I am morbidly obese and crave sweets

[painterlady]

I desperately need to lose weight and I have severe arthritis/bursitis throughout my body limiting my ability to exercise.  My craving for sweets occupies my mind when I try to eliminate them and I am not satisfied when I eat them.  Similar to an alcoholic.  I am tired all the time, have fibromyalgia and extreme allergies to perfume, cologne, smoke and chemicals to name a few.  I don't eat a lot of food but I don't eat very healthy at times either.   I usually eat breakfast from 2 to 4 hours after I get up and get to sleep from 2:00 to 5:00 am.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can stop the sweet/carbohydrate cravings so I can lose weight?  I am 65 yrs old, 5 ft 1 in. and 240 lbs.  Please serious suggestions only!  Thanks

[Barb135]

Maybe you should take meds prescribed by your doctor rather than all the herbs and vitamins.  Some of them may not be good for you, or what to take for one symptom could aggravate another.  

Since you already know that sugar is a major offender with shingles, there's not much I can say there, except that you will never get rid of the shingles until you get rid of the sugar.  I guess I would go back to my original suggestion of finding a nutritionist or dietician to help you with a diet consisting of foods that you can eat without causing problems. Herbs and vitamins definitely have their place in our health issues, but too much of some can be toxic and if they aren't balanced out properly, they can do more damage than good.  It's just like a balanced diet - you need the right amounts of each one in order for them to work their best.  

Good luck.  

[painterlady]

P.S  I rarely take any medication or pain killers, maybe once a month when I really have to do something and the pain is too much.  I read alot and the side affects are to damaging to my joints and health.  I mainly stick to alternative, i.e. herbs, vitamins, arthritis cremes.  

But again, I want to thank all of you for your concern.  It helps to know others understand.  Also, don't think I am not giving consideration to your suggestions but have tried so many things that have failed I am looking for something I haven't tried.  But keep them coming and if I find anything in my search that helps, I will let you know.

[painterlady]

Thank you so much for you encouragement and suggestions.  I really wish I could eat the beans, nuts etc but I have had shingles continuously for 2-3 years or more and even with aggressive medications from the doctor's it still exists and so many foods such as even the healthier ones feed the little shingle critters (lol) for real, it's very restricted and I am trying to build up my immune system which they say is the major problem and using antiviral cremes and pills such as L-lysine.  Only knocks it down some but I can't get rid of it.  And of course sugar is the worst thing!  Just ordered on line a healing and    preventative herbal oil which sounds promising at least from the info and stories.  Let you know if it works.  Sure hope so.

Hot tub sounds so inviting but don't like community tubs and don't have one available.  I tried swimming which I loved but got eye infections from the chlorine.  Life is tough.......

[TrudieC]

I really feel for you.  My father has suffered severely from osteoarthritis which disabled him 30 years ago.  He is also morbidly obese which increases the pain on the joints.

The ladies have given you some very good suggestions and I have a couple more.  For exercise try swimming or else doing some simple exercises in a hot tub.  This would not put any pressure on your joints and the heat of a hot tub may help relax them and your fibromyalgia.

Also, become friends with beans and legumes.  I'm finally losing weight and have done so by improving my diet.  When I am eating a good balance of proteins, carbs (complex) and good fats (canola oil and olive oil) my sugar cravings go away.  I have found that by including all types of beans and lentilis in my diet that it really helps.  I've enjoyed finding delicious ways to cook them.  Do come over to the Healthy Cooking forum too.  We have oodles of healthy but good for you recipes there you may enjoy.  I have found my love of cooking to be so helpful in my weightloss journey as losing weight does not need to be boring.

Good luck with everything.

[lucindamartinez]

Hey!  Been thinking about you!  Wanted to let you know that you are not alone.  I can definitely relate to the fact that since your medical conditions do not 'show' that sometimes family and friends just don't quite understand.  Although our health problems are different...this is just how I feel sometimes as well.  I have a seizure disorder caused by a head injury, as well as asthma, high cholesterol, GERD, and a hiatal hernia.  Most of the time I look and act pretty normally.  (Well...just about as normal as I personally get....lol).  The problem for me is the medications for the head injury and the periodic need for steroids for the asthma really play havoc with weight loss.  Sometimes I plateau for long periods of time (like a month or more) before the scale will budge at all.  Know that you are not alone and my dear friend "Persistence" really pays off.  

Maybe a little visit to your doctor to see if these cravings and difficulty with weight loss might be related to your medications as well might help?  Know that medication difficulties do not make it impossible to loose weight....difficult in my case, but by no means impossible.  Hope to hear from you soon!  

