I have been off sweets (both sugared and artificially sweetened) for two years. Historically I was a binge eater, particularly on sugar and that had improved tremendously, for awhile. Now bread has become a huge problem. Bought a loaf the other day and ate the whole thing in the car--a very old behavior. Also, sounds funny butI binge on wheat puffs at night. Can have a whole box in one sitting. This latter is hard because the cereal had replaced dessert. The cravings for bread and puffs have increased over time. Today I am eliminating both--just for today. So this will be a moderate low carb plan. Still eating steel cut oats and blueberries for breakfast. I may cut out the whole wheat pasta at dinner too, as I find I am having more of that. I just need something to take care of that after-dinner craving for something.... Need all the support I can get!!! Any comments would be welcome...

I have found that if I eat bread/pasta/grains at all, it just sets me up for more cravings. Last weekend I went to dinner at a friend's house- it was Italian night. I stayed away from the bread, but I did have some home-made lasagna. I was fine while we were still there and was able to turn down dessert, but went off on a sugar binge when we got home. I had been sugar-free for 7 months. I know it was the pasta that made me want that "something more"

Have you tried adding some protein to your breakfast?

Thanks--thats helpful. My gut feeling is that pasta triggers me too. I have binged on lasagna. So I may try a starch-free dinner tonight. No, I have not tried protein at bkfast. I might add an eggwhite omelette this am and see how it feels.

Many people who binge on wheat products are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease. I am one of them. Gluten contains opiate-like properties. Very addicting. I've been gluten-free for 14 months now, and I rarely have carb binges, but when I do, they usually center around a supposedly gluten free sugary/carby snack that is probably cross-contaminated with gluten.

Does unprocessed wheat bran contain gluten---or does that come from the starch in the wheat?

I personally think that there is no good way completely remove gluten from any wheat product, and there is wheat gluten cross-contamination in many other grains, despite some of the claims. Gluten is a protein.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten

Can sympathise with you Ladycan. It really is a case of trial and error. Just being aware of the side effects of your triggers will help you make the right choice. Having said that, going without sugar, bread and cereal unfortunately severely limits our choices

Hi Ladycan, I have been off sugar & flour 1 month & now have no cravings and I have lost 16 lbs in that time! Amazing. I take it one day at a time too. I have replaced my high carb meals with prtein & alot of vegetables and I still include some brown rice or quinoa. I will eat a protein snack if I feel hungry between meals. I look for LC recipe ideas to keep me from getting bored. I eat SF desserts when needed - which amazingly isn't often now, and I drink sugar free non-caffine drinks on occasion. I realize that alot of the food out there is poison to me. I hope this helps.