I have a theory that when people binge, they crave what their bodies are deficient in. It’s interesting the specific things I have craved recently. Dairy, for one. Whenever I feel like binging I always crave cheese. I believe it is because I need more protein. Giving up the protein bars was a bad bad idea, I guess. I still spend extra money on all the junk foods (so I haven’t saved money), and I’ve gained 6 pounds in a month. I also craved cinnamon rolls a lot. I figure maybe it’s because cinnamon helps control blood sugar. I don’t usually crave cinnamon things. Just lately, I do. Sometimes I crave chocolate. Which could be because it has magnesium in it. Or could just be for the oxytocin, the feel good chemical.

Anyway, I decided to put an end to this rapid weight gain and binging by buying my high protein foods again. I decided to buy my old favorite PureFit Nutrition Bars. And I found a vegan protein shake that costs less than a protein bar, Genisoy Strawberry/Banana Protein Powders/Shakes, so I bought that as well. I also used to love Clif Builder’s Bars, but they aren’t as filling as the Purefit bars, so I decided not to go with them right now. Trying to save money.

I also decided to eat raw nuts with my raisins, to see if I digest them better. They certainly taste better. I’ve been eating raw pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds lately. They’re better than roasted, I think. Better tasting, I mean. And better for me. Hopefully more digestible!

I can’t believe how long it took me to realize I was binging because of dietary deficiencies and not from stress. Not that I’m not plenty stressed. I am. Car payment! Which is probably why I didn’t notice this sooner.

It reminds me of the disorder Pica, where people crave non-food items, like clay and dirt. Possibly because of nutritional deficiencies. What if compulsive overeating has something in common with Pica? It would make sense if that was partly the cause. Physical, not all psychological.

It’s also true that food grown in the US is very deficient in vitamins and minerals, because it is grown in soils depleted of nutrients. Here is an interesting article on the subject. It makes me wonder if part of the reason Americans are so prone to obesity is because we have to eat more food to get an adequate amount of minerals and vitamins. If we even can from food alone. You can see how this might contribute to compulsive overeating. And the feeling of never being satisfied.

The solution to this problem? I believe it’s best to eat the healthiest food you can find, and then also supplement with vitamins and minerals, which is what I do. And now that I’m paying more careful attention to what I eat, maybe I can lose those 6 pounds! And then, you know, 50 more…

‘Til next time. ~Me.

I honestly think I stopped losing weight after the 5 pounds because I can’t afford to buy new pants. ! Crazy, no? But it’s true. I find myself eating handfuls of nuts and things I’m not hungry for. Probably just to keep my weight up. I believe that’s what I’m doing. I just recently got a hold of some hand-me-down pants a size smaller than what I wear, so I’ll see what happens. Hopefully, I’ll let myself lose 10-15 more pounds. Every little bit helps.

I’m also not eating low-fat, and I probably should be. I feel better eating a low-fat diet. But since I’m a vegan I need to eat things like nuts for protein. Along with beans and soy. I could probably cut back on the nuts, though. No handfuls eaten randomly when I’m not hungry, for instance! Also I eat full-fat salad dressing. I try to have a salad every day, for the raw food enzymes, which I believe are necessary and good for me. I have a few vegan salad dressings that I love that are pretty full of fat: Annie’s Naturals Goddess Dressing, and Annie’s Naturals Shiitake & Sesame Vinaigrette. I’ve noticed that when a salad dressing is low-fat or no-fat it is usually full of sodium or sugar or MSG or aspartame. They put bad stuff in it to give it flavor. Full-fat dressings are more natural, at least the ones I buy. I tell myself I’ll use them sparingly, but I don’t really. They taste too good. I think the key to my going low-fat is to find an alternative to salad dressing. Taco sauce and mustard are vegan and low-fat, but not salad friendly. Maybe I should try vegetable broth of some kind? Vegan gravy? Something. Vinegar, lemon juice, who knows?

I’m also a compulsive overeater. When I get stressed out I eat a lot of chocolate. Brownies, cake, candy bars. Chips and dip too. Not good. If I can keep myself from getting stressed out I do okay with that, though. I can resist goodies most of the time. It’s just when I’m going through a stressful phase that I fall off the wagon. I got into a cinnamon roll craze recently. Too many different things going on in my life. I think I’ve got it all sorted out for the moment, though. Hence, this blog entry.

It’s kind of hard to be a vegan when you have insulin resistance. A vegan diet is naturally full of carbs. Good carbs, like whole wheat bread and brown rice, but carbs nonetheless. I try to avoid eating a lot of fruit even. I eat a few raisins now and then, but that’s it. I try to focus on vegetables instead. Fruit makes me lightheaded, vegetables don’t. I eat very few carbs with meals, like one little taco shell, or three Triscuits. Yes, really! With plenty of beans and soy and nuts and vegetables. I’m not starving, I just eat fewer carbs than the average person.

My plan I guess is to start eating less fat and stop eating when I’m not actually hungry. I also have big plans for starting an exercise program, but I’ll talk about that in my next blog entry. And I’ll post more entries on how my plan is working out for me too. As the weeks and months go by. But that’s it for now.

‘Til next time.