Debbie Cousins's Journal, 21 Oct 19

How exciting to have you BACK with the water!!!! On top of that, you got a lot done today. Celebrate your success. Take the tapioca situation one day at a time. Couldn't help but notice, you make homemade ranch dressing. With buttermilk? Just wondering.  

Good job on the water! You probably looked up alternatives to standard tapioca but if not.. and I apologize if I am overstepped.. try looking up Vegan Vanilla Coconut Tapioca Pudding (Sugar Free). Maybe try making this (and it’s fairly easy) and low calorie (90 at the high end) and has a nice flavor. 😊 

Overstepping* 

Jopenn    21 OCTOBER 2019 Weight Entry:226.4 lb Lost so far:58.6 lb Still to go:76.4 lb Well everyone, my Right Hip Replacement was on 10/7 and just got home from Rehab....after 2 weeks, shows gained a little as in rehab center couldn't control what I ate much AND also Doctor said joint replacement and metal weighs about 2 lbs!! So, all in all, perhaps I didn't do too bad. Now I can exercise the specified moves and also walk without much pain. Using a walker now and hope to graduate to a cane and then NO walking aid!!!! Getting on the right track again and drinking plenty of water. Unfortunately, the pain pills I'm on make you constipated...adding to that weight gain. LOL Wish me continued success...thanks!  Write comment  

Good job on your water, Debbie! 

Yes, @binkytexas, I use the Buttermilk recipe Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix that uses Buttermilk and mayonnaise. It is very high in calories, but it is really the only kind of salad dressing I actively enjoy! I've tried making traditional Tapioca pudding using Swerve sweetener, @ItsyTZB, but it still had about 15 carbs and just didn't feel the same in my mouth (which is half the attraction for me). Still have 30-60 minutes before bedtime and SO FAR haven't had that other serving. Fingers crossed.  

I gotcha. Sometimes we just need our thing and substitutes don’t really work. I’m like that with coffee creamer. It has to be a specific kind. 😊 Well, kick that cravings butt!🙌 Rooting for you! 

Well, THIS really sucks! After fighting the craving for about six hours, I finally went to bed at 8:15, victorious over the Tapioca pudding! Well, I went into the bedroom at 8:15 and took a whole Ambien so I would go to sleep quickly. It is now 10:55pm and I STILL haven't gone to sleep! I just decided to go on and get that Tapioca and EAT IT and got a shocking surprise! It wasn't in the refrigerator! All that was in there was a FROZEN one. I asked my husband if he had eaten it, and he said, "No, don't you remember coming out and getting it and taking it to the bedroom to eat?" NOOOO! I DON'T remember doing that, but I was wondering why there was an empty bowl and spoon on my nightstand when I just went to the kitchen. Ambien STOLE my Tapioca Pudding, and I don't even have a recollection of eating it! So, I blew my RDI and didn't even get the satisfaction of savoring the flavor and texture. PLUS, in my frustration over "not getting" the pudding, I ate 10 green grapes. This is so disheartening since I tried so hard to resist the pudding today and THOUGHT I had been successful only to find out that I had eaten it in an Ambien-induced stupor that I don't even remember! During these past two and a half hours since I was SUPPOSED to have gone asleep, I did install a new Caillou app on my phone for my grandson tomorrow. I had to go through and play all of the games so I could make sure to be able to show him how it's done. I thought I would NEVER figure out how to pour the milk and cereal for Caillou's breakfast! I was trying to manipulate it on the screen with my fingers, when you have to tilt the PHONE ITSELF to make the milk pour. He LOVES playing the educational games on my phone, and I love that he likes to sit in my lap while he's doing it so I can commend him on how smart he is! Just took ANOTHER sleeping pill (Rozerem) and gonna give sleeping another try. I had HOPED to go to bed early so I could get up early and get all MY responsibilities done before my grandson arrives. Oh well. If all else fails, I can try to do them when he leaves at 1:30. Off to sleep, HOPEFULLY without any more sneak-eating episodes! 

.. After the sugar (fast carbs) in pudding. Can you make it with Stevia or Erythritol? I avoid artificial sweeteners. The sugar thing is hard to break, but the cravings do go away, it takes about 90 days from what I read. My sugar cravings went away after about 90 days. 

You did great fighting it for so long... Sorry it all was in vain though. I understand that feeling of wanting a food item that much though. So next is trying not to make it in the first place... have you thought of just throwing it out. It is likely what I would do 

Comfort foods are hard to crack! 

Just saw your past two posts here...catching up. Your tapioca is my coffee (said it before). I can do decaf, but I love me some coffee. Tried hot tea and hot lemon water and LOVE them, but I still want my coffee. Wheat toast is the other one. I can go all day without coffee, but then I want toast. And vice versa. I'm stumped about what I'm going to call the "tapioca situation". I would say..."hey, find a substitute for it" but that's easy for me to say. You have had greater experience and success here on FS...you know what substitutions and activities keep you away from pudding. Keep tweaking things and let us know what works! 

I actually like Hidden Valley mix, and usually I don't like storebought mixes. I have made my own mix with lots of dill, but Hidden Valley is good too. I like to use sour cream instead of mayo. Onward, friend! 

Yep water is good! Lots of H2O in veggies too. 

Always here for you my friend. I know you are trying, and I'm pulling for you. 💚💜💛 

I’m sorry. Yeah, Ambien is not my friend either. It had the opposite effect on me too. Well, I’m still going to say... I know you can do this! 😊