Fell off the wagon, off the path, down the mountain............

I sabotaged myself this last week BIG TIME.  I am not a sweets eater, and managed to get thru Thanks Giving and Christmas with no pain or temptation. And I lost 12 lbs!!  January I seemed to freeze even though I upped the gym and yoga.

Then last weekend I had a cinnamon bun. 4 days passed, then I had a caramel dessert. Next day cinnamon rolls.  Saturday 2 cinnamon rolls. Sunday 4 cup cakes and loads of crap. Yesterday 2 cinnamon rolls, today 2 cup cakes!! What the fountain!!! I don't eat that kind of stuff normally....I don't / didn't have a sweet tooth.  My curse has always been cheese, chips and dips. I am soooo craving cinnamon buns...WHY?????  I don't think I have eaten one since high school before this last month.[ 20 yrs ago!]  I thought having 2 on Saturday would make me feel sick [which it did], and stop the cravings. Nope.

I feel like I am being haunted by the cinnamon bun ghost.  Seriously, even sitting here feeling like total crap, and having seen the scale and gained 4 lbs.....I am still wondering if there are any left at the market up the road.

I am so sad and so out of control......why, why, why...and how do I stop.

it's okay, alyson.  you took a vacation.  it's over.  and you still have legs: get up and start climbing.  you know what to do; you've done it before.

sounds like you've been depriving yourself pretty severely.  you need a new strategy.  instead of denying yourself for weeks on end, let yourself have a small treat every day.  this shouldn't be all-or-nothing - it should be a little of everything.

The only solution is to up and migrate to africa.

Seriously, if there was a "cinnabon" anywhere near me, I would be in both heaven and hell at the same time.

On a more serious note, is it possible to portion in one of these deserts EVERY day? Even if you can only eat 1/4 of a cinnamon bun, it might be enough to help you keep control until this episode passes? 

Thanks Feanor! Unfort. I cannot eat only 1/4...the whole thing just vanishes.:-) I just hate the fact that this is something I normally have no interest in what-so-ever! sigh.

PS. I come from Africa....they have them there too:-):-) Although I really had no interest in them when I grew up there.....so I don't think its homesickness.  Weird, weird....and I had my midlife crises already, so its not that..... Please tell one doesn't have more than one midlife crises!! :-):-)

Original Post by pgeorgian:

it's okay, alyson.  you took a vacation.  it's over.  and you still have legs: get up and start climbing.  you know what to do; you've done it before.

sounds like you've been depriving yourself pretty severely.  you need a new strategy.  instead of denying yourself for weeks on end, let yourself have a small treat every day.  this shouldn't be all-or-nothing - it should be a little of everything.

Thanks so much  for the kind words, Pgeorgian!  I have been doing the small treats with cheese...which is my all time favorite food in the world, and the hardest to give upand control. 
This sugar thing just snuck up on me....so weird.

But like you say, I will climb again tomorrow. Thanks for listening!

 

you're welcome ;-)

you know, i'm also not normally into sweets, but something about being so focused on eating well makes me crave a little something.  i usually keep some hershey's kisses (or hugs) or dark chocolate almonds in the cupboard and have two or three after dinner.  just sort-of finishes off the day, you know?

then i brush my teeth.  once i've brushed my teeth, it's over.

Original Post by alysonm:

Thanks Feanor! Unfort. I cannot eat only 1/4...the whole thing just vanishes.:-) I just hate the fact that this is something I normally have no interest in what-so-ever! sigh.

PS. I come from Africa....they have them there too:-):-) Although I really had no interest in them when I grew up there.....so I don't think its homesickness. Weird, weird....and I had my midlife crises already, so its not that..... Please tell one doesn't have more than one midlife crises!! :-):-)

Hm, I see. I've been in the same situation occasionally-- never ever bring rice krispy treats near me! Or even leave the ingredients to make them anywhere in the house. =o

I had a hard time adjusting from my own winter vacation this year. The only solution I found (it did work, though) was to rid my surroundings of treats entirely. Unfortunately I did this by eating them all. But once they were gone, it did work, because I won't buy any more. =P

I've decided to give myself a treat day, and it's Thursday.. when I do get something, though, I know I will only buy 1 portion, so when it is gone it's gone. And I live alone in a dorm, which is why "removing the temptation" works for me. If you don't live alone, might be a lot harder.

edit: I know it's stupid, but I also do things like hide my peanut butter in on a low shelf with the label facing the wall, and keeping my milk (for cereal) in the shared dorm fridge which is in another room-- even though I have my own mini that I keep veggies in. It sort of helps.

