I hear a LOT that you should chew gum. It reduces cravings and gives you something to do! Makes sense. It's yummy too.
But for me, it does the opposite. Instead of my cravings reduced, my sweet tooth wants more yummy little sweets! It also makes me terribly hungry. (I'm not sure if it's because it makes me forget to eat though, or if it's the gum itself.)
On the one hand, they say chewing tricks you brain into thinking it's eaten. Or something like that. But on the other hand, they say when you chew gum, you salivate and when you salivate, a signal gets sent from your brain to your stomach that food is on its way, and you begin to produce gastrointestinal juices...then, the food never comes, leaving you feeling hungry - because you told your brain that food was on the way, yet it wasnt.
What's your experience with gum? Do you like it, or avoid it?
Last edited by Wild Vulpix; 03-21-2010 at 02:26 PM.
This is going to sound really crazy but... Last time I did the WL thing, for me, gum was a friend and foe. When I was chewing it I didn't feel as hungry, but the sugar in it made me want more (that sweet taste!), so I'd end up eating half the pack lol. Also, I used gum as a distraction when walking on the treadmill. I eventually started having a toothache. I realized the harder/faster I walked, the harder/faster I chewed the gum. So, this time I'm staying away from gum. But of course that's just part of my weirdness lol.
Gum absolutely does not satisfy me like eating does. My brain is not so easily tricked, lol. I sometimes enjoy a sweet fruity gum just for the gum itself, but not as a replacement for a snack.
It also sometimes makes me feel hungrier. Like I'm chewing and chewing and my stomach is wondering where the food is, lol.
I used to chew gum, but it made me feel really unsatisfied. I like having whole mouthfuls of food to chew! It also made me very conscious of my mouth, and somehow thinking about my mouth just led me to think more about food. So I don't buy it anymore. I just drink water, or flavored water, or tea instead -- it usually knocks out the hungry feeling because then my stomach feels full.
For me spearmint flavored gum (sugar free of course) does wonders for my diet. I think mostly because a lot of my eating is emotional/habit tho, so already chewing something keeps my mind off the hand to mouth motion I crave.
I will say tho, that fruity flavored gum ALWAYS makes me hungry and aggravates my sweet tooth. I mean always. I have to stick with mint flavors.
I mostly chew gum after meals, since chewing sugar free gum after eating is good for your dental health. The only time I use it for weight loss purposes is when I'm not hungry, but around something tempting. I'll use a strong flavored mint gum to mess up the flavor of whatever is calling me.
I like it in the short-term if I'm prepared, like if there is a half hour until lunch and I have brought it with me but I need something NOW then gum is great. But it definitely increases my hunger pangs, so I would only ever have it when I know exactly what I'm eating that day.
I don't care for gum because I feel like I'm chewing rubber. I occasionally chew a piece for a minute or two after eating something like onions or garlic, but I spit it out so quickly it isn't really worth it.
Gum makes me bloated, so I avoid it. Also I can't chew gum at work and since I'm there most of the time, I also have to avoid it. Tic-tac, or water helps me when I'm feeling hungry.
I chew gum alot. I won't use it as a snack replacement, but if I'm in a "grazing" mood, then I grab a stick of gum. I count the calories in the gum (always sugar free). I use both mint and fruit flavors, at different times. It works really well for me, because then I won't stand in the kitchen eating anything I can get my hands on.
I like gum when I'm cooking to stop me from "tasting" everything. Or if I'm out with friends and they order drinks/appetizers/something i don't want, I'll chew gum to keep my mouth busy.
But I dont like using gum instead of a snack or to curb a craving.
Gum helps me. I have a piece at night when I'm reading so as to not snack (because I'm not actually hungry then, it's just I've developed this lifelong habit of continually snacking while reading) and throughout the day. I do it mostly to help with my CRAZY oral fixation though, not really to do with hunger. Flavored water helps me with the hunger. If it's the sweetness that does it, maybe try cinnamon or wintergreen gum?
Gum: Friend or Foe?
