Hi everyone,

My name is Collette and I’m 22 years old. I don’t want to make this a long post so I’ll try and compress it. A few years back I was severely depressed and my psychiatrist prescribed Effexor for an anti depressant. The pills worked wonderful as an anti depressant but not so wonderful for my weight. Before going on Effexor I was 5’9” and 108 lbs (I know, not so normal for my height) and when I stopped taking the pills (because of the weight gain) I was 5'10" and 190 lbs. I think the Effexor changed my metabolism and I kept steadily gaining weight. Now I’m 5’10” and approximately 260 lbs. With each passing day I feel myself falling back into depression because of my weight.

My goal is 150 lbs and than after I hit that I think I want to get down to 130 lbs. I’m planning on doing my own version of the South Beach diet.

The only problem I think I’m having with staying on a diet is cravings. I have STRONG, STRONG cravings and if I don’t eat the foods I’m craving I feel like I’m going through withdrawals. This might sound so stupid but I start crying my eyes out as well.

I’m truly desperate for some support as everyone around me is already skinny or does not understand how hard it is. They don’t understand that it feels like an addiction. If anyone, ANYONE can help me with how to deal with these cravings than please respond.

You probably know how lonely it feels to be dieting when everyone else around you eats as much as they want. Don't you just wish they could see what it was like just for a sec to be like us? Where, even a small plate makes us put on weight.

Anyway, I guess, you got to keep pushing through. Sometimes, the cravings are tough. But you just have to keep going. I remember, the first week weeks of any diet is tough. But once you are through that danger period, it slowly gets easier and easier.

Keep going, and hopefully things will get easier for you.

Hi Diamonds, I so, so, so understand what it is like to have those strong cravings and how much it can consume your life. I have an eating disorder where I binge and when I am in this mode, there is almost nothing that can stop me. Like you, i don't have a lot of friends that understand what it is I go through, but they are more than willing to listen to me and support as best as they can. I think coming here gives me way more opportunity to talk with people or read the diaries of people that go through similar issues. Its much easier to deal with this kind of thing, when you know you are not alone. Anytime you want to talk about this stuff, feel free to message. Ps... I have cried lots over it too, its ok. Take Care
Michelle

Hello,

I get terrible cravings! usually i wait 10 minutes and their gone, if not i write it down, tell myself i will have what im craving, and dont have it

or maybe ill have what im craving, only in a smaller size.

i know what it feels like.. i have serious cravings, and when i don't cater to it, i get all edgy and cranky.. finally if i end up binging i start acting like gollum from lord of the rings (okay.. may be not so bad :P)... and its not helped by the fact all the people around me eat the sem stuff or more, and end up looking all thin...

when that happens i always tell myself that they may be thin now but if i press on and keep working out and following a healthy diet, soon i'd be fitter, stronger and hotter than them.. that helps a lot

as far as cravings is concerned.. i have found out that there would times when u end up falling for your cravings.. its natural.. but the key is not to get frustrated afterwards and to keep continuing with the plan..

so often i'd follow a perfect diet for days, and then i'll see some one eating, say a pizza, a lose control and end up eating too..then i'd get pissed at myself and eat for the rest of the day, and wake up the next morning really frustrated and binge for the rest of the day, thus spoiling days of hard work...

so i guess the key is even if u give up to ur cravings once in a while, its ok.. dnt be frustrated.. keep ur head up and resume the diet from the next meal.. be strong and stick to the diet for as long as u can.. but dnt feel guilty...

in fact, if u crave some particular food, its not a bad idea to treat urself with that once a week as long as u have kept healthy for the rest of the week...

you CAN lose the weight.. and we are here to cheer for u, as u start ur journey..

Thank you all very much for responding. I didn't think I would get any responses so I was extremely happy when I got online and saw your replies. I'm glad I'm not the only one dealing with the craving problem. It's the only problem I have when it comes to dieting. Hunger is easy for me to overcome but those cravings are torture (literally).

It feels good to come to a place where everyone is going through the same thing you're going through and actually understands. I'm going to be starting my weightloss journey tomorrow and I might start a diary, I don't know yet.

Once again thank you so much for taking time out of your day to respond to me, it means a lot!