A day of Rededication

[Omlette]

Hi all, I have toyed on and off (more off) with protein power for years. When I follow it correctly, I feel great. My problem is the inner demons I have that call for 2 things: 1) sugar or anything that turns to sugar. Really it is the sweet tastes. 2) My hand/mouth fixation - just the need to constantly put or have something in my mouth. I am munching on sunflower seeds in the hull as I type this.

I have decided that today, May 4th, is my day for a new complete commitment. Saying "NO" to the devil that is in my head. You know that devil and angel that sit on the shoulder, well, my poor little angel has been about beat to death, we are talking life support. So in the Angel's honor, I am going to beat up the devil.

I know that all of the process, sugar laden, high carb, low fiber foods are bad for me. In reality, I am most likely allergic to many, but I over look that for the taste. Whether I am really allergic or not, they are not healthy for my body. I have 80-90 lbs to lose. I am pre-diabetic and insulin resistant according to my doc. (Logically, I already new this)

I know there are no quick fixes, but I must find the inner-determination to make this work. I know what is right, it is just doing it. So today, is my rededication day. Today is the day that I say I am going to get healthy for myself, my son, and my husband.

I will need all of your support and prayers to be able to accomplish this task. It seems that I have told myself something similar to this so many times in the past few years only to fail, but I can not afford to fail this time.

If any of you have good munchie ideas that would be great.

Thanks in advance for all of your support.

[Missy]

You can do it Omlette! WE can do this!!!

I'm so proud of you already!!! :D

That sugar...why...it IS the DEVIL isn't it!!!...but, we can prevail!!!!!!!!

Let me know how I can help? :D

[Gaelen]

If any of you have good munchie ideas that would be great.
Thanks in advance for all of your support.

Omlette...I know it's not the approach that works for everyone, but in the spirit of redirecting a habit that's controlling you into a habit that YOU control, my BEST munchie idea is something that helps you put some control into your muching. Seeds in hulls are good; so are nuts in shells; both require your hands AND your mouth, so that auto-limits when you can do them. Portioning them out and scheduling times when you take five ON PURPOSE to snack on those things, or setting aside places where you can't snack (the car, at the computer, even at your desk at work--go to the designated break area for your five minutes of deviltry) also all work to help you start to put the habit under more control

But probably the most effective way to control an undesirable habit (short of electronic shocks delivered when you try to stray...;)) is to refocus/redirect that energy. When you want to snack, do something active instead. Get up and move around. Do something that involves keeping your hands clean (needlework, knitting, folding laundry) or getting them dirty (washing your hands or your dishes, garden, change the ink cartrige or toner cartridge no one else steps up to do, sort through some dusty files or books...you know the drill) If you hands are busy, they can't convey food to your mouth. If they're clean, some people don't want to get them dirty. If they're dirty, dusty or wet, some people don't want to eat while doing those things. And just generally getting active for even five minutes when what you think you need is a snack may be enough distraction to divert your body's attention.

It can also help to retrain your tastebuds. When you want something sweet, try sucking on a cocktail sized slice of fresh lemon or lime or orange. Suck, don't chew. You may need to start with the orange, the move to a lime or a lemon--but even an orange slice will only be about 3g ECC. The sweet-tart taste will hit the sweet tastebuds without overloading them, and give your tastebuds a chance to grow up a bit. I'm not talking a quarter of an orange, I'm taling a 1/4" thick orange slice ... the kind of thing you'd use to decorate a cocktail glass. It probably won't spike your insulin, and it probably won't initiate full-blown cravings the way larger portions of just-sweet or artifically sweetened stuff might, although YMMV. And sucking the slice and chewing on it will give your mouth something to do while the craving eases off. But if that worries you, squeeze the slice into a glass of water, then let it float in the water and get the sweet-tart hit that way.

(BTW--If salt is a trigger, switching it to salt-sour or salt-bitter with oil-cured olives handled the same way can also do the trick...)

Give your tastebuds some time to readjust, and your brain time to absorb the habit redirection, before you give yourself a managed, scheduled, portion-controlled TASTE of a trigger taste like sweet or salty that IS on plan, like that one inch square of Lindt 70% or 85% dark chocolate, which is sweet-bitter, and which you will be able to appreciate after a little vacation from over-sweetened stuff that dulls your tastebuds' perception of sweetness. Again, YMMV, but this CAN help and many low carbers have reported that they no longer need as much sweetness or find added sweetness 'too sweet." YMMV, but why not give it a shot while your resolve is high?

And check out the recipe forums; there ARE lots of legal foods that can hit a sweet or salty or crunchy craving spot without overdoing it. Hope this helps.

[Shadow]

Omlette - So happy to have you back on board :D! Remember that saying about success being defined as getting on the horse one more time than you've fallen off ;)? You can do this with the right determination - and we're here to cheer you on and support you any way we can!

[gitfiddle]

I can not afford to fail this time.
Omlette, you are talking to someone who came into this WOL diabetic, insulin-resistant, high cholesterol, triglycerides and BP, way overweight and on the train to a heart attack or a stroke. I was desperate and depressed. Most of all I was willing to change. I still have some weight to lose, but all the other markers have improved to the normal range.

You already know how many wonderful people come here to share strength and hope and strategies. Protein Power is working for me every day. I'm not perfect, but it's the most useable tool I've found.

Stick around!;)

[Omlette]

Thank you all so much.