Discussion Board

Hi Star Mcdougaller's -

I don't know if any of you have had pain as part of your past medical woes - but maybe someone knows something about why we have certain cravings?

I have fibromyalgia and it just finally occurred to me that high pain levels and food cravings are really linked for me.

Thing is my fibromyalgia has a weather component and it's been stormy and cold here of late and here come the cravings again. I haven't had cravings the months I have been on this diet at all. surprisingly absolutely none at all. But recently as the barometric pressure goes down -- my desire to be buying sugary/fatty ice cream goes through the roof.

I haven't caved in entirely I have stayed vegan but I have tried some crutches that certainly aren't MWL - like sorbet when it got really out of control. This did nothing for me - though the ice cream of old did seem to have some slight positive effect. Also, I am keeping a well stocked pantry and fridge so there are carb alternatives. Like I'll make a sweet potato and cinnamon for the sweet tooth aspect, which I love. Still the craving at these times does not dissipate one iota, no matter what I feed it.

I have recently read and believe I have heard Dr. McDougall say that milk actually contains a morphine like substance to get the calf hooked to Mom's milk. So I am wondering if dairy is actually not just my craving but drug of choice?

Know anything about this connection, if thee is one?

Thanks - Michelle

I don't know if I can give an intelligent answer to this, since I don't have cravings that are that specific. I do have times when I feel like I really want to eat "something," and often nothing will satisfy that feeling, but I never crave a specific something.

I do know that back when I had monthly cramps, I really wanted to eat "something." I think my reaction to a pain in the stomach region was the idea that I should put something in my stomach, and of course, the more comforting as it went in, the more comfort my monkey brain thought it would be to the stomach.

As far as the addictive factor of dairy...if it has been a month or more since you had dairy, then I would say the addiction is psychological, not physical, at this point. You are remembering the comfort factor of the ice cream (would a glass of skim milk sound as attractive??), and I think that's what your brain is calling for.

I don't know if there is any remedy except for distraction and time. Make sure you have something else to do when the craving starts whispering in your ear. Tell it to go away!

Thanks frozenveg - as usual - sage words. I now have looking at this food as "NOT food" (gosh the igredients listing makes that clear enough, most ice creams have corn syrup in them these days for instance) and just "tell it to go away" in my arsenal. The not food has worked well on everything but the really rare ice cream binge - well actually not ice cream, but almond milk ice cream, which is a slightly lesser evil.

I got to say it's amazing the power of talking to myself has with these little phrases - truly helpful hints. I am on it. Especially as we have a week long storm front coming in and OMG I ate a SAD Easter dinner with family again. AND I am paying for that yet again.

I couldn't do the thing with bring my own food as my Cousin Tod our chef was in serios cooking therapy this week - as their Mom died last Wednesday. But I have talked two of my Cousins into looking at the McDougall site and I am going to buy and send them FOK. I think they are ready and hopefully can pull their brother our chef along with them. Boy would it be awesome if he started cooking some vegan dishes -- maybe next year

??? How is that?

ETeSelle -
Well, yes the almond is technically vegan - and doesn't contain soy/gluten both of which I am intolerant to. I really am just saying slightly lesser evil - not that it's OK in the least or that I am falling for any justifications to make it OK.

Oh. Well, "almond ice cream" implies regular ice cream with almond flavoring, not fake ice cream made from almond milk, LOL. Hence my confuzzlement.

Hmm, laughing here ETeSelle, I have to go to the store in a bit for veggies. I would actually like to slip over to the aisle where that almond milk NOT ice cream product is - just to find out what it's really called. But dang, today is too high a pain day and it would call my name and probably push open the freezer unit door and like just jump into my basket. Anyway, there is no dairy in it, but that doesn't excuse the fact it's not any kind of OK on MWL.