3-weeks clean and a raging appetite

Question...
I am 3 weeks clean today - praise God!  But my appetite has been through the roof.  I am hungry ALL the time.  I am trying to eat healthy, but OMG.  Is this typical, normal?  How long does it last?

[krissy30]

Leah,  Congrats on 3 weeks.  This always happens to me also.  While I am detoxing, I have no appetite and usually lose weight, but after a couple weeks, I am ravenous for anything.....Lately I have been craving lots of salt, which is not like me at all b/c I usually want sweets.  I tend to eat only sugars when I am getting high, but then after I stop I want food that is more good for me.  Like salads, I know what a strange thing to crave.

I think alot of the cravings are due to the fact that while we are using we are not eating properly and so we tend to crave the foods we need or haven't been eating recently.  

I guess everyone is different, but you are not alone.  Sometimes I think I want to eat to replace the drug.  I always gain weight back when I get sober time.  LOL

[Leah1964]

Thanks - I totally didn't eat much while I was using or detoxing.  I have finally gotten to the weight I wanted to be and I don't want to gain.  I am trying to be good and eat healthy, but its definitely more and more often.  I was wondering if it's a physiological or physcological or both.  Sounds like it's both!   And then of course more exercise makes me more hungry.  Oh boy, this is not a battle I want to fight right now!  But I will!  Using is NOT an option.

[krissy30]

I have always been on the heavy side...When I use I tend to "run" more...keep going.

When I was on Methadone I shot up to 310 lbs. or somewhere about there.  I got my gallbladder removed and lost some weight then I started to ween off methadone and lost some more weight.  After tapering from 160mg to about 15 or 20mg I relapsed...it was just too much to fast.  That was the worst relapse I ever had...as we all know they get worse and worse each time.  by the time my parents had me come back to live with them I was down to 150lbs at 5'9" that was pretty small for me.  I was wearing a size 5 and a XS.          I don't know what I just did, but this typing went all whacky on me.  Sorry!  Now that I am only on Oxycodone 40mg/day and not $200/day of heroin I have gotten a lot of weight back.  :( but that is something I have to work on, I seem to substitute food for drugs.  But, I wish you lots of luck, I have to stop this post b/c I don't know what happened to this keyboard.

[krissy30]

ok, that's better.  But, I wish you lot's of luck.  Right now I am still struggling with my addictions, and I try to worry about what I eat, but I just can't obsess over it any more.  But, that will be next to hit the curb (the weight).  LOL  

[merrymaria]

eat your heart out dear.....your body needs extra foods at this time....the same thing happened to me....40 lbs later....i know i traded one addiction for another....and i am working on the weight....i m not stressed over it like i was the pills...the first month i could not stop eating even after big meals...also heavy cravings for sugary foods....it s another control thing...sometimes we have to say no to foods too :(   congrats on 3 weeks....maria :)

[SHELLBELL79]

OMG I ate like a HOG a month after I detoxed of Fentanyl and wanted to eat everything in site! I never felt full either, which caused me one day to just thow up everything I ate. I ended up going back to normal and lost the weight I gained! It's totally normal!!!

[vicki595]

Leah~  I gained a few pounds as well.  I was really thin while on my DOC...and I'm not very tall soooo.  I know I ate more at first. I was feeding my brain. It was pleasurable.
Eating hits those same receptors!!    It begins to level out,for me anyway,once you become aware.  Try not to worry.

Vicki  xo

[Leah1964]

Thanks you guys!  I know part of it's a 'feel good' thing.   I am sure the working out is making me more hungry as well.   Eating veggies just isn't that comforting - lol.  I am committed to go forward no matter what and really want to be more healthy - body, soul and spirit. .  My next goal is to quit smoking, but I need to even out on everything else first.  Thanks for all your encouragement!