I am supposed to stick to a liquid diet. But I am having a lot of trouble making myself stay away from the foods that make me sick. It wasn't so hard the first two years because I was just to sick to eat. Now I am fighting cravings that I imagine are simular to a drug addict trying to stay away from drugs. Only my drug or choice is food- crackers, rice, potatoes, salad, steam vegtables and all the other things I can no longer eat. I am so tired of the soups, slimfast, smoothies & the like that are my regular diet. Has anyone heard of anything that might help. I started taking Hoodia a few days ago but so far that has not helped much. I appreciate your suggestions. I know that I am much luckier then those of you that cannot tolerate even liquids.
Nancy
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Does anyone have a secret for staying away from forbidden foods?
18 replies
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- Newest first
- By Trixie617
- Posted August 25, 2008 at 10:58 am
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Good Morning Nancy -- I am not sure that I can offer any real help as I struggle with the same issue x 1 year now... liquids get so very boring. And then I will get re-motivated & try new receipes before falling back into the ensure, smoothie rut. That is really what it is a rut! Just wanted you to know that you are not alone...
Tracie
- By Kate1
- Posted August 25, 2008 at 7:39 pm
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Hi, Nancy. I wish I had an answer for you... I am lucky that I can usually eat some solid food, although I absolutely revert back to the Ensure and smoothie diet, too. Today I ate a banana with peanut butter and then some chocolate a little while later. I really paid for it- and despite how badly I felt for several hours, I know I will eat it again (especially the chocolate). The pain and nausea have to be really, really bad before I will give these few small things up again. So, to some extent (although I think my problems are less severe) I can understand, and I really wish I had more to offer. Food is just too much of a part of life and it's not easy to have such problems with it.
Hang in there.
Kate
- By NancyL
- Posted August 25, 2008 at 8:43 pm
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Hi Kate,
I am lucky that I can eat chocolate. But sugar just makes me want to eat more food. This GI stuff is for the birds!
Nancy
- By Skinny
- Posted August 28, 2008 at 3:27 am
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Have just watched something on TV about how part of the brain will crave missing nutrients and drive you to seek them out from wherever you can in an emergency. It may not just be the texture, it may be missing nutirents resulting from your restricted diet ?? If you can work out whats missing that might help!
Skinny
- By TheCatzMeow
- Posted August 28, 2008 at 7:47 pm
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Nancy,
I know what you are going through and I can't offer any suggestions because I have lousy will power and get so frustrated that I too eat what I'm not suppose to. I pay dearly when I do. I'm not a cook and have such low energy that I don't even try to read cookbooks and try new things that I probably can eat. I wish you well and I do understand your frustration. What I would do for a salad and steak right now....P.S. I was told I could eat some vegetables, but they had to be peeled, and cooked to mush. Good Luck. Cathy
- By NancyL
- Posted August 29, 2008 at 8:28 am
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Thank you Skinny, Cathy and everyone for your words of wisdom and support. I have a bad cold at the moment and that seems to have killed the appetite for the moment. However the cure is worse then the problem! LOL!
My craving could be tied to something missing in my diet. This is such a weird way to eat for me. I lived on mainly fresh fruit, steamed vegetables and huge salads all my life until 2 years ago. A huge part of it is just the enjoyment of crunching down on something or chewing something that I miss. Chewing gum kept me happy for a little while. Oh Well! Life goes on and we make the most of what we can eat!
Nancy
- By mphotographer
- Posted August 29, 2008 at 8:36 am
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Hi Nancy-
I can understand your cravings. I miss salads too! I, like others here, am able to eat 2 brands of crackers and it gives me the crunch satisfaction. I am so sorry that you can only drink liquids-it would get really boring. I just want to caution you and everyone about Ensure. It is loaded with sugar (fructose-the worst kind according to my nutritionalist). There are other ways to get your protein with less sugar (protein powder and plain yogurt). You are right, that sugar causes more craving and I crave it too! Take care and I hope that one day you will be able to eat more-mphotographer
- By maryfend
- Posted August 31, 2008 at 4:03 pm
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Hello! I can appreciate your dilemma! I too have nausea on a daily basis! I can appreciate the eating and dealing with worse nausea from ingesting food of any kind! I really don't have an answer for you, cause we're all so different in what we can tolerate from day to day! The main staple of my diet is Ensure, Smart water! For solids it consist of baked potato, crackers, pretzels, dry cereal! Not all of these or everyday! Iam pretty much on a liquid diet and kind of try and rotate! It's either one or the other! No happy medium! I guess if nothing else at least you know you're not alone! I get tired of my drab diet as well! I never had a problem with food before i was dx'd with Gp! Now I have all kinds of issues with it! Go figure! Hope you are having a good tummy day! What do you take for your meds?? I take Phenergan, Zofran and medical marijuana! The mm has helped me gain 10 lbs! I have to be very careful cause if i experiment with food, well NAUSEA! All I cn say is take one day at a time and give it your best! Hugs, Mary
- By NancyL
- Posted August 31, 2008 at 8:10 pm
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Thank you everyone for your encouragement and support. I rearranged my kitchen and put all the forbidden foods behind closed doors and filled up the other cabinets with a variety of soups, jellos and herb teas to try to keep my satisfied!
