Somebody please stop me from eating potato chips again!

I don't seem to be doing this maintenance thing very well.  My exercise is just fine but I'm craving potato chips ALL THE TIME!  They were my nemesis before and now that I've reached my goal weight, I just want them constantly.  At the rate I'm going, I'll need to do 1 hour of intense cardio just to make up for the potato chips.  Anybody else have this issue?

I am not necessarily recommending you do this, but since I definitely like eating potato chips, I on occasion eat Lay's or Ruffles' "light" potato chips with half the calories.  These are cooked in something called olestra.  I really liked the Ruffles and had no negative effects from eating them.  As with all lowfat options with new additives, some people caution against eating anything "not natural."  I have also eaten Lay's Light potato chips, which were good, but I think the olestra did cause me to have the "heebie jeebies" a little bit.  So if you feel you need to cut back on the calories a bit, give the Ruffles Light a try.  I have eaten the Ruffles over a dozen times and have never had the "olestra" effect that some people seem to have with olestra.

What about baked lays?

I went through a phase a few years ago where I HAD to have a bag of lay's potato chips every single day. I think it was the salt that I craved. I don't remember how I got over it, I think I just ate too many and finally got tired of them. They are so good though..

All the time, why potato chips have you tried to substitute to something else. If potato chips are the craving try a low calorie kind or try to eat a smaller bag. 10oz bag change to a 7oz bag after two weeks change to a 4oz bag until you get sick from eating them and can call it quits.

I think I'm going to have to start buying smaller snack size bags...it seems to be easier to eat just one small bag than to stop myself when I have a larger bag open.  I've tried the baked Lays and the light varieties but it seems to be a portion control issue with me....Aaaargh...heading to the gym soon, gotta work off the half a bag I just ate.

Sometimes pickle spears work for me when I have a chip craving. You get some salt and crunch with basically no calories. Obviously a bad idea if you're watching your sodium, but since I don't care about that, I won't even log them.

Will any of these alternatives work?

• low calorie Orville Redebacher (sp) microwave popcorn
• air pop pop corn
• soy nuts
• wheat nuts

I usually bake thinly-sliced sweet potato in the oven, and they come out just as crisp as potato chips. They're pretty dang tasty, too.

I'm not sure if it's the salt or the crunch that you are craving.

But, my biggest recommendation is: Wheat Thins!

They may be in a bit of a smaller package, but they pack the *Crunch* AND the Salt, that you might be craving..

You can add cheese on top; tomato basil; or just eat them by the boxload, like I do.

I've sworn by them since 2002, and am only twenty pounds away from my goal-weight, but, I fluxuate often; due to my pcp's steady eye on my weight loss and gaining habits.

But, I notice, everytime I indulge in them: the pounds shed and they shed FAST!

I vote for popcorn! (air pppped or the light microwave stuff).

It's a whole grain too :)

li_li:  I agree.  I do eat some microwave light popcorn, but more often I pop some in extra virgin olive oil in my Stir Crazy and add no salt or butter.  But I have been reading lately that there is a chemical in the liner of the microwave bags that can be harmful.  I don't know enough about that issue to form a definite opinion.  I will on occasion continue to eat microwave popcorn.

Original Post by shane_paladin:

But I have been reading lately that there is a chemical in the liner of the microwave bags that can be harmful.  I don't know enough about that issue to form a definite opinion.  I will on occasion continue to eat microwave popcorn.

I've heard this too. I actually don't have a microwave at home (though most people do!) but sometimes bring some to work. So, since, my air popper bit the dust I also pop in a little bit of canola oil (find it pops better than with olive oil?) then skip the butter and just use salt...my mouth is watering!

li_li:  I haven't had any problems with using evoo in my Stir Crazy.  It doesn't smoke as it can if I let it get too hot in a skillet, for example.  I really like my Stir Crazy--the revolving bar keeps the popcorn from sticking and very few kernels are left over.  I agree--I could go for a big bowl of popcorn right now!

ALSO:http://www.recipezaar.com/Cauliflower-Popcorn -Roasted-Cauliflower-115153

I haven't had potato chips in...two years? more, maybe?

seriously. no potato chips. I don't even remember what they taste like, which I'm sure is what keeps me from craving them.

any way, pop corn is amazing for cravings, but honestly if you are thinking about potato chips and you want them SO bad, I'd suggest deciding a set amount and pairing them with a meal...maybe as a side to a nice soup or sandwich, a typically low calorie meal.