Hard to watch people regain

[Radiojane]

Cravings exist for a reason. For example: MY SIL is pregnant. Do you know what she's craved? Beef, ice cream, cheese, salmon and broccoli.

So: Fat, protein, calcium...

Before she got pregnant she lived on (and I'm not kidding), chicken breasts and ice tea.

Pregnancy is an extreme example, but usually our body is giving us a cue for something it needs. Modern consumption has messed up our readings of those cues.

[Palestrina]

Originally Posted by Radiojane

Cravings exist for a reason. For example: MY SIL is pregnant. Do you know what she's craved? Beef, ice cream, cheese, salmon and broccoli.

So: Fat, protein, calcium...

Before she got pregnant she lived on (and I'm not kidding), chicken breasts and ice tea.

Pregnancy is an extreme example, but usually our body is giving us a cue for something it needs. Modern consumption has messed up our readings of those cues.

So true. When I was pregnant I gave in to all my cravings, ate when I was hungry, yhr thought of eating when I wasn't hungry or past full was disturbing. I lost weight during pregnancy and ended up the lowest weight is been in my adult life the moment i gave birth. Plus i felt beautiful, entitled to eat, and took really good gentle care of myself and others did too. When a prego lady asks for fried chicken you give it to her without question and without judgement byhats IE in a nutshell, i experienced its benefits first hand and im going back there.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wannabeskinny

So true. When I was pregnant I gave in to all my cravings, ate when I was hungry, yhr thought of eating when I wasn't hungry or past full was disturbing. I lost weight during pregnancy and ended up the lowest weight is been in my adult life the moment i gave birth. Plus i felt beautiful, entitled to eat, and took really good gentle care of myself and others did too. When a prego lady asks for fried chicken you give it to her without question and without judgement byhats IE in a nutshell, i experienced its benefits first hand and im going back there.

The world would be a better place if everyone treated themselves and others like they treat pregnant women.

[canadjineh]

Originally Posted by Wannabeskinny

It's not simplistic, I'm just pointing out that the apple analogy doesn't apply to anyone. I don't think anyone should judge their hunger based on the capacity to eat something they don't want to eat.

I know hunger doesn't mean just for food... we can have a hunger or need for love, acceptance, etc.
And I'm not talking about eating something we DON'T want to eat, I'm talking about eating something we like less (not hate - staying away from extremes here). In no way does this correlate with the sleeping on a cold sidewalk if we feel tired. More like choosing a comfortable bed instead of the Super-Duper King Size Massaging Heated bed (which is really something we may crave but don't really need for good health - mental and physical). But, hey, I'll stop here because I don't want you to feel I am disagreeing with you - we are on the same page generally. Good luck in your journey.

[banananutmuffin]

When I was pregnant, at midnight, I would send hubby out for a mcds quarter-pounder value meal (with fries and sprite), supersized, plus a filet o' fish. And I'd eat the whole thing myself. So... not all pregnancy cravings are our bodies telling us what we need. Unless I needed a boatload of chemicals and preservatives, plus a burger made with meat from a million different cows.

[Radiojane]

no... but I'd bet that your body wanted sodium. Unless of course it was purely a cry for calories in any form. Those happen too.


There's a list somewhere that tells you what you're most likely lacking in based on your craving and what a healthier alternative is that will sate that need. I should see if I can find it.

[berryblondeboys]

Ok, this thread has gotten WAY off topic, but there are certain cravings I feel the body is crying for something it needs and certain cravings that the body is tricked into thinking it needs.

When I was pregnant the first time, from about 5 months on I needed watermelon every, single, day. I figured there was something to it, so I indulged.

When I get red meat cravings, I usually listen to them because it probably means my iron is low (though I eat TONS of green leafies)

When it screams for sodium - it's usually right before TTOM and while I would say I don't "need" more sodium, who says that's true? Maybe my body does need more during that time.

BUT... when it craves a donut, or oreos or the like, I know it's all about the body wanting quick energy - and I try to avoid that. And it usually begs for that quick energy when I'm overly tired/sleep deprived.

So, while I don't follow IE exactly, I do listen to some things within reason.

[SouthernMaven]

With my first pregnancy I was so sick the first five months I barely ate anything. But once that finally passed, I quite literally lived on fried eggs and spinach. Ate it at LEAST once a day, sometimes more. I craved the you-know-what out of those two foods. Take from that what you will.

[alaskanlaughter]

Originally Posted by Radiojane

no... but I'd bet that your body wanted sodium. Unless of course it was purely a cry for calories in any form. Those happen too.


There's a list somewhere that tells you what you're most likely lacking in based on your craving and what a healthier alternative is that will sate that need. I should see if I can find it.

this exactly!! i find that when i'm craving salty foods, that just eating salt will work just as well a few shakes of the salt shaker and i'm fine again...it's weird...i've also been known to just get a side order of fries when i go to the burger place with DH and eat half the fries but ALOT(!!) of salt

granted, i don't do this all the time and i've never had issues with cholesterol or whatever sodium affects....but i definitely believe in listening to what your body is needing

i also used to have that list of what you need when you crave things but i don't have it anymore