[Barb135]

I am sure life is not easy for you.  The scope of your medical issues is apparently much greater than originally posted; therefore, I strongly suggest that you discuss your issues with your doctor prior to taking any herbs or beginning anything other than a very basic diet and/or exercise program.  There are quite a few supplements (herbs/vitamins, etc) that can interfere with the effectiveness of medications and if you are taking a lot of supplements maybe one (or more) of them is preventing your meds from doing their job.  Be sure to discuss the use of supplements with your doctor or pharmacist.  Even some foods can inhibit the effectiveness of meds (grapefruit should not be eaten with certain cholesterol meds, soy products can inhibit the absorption of thryoid meds, etc)

I just did a quick google search for "how to cure sugar addition" and it came up with several sites with suggestions.  You might try that.  One of the sites did say that to help a sugar addiction, add protein to every meal.  That makes sense because it takes the body longer to break down protein so you stay fuller longer.  

Another thing that I thought of is that maybe you are trying to cut calories too severely (meaning maybe you are trying to get by with eating too little).  You say "as for being too hungry in the morning, my problem is I never feel hunger until my stomach starts hurting" - that's a problem also.  That goes back to the idea of eating smaller, more frequent meals.  If you eat a small breakfast within, say,  30 minutes of getting up (something with high protein) - for example, a hard boiled egg, then something else a couple hours later, you will prevent your stomach from getting so empty that it begins to hurt.  Don't skip meals because you don't feel hungry - set meal times and then stick to them.  In your case, I'd probably suggest at least every 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. It should not be a large meal, but make sure it's healthy and that you cover all the food groups daily.  

Also I still think you would benefit from keeping a food journal, which lists what, how much, # of calories, etc along with how you felt when you ate since you say you eat when you are happy, sad or whatever.  That will let you see exactly what and how much you are really eating.  

And of course - there's still exercise.  You must use more calories than you take in, in order to lose weight.  Provided that your doctor says it's ok, I would still suggest the simple exercises such as sitting in a chair and raising and lowering your legs, using cans of foods or water bottles as weights and raising and lowering your arms, etc.  

Maybe you would be better off to engage a dietician or nutritionist or even a gym and a personal trainer, rather than spending $ on herbs, etc.  I'm definitely not an expert, but it seems that too many of the herbs, etc seem to be all hype that claim to do so great, yet are a waste of $.    There are people who are trained specifically to deal with problems such as yours and it would probably be a great benefit for you to take advantage of their knowledge.  

You could try using stevia, rather than sugar, for a sweetner.  It's natural and has a very sweet taste with no calories (up to a certain amount).  Don't rely on diet sodas or a lot of "diet" foods with artificial sweetners as that can really sabotage a diet and can actually cause you to gain weight rather than lose.  

My last thought is this: you did not get into the condition you are currently in, over night; therefore, you can't expect to get out of it over night.  You really must start out making very small changes and progress slowly.  Here on this community, we call ourselves "turtles" because we try to lose weight slowly and steadily.  

Pick one small thing that you want to change today and start there - like drinking one less soda per day; then each day or two pick one more thing to change.  By making small gradual changes, you will end up making changes that can last a lifetime and you feel like you are deprived; you will hardly notice it at all.  Remember - baby steps.  And be sure to post your successes so we can all celebrate with you.  Ready, Set, GO!!

Merry Christmas.

[painterlady]

Need to clarify.  I go to bed between 3-5:00 am.  Also, I have tried many of the diet tips you guys have suggested and read everything I can get my hands on for self-help.  As for being too hungry in the morning, my problem is I never feel hunger until my stomach starts hurting.  I do drink a lot of water and I don't smoke or drink alcohol but I have approximately 22 different health problems I deal with on a daily basis such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, bursitis, hiatal hernia, carpal tunnel, pinched ulnar nerve, tmj(jaw pain) shingles, mcs(severe allergy to all perfumes, fragrances, chemicals, smoke etc) large hiatal hernia, ripped stomach lining hernia, severe injuries to back and neck causing spasms and pinched nerves, neuropothy/neuralgia in my leg and top of foot, hypothyroid, tinnitis, flat feet with a deformity in the arch, it's too short and my foot puts to much pressure on toes therefore large bunions and infrequent asthma but lands me in the emergency room when I get it.  Since I don't look like I am sick, not many other than my family understands how difficult my life is.  Addiction has permeated my family especially the males so I am very hesitant to take medications other than herbs/vitamins.  

I know one time I had to take prednisone to get rid of bronchritis that didn't respond to medication and I actually felt so normal without pain and could walk normally that even my grandchildren remarked about it.  When the pain returned and my life was back to "normal" I was wishing I could reach for a pill to give me back that feeling.  So I do understand other's desire to increase their medication to get rid of pain.  I am exhausted from just dealing with my problems.  Since I have always been you can do or you can make it person I don't get real down like my oldest brother who committed suicide with less problems.  

