2nd symptom of ketosis is - Sugar stupidity page

[sarasue624]

Hello!

So I've been struggling with low-carb and primal for a long while now and am an avid reader of primal/paleo/low carb forums. Something I see over and over again is that newbies and stumblers (like me) who are trying to lose weight get down to the "optimal carb" level hit ketosis for a day or two, don't feel hungry, eat lots of fat, and then do something really stupid. For me, today, it was taking a hit of grains and HFCS in a sandwich and chocolate shake at Arby's.

People describe this as a "carb craving" but that's not really how I experience it - it's not like I'm sitting here thinking "I'm thinking Arby's." It's a sudden spur of the moment decision to just ignore everything that's gone right over the last 48 hours and eat a roast beef sammich and a shake. It's like a foggy loss of control. The logical, "ask yourself if this decision aligns with your goals" is totally unhelpful because this is not a logical decision or action, it's like an instinctual action. If you've never experienced this it probably sounds a lot kooky, but I keep seeing this happen to a subset of us. I'm wondering what is living in my gut that takes control over my brain at these moments!

I was wondering if anyone had working theories on this.

[Artbuc]

Sounds like classic addiction. Ask an alcoholic why he picked-up a drink after long term sobriety and he will probably tell you the exact same thing you said in your post. I was talking to an alcoholic last week who, after 4 years of sobriety, was driving to his beach house and pulled into a liquor store. He got drunk and stayed that way for 3 years. Lost his wife, house and business. I asked him why did he do it, what were you thinking when you pulled into that liquor store? He said I wasn't thinking anything. I don't know why I did it, I just did. Very sad indeed.

[Damiana]

If you're used to something, and you deny it to yourself, the desire to get the fix will be stronger. It's like being a kid and seeing your parents give an unwanted toy to your sibling...you may not have wanted it before but you sure as hell do now.

[Reindeer]

Carb cravings. For me, I don't think about it either - it's just a nagging feeling and a desire to satisfy it. When I started low-carb, my hands would just automatically grab a chocolate bar on the way out of the supermarket, barely even noticing it. It's really annoying.

[PureFunctionalFitness]

try L-glutamine amino acid supplementation as a good and almost instant fix for the cravings when they occur, and supplementation with Chromium is a well used method to stabilise blood sugars, important when getting over food addiction. These can both work well to break the cycle

[sarasue624]

So 40 grams of L-glut or less, 45 mcg chromium picolate, PureFunctional?

Artbuc and Reindeer know what this is - it's not a mental craving, but a bodily one.

[sbhikes]

Sounds like classic addiction. Ask an alcoholic why he picked-up a drink after long term sobriety and he will probably tell you the exact same thing you said in your post. I was talking to an alcoholic last week who, after 4 years of sobriety, was driving to his beach house and pulled into a liquor store. He got drunk and stayed that way for 3 years. Lost his wife, house and business. I asked him why did he do it, what were you thinking when you pulled into that liquor store? He said I wasn't thinking anything. I don't know why I did it, I just did. Very sad indeed.

There's a whole chapter in the Big Book of AA that describes exactly this.

For alcoholics they suggest that if you are thinking hey a drink sounds good you should go talk to another alcoholic. So next time it happens to you, talk to another food addict.

[Annlee]

For me, it has always been a remembrance of the pleasurable taste. From a few lapses over the last couple of years, I have finally gotten through to a place where I know it won't be that pleasurable. My tastes have changed enough that the old flavors no longer hit the spot.

But I had to learn that the hard way.

[sarasue624]

sbhikes - A spur of the moment impulse to swing into Taco Bell doesn't leave much time for rationalizing with another food addict! We're not thinking. That's the problem.

Annlee - I hope the pleasure meter swings away from chocolate shakes eventually. That'd be great.

I do mindful meditation. It helps with willpower when my brain's engaged. I'm interested about when my rationality is not engaged!

[Dirlot]

Maybe up your carbs with some healthy veg, fruit or sweet potato. Cary a fruit snack with you at all times and eat that instead.
it may also not be a carb craving but rather some other processed ingredient that is calling you.