hi. wow, such great responses. Thank you ( edited in: an apology that this is so lengthy)
apo9. while I am glad some people found that dishsoap works for them, it would not be advisable for me. But I do appreciate the information
Calcounter1003, I totally agree with you re usually something else going on when there are issues with food. It IS the case with me. I am not sure I can discern what the issues are. Although I have thought about them. And I do have some strong suspicions. Including that food was my only comfort and friend. There is more to it. But at the risk of boring people I will not be more specific
I can totally believe that only a small percentage maintain for over a year. There must be, for me anyway, a relentless vigilance. Or successfully working on and dealing with the underlying issues. For me, the first is more attainable. The second would be more in the catagory of a miracle. one can only hope !
The thing I find most difficult is being stronger than the cravings. Staying very strong. Having mastery over the it all. This does not make any of it go away. But if I can not give an inch to this condition ( as I call it) then I can keep it from sneaking back inch by inch, if you know what I mean. It is almost like a child. If I say yes once, then its the door open for the child to keep wanting me to say yes again... to whatever it is. For me, this is maintenence. Exhausting an never ending.... so far. I live as if I know it will be an ongoing situation which will keep me on my toes. I prefer to not use the word "battle". Although that is the word that came to mind.
Patience. As you seem know only too well, each person has what works well for them. You found that mercifully you are able to eat fruit. Thats awesome. I have had to cut out all fruit except for lemon juice. One piece of fruit always led to intense cravings for unreasonable amount more. The strength of the cravings was too much. I cannot have sugars. Even in fruit. Except I do have a tablespoon of tart cherry concentrate. I do keep my carbs low. Although I must be mindful to have a certain amount of them..... being aware that the body does need complex carbs to properly function.
I have my forumlas that seem to work well for me. eg protein powder in a blender with lemon juice, ice cubes and stevia powder ( health food store grade) with the sour cherry concentrate ( good for inflamation) combined in the blender and then poured into dishes and frozen. To be scraped like italian ice when I want something sweet. It also helps that there is protein in this. Thats a way that my desire for sweets is met. My therapist wants me to have protein powder for breakfast. So I blend ice cubes with cocoa powder, water stevia and toasted seasame oil. Pour into bowls and freeze. This is my breakfast. I do eat too many sweets. Even if it is stevia that is the only source of that sweet.
I enjoy green salads with fat free feta, onion powder, basil and lemon juice for dressing. Or salad with dressing made from lemon juice, a small amount of toasted sesame oil, stevia and onion powder. For me these taste good and offer vegetable with only small amount of oil. With the salads, I enjoy the lowest fat chicken sausage. And I stay away from one national chain store brand that puts sugar in their sausage. I think perhaps even a small amount of sugar can feed the addiction that I grapple with. I do consider the stevia I use to be a culprit. But I use it anyway. i am SO addicted to sweets. And so I use stevia way too much.
You are able to eat sweets sometimes in low risk situations. I am not. I am like a foodaholic. I must stay completely away from the high risk foods such as sugar, fruit and pure organic peanutbutter. i can have sugar in my home. As long as I do not have some trigger foods to use it on and in. I cannot have fruit in my home. It would be gone in an instant.
I am looking for advice re eating more slowly. This has been a serious problem with me. I eat absurdly fast. Mindlessly. And voraciously. To be honest, if I had a large amount of foods I enjoy greatly, I would feel quite unsatiated when I finished. Only wanting more and more. And the amount I can eat, if I allowed it, is quite absurd.
I wish I had some good tips to help. I have written the ones I use. And I am always looking for more... from people.
Finally, I do cheat. I cheat with savory foods. And i try to do it on days when the scale indicates that this would be a good day to do it. Keep up the great work. I am SO glad I found you all. Any suggestions are always appreciated.