My advice is to get rid of that sweetened cocoa - using it could set you up for a fall BIG TIME. The reason it is vitally important to stay away from sugar and flour and other bad carbs is because of what it does to the carb addict's body and mind. You really need to understand the science behind carb addiction. Carb addicts bodies and minds don't work like other peoples. Some people can eat sugar/carbs in moderation and it doesn't set them off on uncontrolled binges but I don't beleive they are true carb addicts, just people that want to watch their carb intake for weight control issues. It is a very complex issue. I wish you luck, Brenda - but if you've been doing so well I would hate to see you sabatoge you progress.

Kel

I satisfied my chocolate need with an Atkins Advantage Shake (on sale this week at Wal-mart) Chocolate Delight (1 net carb) it tastes pretty dang good though was overly filling for me. I am one of the small stomach from starving myself folks :(

I added 2 tbsp. of unwhipped whipping cream just because I knew I wouldn't be eating any time soon after having it :)

Today I am going to throw a can of it and some whipping cream into the ice cream maker and see what comes of it :) I'll let you know what comes of it

Kel, you are so right we don't function like everyone else does. I hear people talk about taking a couple bites of cheesecake, I can't even imagine. I found that I cannot have aspertame either as that sets me off. I thought I did okay with sugar alcohols but with my past history of on again off again behavior I am looking seriously at those too.

I am more and more taking on the attitude that if they didn't have it available to eat a hundred years ago we probably should not be eating it now.

Sue - That is a really good attitude to have. It might make food prep a bit more work but if it can make us more in control of our food choices then it's worth it.

I'm certainly not referring to anyone here but I find it interesting that the low carb thing is taking off nationwide with everyone jumping on the bandwagon. I'm not saying that they will not benifit from the LC way or that they shouldn't be doing it but that many really don't have an understanding of the true car addict's mind. I was talking the other day about that little voice in my head that constantly talks to me about seeking out beloved carbs for the next meal/snack and how I am really powerless over it when under the influence of sugar/carbs and the people I was talking with looked at me like I was insane. If anyone has done any reading on addiction (drug, alcohol, etc.) they will find that the brain and chemical changes are simular to what carb addicts experience.

Just something to think about. It's not an excuse for our behavior but it does help us to stop beating ourselves up for lack of willpower, etc. And it also may give us more resolve to keep our WOE clean. Once we detox we can think/feel/BE different. (can you tell that I'm really preaching to myself here?)

Kel

I know, I know. I've been eyeing that canister thinking----that can't HONESTLY be ok to use. "It doesn't say sugar so how can it be bad for me". Maybe just whipping the cream would be enough for my sweet attack. I did buy unsweetened chocolate--maybe I'll see how that works in it? I've also seen the Atkins shakes and debated buying some. I'll see how I fare through the rest of this day and night.

(man, I'm really a chocoholic mess right now!!) This coming TOM stinks!! Can't wait for this week to be over!!! lol I haven't had anything (couple small spoonfulls of SF jello) really bad so far. I'm TRYING to prevent myself from going after chocolate. I've been munching on celery and all that.

That's ok Kel, keep on preaching.... you're reaching me too!!! In one drawer of my file cabinet, there is an (OPEN!!!) bag of (one of my)BIG weakness: Utz sourdough pretzel nuggets....... leftover from 12/31....... I'm keeping it there as a "safety valve". I know that this sounds nuts, but in my weird head, if it's in the house, I can choose NOT to eat it. But if it's not in the house, I sometimes feel like I HAVE to go out and get some, and then, if I actually do that, then I am obliged to eat it ... does this make any sense at all to anyone other than me? When I quit smoking (6 yrs and 2-1/2mths ago) I did the same thing: there was an open pack of cigarettes in my desk drawer....... after about 2 yrs I finally threw it out!!! :dizzy:

Sometimes I am sooooo tempted to go to that drawer and stick my hand in the bag of pretzels, but then I remember that it has been 18 days OP, and I would then have to re-start counting at 1 all over again............... ok, so maybe I'm crazy (alright, I KNOW I'm crazy - no cracks from Jif, please!!) but so far it's working........

Oops, Lady A - you snuck in on me. I meant to tell you when I posted that the Carbolite bars are a true candy bar, NOT like the Advantage bars....... have you tried SF, FF jello chocolate pudding? Maybe that might do the trick for you? I have stayed away from that, using the carbolite bars as my chocolate fix when necessary.

