigger food. If you have an addiction, as I did to carbs, then partaking of them in small quantities prevents you from ever getting over the addiction. Giving them up completely (or "depriving myself"...as people here are so fond of saying) was the only thing that really decreased the craving. Having a few in moderation actually raised the craving.

It's a proven fact that if you want to increase an animal's (or person's) desire for a particular substance, you give it to them intermittently and sparingly. Ask any dog trainer and they will tell you not to give the dog a treat every single time they perform. This keeps them wanting the treat more.

I did this one day with some Sonic tater tots. I bought a small order and drove up to the trash can 10 feet away and through them in. Of course, I crammed 4 in my mouth before I got to the trash can.

But here is where we are all different. For me, simple carbs definitely are a trigger food. If you have an addiction, as I did to carbs, then partaking of them in small quantities prevents you from ever getting over the addiction. Giving them up completely (or "depriving myself"...as people here are so fond of saying) was the only thing that really decreased the craving. Having a few in moderation actually raised the craving.

It's a proven fact that if you want to increase an animal's (or person's) desire for a particular substance, you give it to them intermittently and sparingly. Ask any dog trainer and they will tell you not to give the dog a treat every single time they perform. This keeps them wanting the treat more.

Interesting point and something to seriously think about.