That is so weird that it's not your usual weakness.  What was it that drove you to the first one.  Was it a stressful event?  I always want more sweets at TOM. 

If you can cold turkey is your best bet but that's easier said than done at times.  Especially since I have trouble getting back on the band wagon after I have strayed.  But just think about how frustrating it is to have to relose the weight you had already lost.  Instead of thinking of it as gaining 4 pounds, think of it as being 8 pounds further from where you want to be.

There are Pillsbury Sugar Free or Pillsbury Reduced Fat Cinn. Rolls that you could use for a treat until the craving ends.  They are good, I have bought them before for my children.  I try to keep their sugar intake down.

Good luck, I know that it's not easy or we all wouldn't be here!

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone.  I've been off the wagon since last week right before my TOM and I'm spiralling.  I found myself moving myself farther and farther away from the site, not logging my food and not exercising.  But I am now realizing I will not meet my goals or even get close if I stay on this path.  Thanks for sharing your story and I wish you the best.  I'm with you and this is a new day, so let's jump back on!

Chattynoel ~ Thanks for the words of wisdom & support. 

The only thing that happened in the last few weeks was that I became a US citizen.  I think that might have been it.  It was something that I had put off doing for years, and really did not think it would be a big deal for me as I have lived here for over 10 years, and will never go back home to live.  But it was a big deal....I was really excited but also very sad. I thought I had handled it, but I guess I didn't.  Still have not sent in my passport application, so obviously I am still hanging on to something.

Wow.  Well, I feel better now...knowing that I am not completely losing my mind.  Not that I am professing to be sane!! Hee,hee.

Am going to try cold turkey, but thanks for the Pillsbury sugar free tip!! Good to know. thanks again.  Off to exercise and find a shrink.:-)

Original Post by slimtwinmom:

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone.  I've been off the wagon since last week right before my TOM and I'm spiralling.  I found myself moving myself farther and farther away from the site, not logging my food and not exercising.  But I am now realizing I will not meet my goals or even get close if I stay on this path.  Thanks for sharing your story and I wish you the best.  I'm with you and this is a new day, so let's jump back on!

Thanks slimtwinmom!!!!  You are so not alone!:-)  You have my admiration for even trying this with small twins to raise!! Hang in there.

Also maybe there is something in the cinnamon (maybe I dont' know) that your body is craveing/ low on......Maybe try doing oatmeal or something and adding cinnamon to that.....

hmmm... like you i RARELY crave anything sweet.... salty and cheesey stuff is my weakness, but sweets are not a problem... i have a bowl full of chocolates on my coffee table i haven't touched and a chocolate-chocolate chip bread made specifically for me from scratch that is amazing sitting in my fridge i haven't touched ... i'm actually trying to find a way to eat it cuz i don't want it going to waste... for some reason gimmie a bag of cheese chex mix and it's completely worth the weight gain! chocolate... not so much.

 i'm on a tangent, sorry.

anyway, i think maybe once you got a taste of the sweet stuff your formerly hibernating sweet tooth kicked in to gear!  it's possible that even though you weren't craving it and depriving yourself, once you had a taste your taste buds were shocked into action by something they hadn't tasted in a while! and now they just can't get enough! my guess would be that it would pass... but in the meantime.... i'd say let yourself have some, just try to keep the portions right... maybe if you can't do half at a time, a whole one every other day?  or one cupcake instead of 2?  keep them out of sight too.. if you buy a box you will finish it... if you just buy one you might be satisfied... you also might decide you don't feel like walkign or traveling to get another one.

 hope that helps, good luck.

edit: and yup i agree with the person above me, if your craving the cinnamon part try adding that to something else, or if it's just a sugar craving a small piece of candy or something instead.

