Hi again, Kaylasmommy!
I just had to respond again, because truly, that craving for sweets isn't "like" an addiction, it IS an addiction, and I've had it all my life! Without getting too clinical, here, some people (me) DO have "addictive personalities". Luckily, I've never had much of a taste for drugs or alcohol, because if I did, I'd probably be out on the street right now. Mine has always been confined to smoking - and FOOD, and by food, I mean primarily sweets and starches. That's what I have always craved. I stopped smoking several times in the past, but always gained weight
and gave up and started smoking again. This past January, I quit FOR GOOD because it really and truly was affecting my health.
I was exhausted all the time, and climbing a few stairs, or just carrying a few bags of groceries into the house had me breathing heavily. SO, that's done. Then, the eating started - the LARGE Cadbury chocolate with almonds ON MY WAY HOME from the office, candy bars hidden in my pocketbook to eat after my DH went to bed at night, stops every morning on my way TO work for TWO McDonald's McGriddles with sausage - and ironically, coffee with one equal.
So, I was overweight to start with, and then put on 14 pounds after I quit smoking. Ordinarily, that would send me dashing out to the nearest convenience store for a pack of ciggies, but this time I am DETERMINED. I decided that I would have to RE-PROGRAM myself to eat what was good for me instead of what I wanted all the time. Thus began my many-meals-a-day, high-fiber, low calorie, low fat eating and drinking mega-amounts of water.
And you know what? It's working! I feel great, I feel optimistic, and I feel healthier than I have in a long, long, time. The craving for snacks at night is gone almost completely (just by making sure I get enough during the day) but as I said before, a handful of nuts, maybe some raisins - that kind of thing - satisfies me completely.
BUT, about the sweets. It really IS an addition, Kaylasmommy, and the only way you can deal with an addition to anything is to cut it out entirely. Once you do that - and maybe suffer through a few uncomfortable days - or even weeks - the cravings finally do subside, and eventually, they disappear altogether unless you trigger them by eating sweets. Even a tiny cookie or a freaking M&M can do it, trust me. An alcoholic cannot take ONE drink, and we sweets addicts can't eat ONE cookie, of a "tiny piece of candy" because it triggers binges. I really envy those people who CAN just eat a *little* of something - a sliver of cake, a cookie - but I'm not one of them, and it doesn't sound like you are.
SO, Kaylasmommy, my best advice is make sure you eat enough during the day (while counting calories, carbs, or whatever you're watching) and absolutely give up anything sweet. (I DO use artificial sweeter occasionally, though, and there are no ill effects - some say they kick in the cravings, but that doesn't happen with me.)
Good luck, sweetie - you're going to do just fine!
Ella
