help me kick this nasty wheat habit! please!

[red and lulu]

I posted here a little while ago asking for suggestions on what to eat to curb the insatiable hunger I was experiencing eliminating wheat from my diet — the responses were helpful, until I fell off the wagon and now seem unable to think of anything to eat that doesn't involve flour. I partially blame it on the fact that it's cold, I'm really busy, and super tired, so though I feel ill (and I know why) all I want to eat is bread! I literally feel addicted. I know it's bad for me, I know it makes me feel lousy, but I cannot stop myself from eating it. I'm thinking maybe some sort of cleanse might be good to kick start the internal rehabilitation I'm so in need of. But I'm breastfeeding and don't know what that could/should look like.

Does anyone else struggle with anything like this? Can anyone offer some suggestions as to what I can do? Any vegan-friendly, breastfeeding-appropriate cleanses or fasts I may try? Or what about savory dishes to satisfy my cold weather cravings?

TIA

[Naturopath Mom]

Many foods have addictive qualities, and since most Americans consume wheat several times a day, it can have this effect on people. Do you have some wheat-like substitutes? A good gluten free bread? Brown rice noodles?

The only kind of cleanse I would think that would help enough with that I would not recommend while breast feeding. But perhaps something could be done regarding the emotional state you are in, and why you want wheat. Do you think there is anything going on with that? Flower essences help balance out your emotions. Some people crave foods for different reasons (boredom, lonliness, anger, self-loathing, etc). But it could also be that you may feel you do not have the will power or that you will feel denied by not eating wheat?

Hopefully something rang true there!

[Geigerin]

I was talking with a friend about this yesterday. She eliminated wheat by going three days without wheat, then having one thing with wheat on the fourth day. She did this for 6 months before she went wheat-free. She said that when she was officially diagnosed with celiac's, eliminating wheat completely was no big deal.

Maybe that would work for you?

[red and lulu]

Originally Posted by Naturopath Mom

Many foods have addictive qualities, and since most Americans consume wheat several times a day, it can have this effect on people. Do you have some wheat-like substitutes? A good gluten free bread? Brown rice noodles?

The only kind of cleanse I would think that would help enough with that I would not recommend while breast feeding. But perhaps something could be done regarding the emotional state you are in, and why you want wheat. Do you think there is anything going on with that? Flower essences help balance out your emotions. Some people crave foods for different reasons (boredom, lonliness, anger, self-loathing, etc). But it could also be that you may feel you do not have the will power or that you will feel denied by not eating wheat?

Hopefully something rang true there!

I do have substitutes. I actually prefer brown rice pasta, and gf eng muffins. I just love bread. And I'm not diligent about avoiding things that have wheat, which are a lot of things.... I guess its not so much about me feeling deprived as feeling like my diet is already so exclusionary that eating out or with others I become a big p.i.t.a and so I just have the bread or noodles or seitan b/c it's easier.

That all said, I do have a lot of intense, stressful stuff going on right now, so maybe thats part of it. I guess that I didn't consider emotions as playing a role b/c the problem isn't how much I'm eating, just what. What flower essences? Like rescue remedy?

[karika]

I apologize for not reading the thread before posting. We live gluten, casein, soy and mostly corn free here. Gluten is addictive. If you are having trouble giving it up cold turkey, try replacements for now. Udi's gluten free white bread is AWESOME. It is a start for you. There is a pasta I found made from brown rice flour called Tinkyada that is really good and has the 'right' texture. If you are craving and feeling like you 'have to have' wheat products, you are definitely addicted and most likely intolerant of gluten. Keep at it and find replacements to help. I am not home right now, but I will check this thread again at home and offer more then. It is worth it to live gluten free IMO and i believe humans were not meant to ingest gluten as they do.

[Naturopath Mom]

People with "addicitons" will tend to fall into them when they are having emotional upsets. If you think the most of this is related to stress I would check out Olive, Elm and Oak. One of those could probably very well help. There are also lots of flower essences (not Bach) that can help with addictive behavoir. I am not as familiar with these but you can try googling "addiction" and "flower essence" some good websites to check out are : www.flowersociety.org or www.desertalchemy.com

Morning glory is one, nicotania (tobacco) is another. I think many of the poppy's as well are good with this.

As far as being in social situations, that is difficult! I have always struggled with it as well. Especially if you are trying so hard to stay away from certain foods and then they are made so available to you. It's hard. When breaking away from wheat and dairy I had to make sure that I had my favorites around all the time before I could trust myself otherwise. When out I usually order the salad...I know, sounds blah but I try to make sure that it is a restaurant that has decent salads before I commit to go.

[karika]

Originally Posted by red + lulu

eating out or with others I become a big p.i.t.a and so I just have the bread or noodles or seitan b/c it's easier.

Living gluten free means not eating out to me. The only place I would eat out is at a dedicated gluten free eatery. My co-op has such a deli. It is not dairy or soy free, but those don't bother me with cc, gluten would. Gluten is in the air, in the pans, in the scratches on the forks at any other place. Eating out is exposure to gluten. Gluten stays in the system for a long time. So an infraction means a setback. I have been GF for nearly a year now and I recommend it highly.