Nancy
- By Kerri-ann
- Posted September 1, 2008 at 11:04 pm
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Nancy,
I too stuggle with the liquids. I get an urge to eat and do then pay the price. I try to do 3 days or 4 mostly liquids and mushy baby food like stuff I make myself, ground chicken, steamed veggies (to mush) and endulge some other days. I'm in the same dilemma, and right now am paying dearly. If you have ideas let me know-Kerriann
- By SeussRN1
- Posted September 3, 2008 at 10:10 pm
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LOL - I think that we all have the same issue. I am TPN dependent at this time - although having a "mandated MD TPN trial period with no TPN and it isn't going well.
Here is what I have discovered first of it is natural process to eat - that's what we are suppose to do! I have discover that sometimes if I get a taste of th item before the craving is to bad I fair much better. About 2 mo ago I was on a BIG french fry kick - so one day I decided I needed the large size with cheese and bacon - lets just say it took me a week to recover and I was very sick. I also found out that truely if I really must have then just do it in sm. controlled portions. I live alone so I don't keep those things around.
Other food suggestions for you that might try are: crushed ice - like a snow cone works great for sweet tooth and you can get fruit flavors. Have you tried some applesauce or baby food? I also use to mix low fat ice cream with skim milk, protein powder packet and sigar free carnation instant breakfast in the blended for a tasty little milk shake. You may laugh - bu thave you tried the goldfish? I found that baby goldfish crackers aren't to bad and they are tiny and crucnh and come in a cheddar flavor!
Good luck!
Beth
- By Skinny
- Posted September 4, 2008 at 4:49 am
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Another idea for when you are in private! Put it in your mouth, enjoy chewing it, and spit it out!
- By NancyL
- Posted January 31, 2009 at 4:44 pm
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Hi Janice,
I think the mental craving was by passing any benefit from the hoodia. I am an emotional eater and right now this week I am in the best place mentally I have been for awhile. Still eating the bad stuff- but not in the quanities I was before. I hate how focused I have been on food this past 6-8 months. I have gained two sizes and counting. But I need to celebrate that mentally I am not under as much stress as before.
Nancy
- By spiritlove
- Posted September 17, 2009 at 3:22 pm
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Seems to be a general consensus of opinion.
I'm still on solids with a lot of no nos. I know I can't handle chocolate but sometimes early enough I might get by.
The other night my husband offered me a snack size Milky Way. Unfortunately, by time I got to it, it was far past my cutoff time!
I paid for it all night Monday and Tuesday. It's now Thursday and still belching.
I had a terrific dr. in Buffalo NY. I had been violently ill for a week before I could see him. I really dreaded admitting my sin! I told him I ate some chicken wings and he replied "You're human. Sometimes you'll fall off the wagon. Just remember you're the one who'll pay and enjoy." There are times when it's worth and others, but we all know that story.
Just do your best and don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake.
spiritlove
- By prayer
- Posted September 18, 2009 at 11:50 am
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Maybe you could eat souffle's, pudding, yogurt, applesauce, toast, mashed potatoes. These might not hurt too bad if you eat them slowly
- By Kerri-ann
- Posted September 19, 2009 at 10:11 pm
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I too struggle with the solids then the liquids, once I get to eat food ( mushy cooked veggies, boiled fruit, etc,,,) and then have to go on liquids I crave constantly. I have no answers I just pay a very big price for forbidden foods............ Best of luck to all of us- We need it!!!- Kerriann
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