This is not a diet. This is your LIFE. Do you want to go through life never eating yummy sweets, or cheesey salty things? No, I don't think so.

The trick is to not deprive yourself so you stuff your face once you hit the breaking point. The way to do it is to portion out maybe 100-200 calories a day for a treat. A pudding cup, half a cupcake, a low-fat scone, a scoop of frozen yogurt with kool whip, a handful of cheetos or cheezits, a small amount of nachoes with low-fat cheese and black beans...etc,.

Those things aren't the best for you, health wise. But in small amounts, they can make you appreciate your taste buds, while keeping your weight loss.

Trick is to know how to stop. That's the hard part :D 

I understand your pain, I am not a sweets eater either, But I had some cookies that were out of this world. Of course I broke weak and gorged. I think you are funny and smart, and you already know what to do. Quit beating yourself up, and keep up the humor, at least you are happy!

I'm a huge sweets eater; I'll eat honey, maple syrup, and caramel plain when the self control is lacking. ):

I would love to know how to curb my sweet tooth once and for all, because all that sugar is just not good for me! I think quitting cold turkey is best for avoiding sweet breads like cupcakes and cinnamon rolls - don't buy 'em and don't eat 'em. Also, don't feel down about any weight re-gain you might have had be happy you've stopped it now and it's not anymore. :)

Goodluck~!

The healing effects of Cinnamon

Hey who knows why your body wanted it I was just thinking, maybe you should find yourself another cinnamonny treat (is that a word?) ....how about some low fat cream cheese mixed with vanilla and cinnamon and a dash of splenda or so and then eat that on toast? Still has the taste and not the sugar or the cals !

Hi Alysonm,

Got a suggestion if I may.  Quaker Oats makes Apple Cinnamon  little crunchy rice cakes which in my opinion mimicks a a cinnamon roll.  There are 8 of in a bag; 60 calories that's it.  They kill my Cinnabon craving! 

For all of those chocolate lovers once again 8 little crunchy cakes in a bag that is REALLY good. 

I'm not a sweet needer but if I should decide I am looking for something what a great alternative to hundreds of empty calories.  Quaker Oats and their products also earn top grades on this site for nutrition.

The best of everything to everyone! 

Its horrible when we feel this way. I feel  that way once a month.  Usually when I am about to get my period.

I can't stop eating. Once I start eating anything sweet. That's it! I will crave and eat everything in sight! Horrible. Stupid, yes!

I feel like crap after. I want to cut of my hands so I won't put more food in my mouth. Hilarious! Dumb!

But I guess sometimes it happens we slip. We fall. We just get back up. Get on the wagon. Do something about. Try to stop. Drink a ot of fluids. Really control ourselves. Exercise.

I still fall down once in awhile. But I try not to beat myself up too much. It would be terrible to pick on ourselves. We must love ourselves. =)

We can do it. =)

How about this recipe?  I think there's only 129 calories per croissant, which is kind of a lot, but it's still really tasty and you can keep them around for awhile :)

1 can of Pillsbury reduced fat crescent rolls

Nestle semi-sweet chocolate morsels

2 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon

 

Preheat the oven according to the package directions and unroll the crescents on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mix and put a teaspoon or so of the chocolate chips on the roll.  Roll them up, sprinkle some more cinnamon on top, bake for ten minutes, then enjoy!  The chocolate gets all gooey and melty, and the cinnamon is a great flavor to add to that.  While they're still not the greatest thing for you, they're probably better for you than cinnamon rolls.

Wow, thanks everyone for all the ideas, recipes and support!! Its great to know I am not alone and that there are other ways to get my fix.:-)

One other thing I picked up was that I had been eating a lot of sweet potatoes and yams with cinnamon....but stopped a few weeks ago, not sure why.  But that may have been what kicked the whole thing off.  I do love yams.:-)

Anyhoo, climbing back up the mountain, hopefully to find the path and locate the wagon soon once again! :-)  Thanks a mil for all the input...much appreciated!!