I haven't tried the carbolite bars. I've seen them but haven't gotten any. Maybe that would work for melting into hot cocoa? :lol: I haven't seen any sf/ff choco pudding around here. I'll have to put that on my list of things to look for when I go to the big grocery store. The stores around here have meager choices for low carb foods. Which limits my choices. lol. But so far I'm hanging strong today. Maybe just having the cocoa in the house is enough? Because I know if I HAVE to have something it's actually here to make it with? I can relate to you on that one sonogranny--but I could never do that when I quit smoking. THOSE had to be OUT of the house. Man, I feel like such a wimp right about now because I can't seem to control the urge to WANT to eat chocolate. grrr@me.

Okay, now that we are opening up to :crazy: How many of you have bought two or three packages of m&m's or three chocolate bars knowing that the first one will set off those cravings? Just curious no one is required to answer.

In the other sense, I know what you mean about the pretzels. I do better with them around than I do with them gone. I get panicky when I have no access to certain foods. It isn't even a craving it is a desire to eat those things. My feel good foods. :o

Repeat after me "I am not a wimp!" A wimp would crawl off, give into the cravings, then post afterwards (I know cuz I am a wimp.) You are fighting a good fight against those desires to eat chocolate.

hm...why can't we get snowed in for like a week and then I wouldn't be able to GET chocolate...and then maybe have the urge disappear?:joker: I just ate the toppings of a homemade pizza that my mom gave me yesterday. It's not as good w/out the crust but it'll tide me over before my steak is done. I should go and make my salad. Maybe put some tomatoes on it.

*is wondering how whipped topping tastes* :lol:

OMG - you guys are using all the 'buz words', behaviors, etc. of a true blue, card carrying CARB ADDICT! That bit about keeping the forbidden stash around so you won't be panicy without it is just textbook classic! I do that stuff too!

Some of it is a 'mind over matter' thing but we really must know ourselves and how our addict mind will try to trick us! Keep up the good work, ladies. All this talking about it helps too. It helps us know that we aren't crazy (SHHHHH, Jiff) and that others share the same brainworkings.

Hello. My name is Kel and I'm a Carb Addict.

Originally Posted by Ms Spotdog:
Hello. My name is Kel and I'm a Carb Addict.

lol---I was going to post the same thing. Well, with MY name there anyway. lol

So please, please PLEASE tell me this addiction and wanting goes away!!! I'm not sure I can fight them EVERY month for the rest of my life!!! (not and stay sane anyway).

It's 5:00 pm and I'm almost through the day w/out anything chocolate. Oh man but the thought of whipped cream sounds good :hungry:

I did the same thing when I quit smoking. I kept a half pack of cigarettes in a drawer but they weren't for just in case I really needed a smoke. They were there so I could prove to myself that no matter what happened, I could resist. Well, my dear Mom died shortly after and if I ever needed the comfort of a smoke, it was during that horrible time, but I resisted and I'm so glad I did. BUT....there's no way I could have those so-called low carb chocolates and chocolate bars in the house and not eat every single scrap within hours. The first bite does me in. Last fall I bought several boxes of Carbolite bars when I was on a rare trip to the US. I started in on them on the drive home and within days they were all gone and my resistance to carbs was down the tube.
Brenda, you know darn well you can't have Cool Whip...and why did you buy the cocoa if it has sugar in it? Surely every grocery store has baking cocoa or even unsweetened Baker's chocolate. Melt a square of it into some cream and add hot water and Splenda and there's your hot chocolate. Careful of having too much whipped cream. It does have some carbs.

Brenda, you know darn well you can't have Cool Whip...and why did you buy the cocoa if it has sugar in it? Surely every grocery store has baking cocoa or even unsweetened Baker's chocolate. Melt a square of it into some cream and add hot water and Splenda and there's your hot chocolate. Careful of having too much whipped cream. It does have some carbs.

:( I didn't buy cool whip. I bought heavy cream. I asked first to find out what kind of cream. And yes, the store I went to had baking cocoa--and that was the Hersheys Cocoa ( 3grams of carbs, 1 dietary fiber and doesn't mention sugar just cocoa for an ingredient) :) i've got the unsweetened baking chocolate. I've got SO much to learn!!
*does an unhappy dance for being chatised* (j/k)