“We all have cravings from time to time, and some people struggle more than others. Whenever I’m helping someone with an issue, I ALWAYS go back to the root cause. There is no #1 magic fix for cravings because the root cause for each person is going to be different. So, investigation and treatment on a person-by-person basis is key." Whitney Marema

 

BUT... there are some tips and hacks that can apply to everyone or at least most people.

 

#1. Unbalanced blood sugar and insulin spikes and dips: The fix here is that Dr. Marema & I  coach people to eat in a way that will balance your blood sugar. Since our blood sugar spikes higher and dips lower and faster after bariatric surgery, we must generally eat lower sugar foods in order to avoid the massive drop that we experience AFTER we eat something high in sugar and/or carbohydrate (starch ie bread, pasta, crackers). It is when our blood sugar is low that we feel an intense need to eat MORE sugar or starch. It is our bodies signaling that our blood sugar is too low. Symptoms include lightheadedness, shakiness, nervousness, and desire to eat.  If this sounds like what you experience… the answer lies in your diet. Avoid ever eating sugar or starch by itself. If you are going to eat sugar or starchy foods, make sure you do it near the end of a high protein or fiber containing meal. These foods will help slow the absorption of the sugar and blunt the massive blood sugar rise/dip scenario.

 

#2. “I just LOVE sweets and can’t resist them”. This was me for a while and my answer came in finding substitutions that I came to love with time. For me, I do not allow irresistible junk food into the house any longer because I KNOW what will happen. I will eat it until its gone, feel weak and powerless and it will show up on the scale. I got tired of the “cookie cycle” and  cookies and I officially broke up. After some time, they just no longer call me anymore. Some tips for substitutions include Fresh or frozen fruit with a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream, a chocolate or caramel hot tea with cream and monk fruit/stevia, a keto dessert using cream cheese & healthy sugar alternative. (easy to find on Pinterest) or some dark chocolate (with coconut, almonds, peanut butter).

 

#3. Intense sugar and carb cravings can be a symptom of a yeast (Candida) overgrowth in the gut. Since yeast feeds on sugar, overgrowths can make you CRAZY craving sugar because it’s literally the yeast begging to be fed. When people tell me they are dreaming or obsessing about treats, I always suspect this. Since I practice Functional Medicine in my clinic, I can test for yeast overgrowths and find that it is fairly common. You might suspect this if you also have skin rashes, fungal toenail issues, frequent vaginal yeast infections, or a white coated tongue that doesn’t scrape off when you brush. Treating yeast overgrowths is done with antifungal medications, herbal antifungal medications, certain probiotics, and starving the yeast of their food. If you think this could be you, talk to your doctor or find a functional medicine practitioner for testing.

#4. Using food to numb or feel better: We can’t forget that we used food to numb out negative feelings in the past, and that our brains still look for relief of emotional pain and stress from food. This rewiring takes significant effort to overcome and find other modalities to deal with our big feelings. Engaging with a support program or therapist may be necessary here. But, in the meantime, many people find journaling their feelings to be a good first step in processing feelings and avoiding the snack drawer. We can’t leave this part out! Finding ways to process our big feelings either by talking to someone we trust or by getting pen to paper is critical in healing our urge to numb out with food (or alcohol). I know this can seem “woo-woo” but unexpressed emotions lead to overeating or seeking carbs and sugar, because these raise our dopamine (feel good brain neurotransmitter) temporarily. So, we MUST find an outlet for these negative feelings outside of the pantry.

If you need help learning or applying these strategies, then working with Dr. Marema & I in coaching is your next best step. Book a FREE Bariatric Solution Strategy Call and let's chat about your options! https://link.flowi.io/widget/bookings/tbsm-discoverycall