[painterlady]

Thanks for you suggestions.  Yes I do have a thyroid problem.  Also, I do get between 7 to 8 hours sleep but it's interrupted from the pain of bursitis/arthritis in my hips and knees as well as a severe case of fibromyalgia which keeps me tossing and waking up during the night to straighten out the sheets and night shirt since even this causes me so much pain that I wake up.  What I meant was I get to sleep between 3 and 5:00 am.  I can only sleep on my right side since I get verdigo on my left which dr's can't determine cause of and sleeping on my back puts my low back out and my stomach is uncomfortable since I have a rip in the stomach wall(hernia) as well as a large hiatal hernia.  I also endure pain from continual bouts of shingles.  Life is not easy for me and sleep is not a welcome thing.  I desperately need to lose weight to help my whole body since being so short and heavy, it puts such strain on my whole body.

My cravings are worse just after I eat and late in the evening.  I also am psychologically addicted since I use it for comfort when I am happy, stressed or sad.  Growing up, my family was so poor, our dessert was sugared dried oats or a pile of sugar on bread that we melted in the oven broiler.  All my life I have been drawn to sweets.  I just want to be free.  I've read many alternative articles which promise to relieve sugar cravings with their supplements but I am taking many expensive supplements and nothing works!

[lucindamartinez]

I agree so much with everything that Barb has said here.  Personally, I find myself craving sweets and carbs when I have gone too long without eating.  When at all possible, I eat smaller amounts more frequently and find that it helps a great deal with these cravings.  

I know that exercise can be painful with your medical conditions and will be somewhat limited at first...but I am certain that you will find it tremendously helpful in the long run.  Start very slowly and add slowly to your routine as you are able to.  I find that exercise helps me to not feel so fatigued all of the time as well due to the good old release of those endorphins!  (Fatigue is a common side effect from two of my medications, so this is something that I battle with as well.)  It takes some time to build up your exercise level and become accustomed to, but it is so worth it...I promise you.  

I do not sleep very well at night either...but three hours would definitely not be enough for me on an ongoing basis.  Is this related to your medical conditions, maybe something that the doctor might be able to help with?  

Keep on checking in with everyone here...there is a lot of support and everyone is here for you on good days and bad.  Perfect place to be when you want to work on a shared goal with so many motivated and supportive people.  ; )  

[Barb135]

Welcome to the community.  You have taken a big first step by posting to the board for help and there are a lot of people here with great ideas.

My first question would have to be whether or not you have seen a doctor to make sure you don't have underlying medical problems, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc.    

You say you "don't eat a lot of food, but don't eat very healthy at times either".  That may be part of your problem.  It's best to eat several small meals throughout the day rather than 2-3 big meals.  Also try to stick with as close to fresh as you can get - fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, low fat dairy.  There are a lot of web sites that can help you figure out how many calories you need daily, and come up with meal plans, etc.  It's also a good idea to keep a food journal and record everything that you eat - sometimes we eat a lot more than we think we do.  It's also a good idea, when you record the food you eat, to record how you feel at that time.  That might help you figure out whether there are emotional triggers causing you to crave certain things.  

And then there's exercise.  If you have fibromyalgia, etc there's a good chance that you are in considerable pain and don't move around lot, but sometimes actually moving helps relieve pain more than staying in one place.  I have arthritis also and I find that the less I move around, the worse the pain is.  The best exercise to start with is walking and I always recommend an inexpensive pedometer to track how far you are actually going.  Also there are websites from which you could get ideas for simple exercises that you can start out with until you gain enough muscle strength to move on to more vigorous activity.  For instance, you could try sitting in a chair and simply raise your legs several times.  Or try using canned foods or bottles of water for weights and simply raise and lower them to use your arms.  Or simply walking around your house or yard - anything to get moving and start building muscle.  And remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so even as you are building muscle, you might not actually see a difference on the scale for a while.  

You say that you get to sleep from 2:00 to 5:00 am, do you suffer from insomnia or is your sleep pattern just messed up?  Getting plenty of sleep is essential to good overall health, as well as for losing weight.

Eating breakfast 2 to 4 hrs after you get up may not be good either as by then you are probably way too hungry.  If you eat a small meal within an hour or so of when you get up and then another small meal every couple hours or so, you will keep your blood sugar levels more stable and that will help control the craving for sweets/carbs.  In addition, try to eat lots of fiber and protein as they tend to fill you up quicker with less calories and because they take longer for the stomach to break down, will keep you feeling full longer. It also helps me to eat an apple or drink a glass of water about 1/2 hr before meals because then I'm not so hungry.  Another trick is to use a smaller plate - you can still have a plate full and eat less food!!  

Hope this helps and there are others in the community who will have lots of good ideas, so do come back often and let us know how you are doing.  

Merry Christmas