not the worse problem to have - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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not the worse problem to have

Chris-harris profile image
29 Replies

Hi All,

I was wandering if anyone “suffers” like I do with a new found food addiction.

I’m not sure if it’s my personality and I am prone to over indulging/becoming addicted to things but now that drinking smoking and all the bad vices are out of my life I seem to have a urge to eat all day long.

From the moment I wake to going to bed its what’s for tea, what snack can I have, I’m going to make a cake etc etc etc.

I have started to try and be good this week however the amount I eat is still huge compared to most, today so far its 3 tangerines, 3 rounds of seeded toast with marmalade for brekkie, 2 tuna and salad sandwiches (4 rounds) for lunch, a packet of crisps, some cheddar biscuits, 2 protein bars and some nuts .. and all that by 2pm, I am now thinking about tea and a bowl of fruit and cream (I have a desire for things I never used to have before being ill).

This was a great thing when I went from 17 stone to 11 and had to build up my strength but now I am starting to get big again, not as much as I was but 14-15 stone (I am 6ft 2 so its not terrible but I want to lose some weight now)

Can anyone help with my new addiction before I become the stay puffed man.

I could do with foods that fill me and last a little while rather than me constantly topping up with sweets / fruit / anything I can get my mits on

Thanks

Chris 

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Chris-harris profile image
Chris-harris
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29 Replies

Three or four almonds (if no nut allergy) works for me to supress appetite until it's truly time to eat a proper healthy meal. I prepare my own food. I find that the more time and care I put into the preparation, the more filling and satisfying that meal is.

It is documented that preparing our food is an important part of the digestive process. It starts gastric juices working for example.

Another factor in satiety is time. The more slowly we eat, the less we tend to eat because appetite is sated. If we rush and eat fast, we can seriously and harmfully overeat before we feel like we ate enough.

Foods that take longer to digest or convert to sugar, the longer we feel satisfied, and the better for stability of blood sugar. Oats for breakfast or supper are good for me because they convert slowly.

We have just had Trust close a food related thread to further replies. I do hope you get some replies that help you before censorship.

in reply to

But you probably knew all of this. Maybe the solution to compulsive overeating is to break the cycle pure and simple but takes determination. You’ve got this for sure.You can do this. It’s a transferable skill! Let us know your strategy... Good luck!

I'm with you on that. Just lately I've been getting the munchies and it's not down to partying with Bill & Ben. After 12mths of abstaining for me it can be dead boring trying to maintain a so-called healthy regime after the fact.

However whilst I'm 6' I have always been static at 13 stone, I'd only be eating half that, 2 round sandwich. Never been a big eater or really had a sweet tooth but I am adding treats now, the in betweeners & very hungry at bedtime. My diet is not strict, basically eat what's going basic good food, not Just Eat or Deliverpoo. I read somewhere it's ok to eat a normal diet whilst compensated. True or not that'll do me, Belly good news. 🙄

sunnysmile profile image
sunnysmile in reply to

Ur humour makes me laff - u r very funny but also very vigilant on the posts - love it :)

jacobsmum24 profile image
jacobsmum24

I can absolutely relate to this. I have taken the eat little and often advice to the extreme and constantly graze on food all day long. I think some of it is down to boredom as I am not currently working and the weather has been pretty rubbish. I really need to get a job, maybe part-time or self-employed from home that will keep me out of the fridge ! That said, being stay puffed is preferable to not being able to or wanting to eat and wasting away. Take care x

Hi Chris-harris

Thanks for posting about this, it is a common problem, and one many patients have talked to me about.

Are you under the care of a registered dietitian with an interest in liver disease? They are often really good at helping with a specific diet plan and suggesting appropriate foods/ snacks.

Best wishes

Trust1

CocoChannel profile image
CocoChannel

Hi Chris

It’s certainly not the worst problem, but to be a bit of a killjoy (sorry), you know it’s not ideal hence your post.

I had a fatty liver from being overweight but mostly from drinking too much. I ditched the booze and the weight, but after a private fibroscan last year, the consultant did advise I tone up my stomach area a bit as fat in the midriff area can contribute to liver fat.

I had to laugh as he hadn’t seen what I looked like before, but point taken. Keep an eye on this diet 🙂

Chris-harris profile image
Chris-harris

Yeah you are right, its not the worse but its not the best either, I want to find something that fills me, tastes great and does not make me fat .. maybe I am being a little optomistic :)

CocoChannel profile image
CocoChannel in reply toChris-harris

Coffee? It’s been done on here before, but the research shows only a tiny benefit to those with liver damage. For the rest of us, it’s not unhealthy and it does help suppress your appetite,

Oh and a food diary. (I might have mentioned this before).

in reply toChris-harris

Coco's food diary is well worth the effort because a dietician can identify imbalances that possibly cause you to overeat. Some foods cause rebound hunger, some prevent it. Balance is all in a diet that works for the individual. We need the right balance of food types and the variety that's likely to give us all we need. If we don't get this, our bodies prompt us to eat even though we had too much already. Once on the right track, and if our doctor finds no other problems that need addressing, we'll start to desire the foods that we need. That's where Trish's advice is handy: have the healthy food to hand/fridge :-) and leave the instant sugar rush foods in the shop. :-)

I find it an ongoing battle, grazing. It's tempting when we are told little and often to make it more and more, more often. :-)

Laura009 profile image
Laura009 in reply toChris-harris

Hi Chris, as you know with cirrhosis you mustn't skip meals, it's more important to eat 6 small meals each day.

Porridge is excellent for breakfast as it reduces energy slowly which makes you feel full for longer. I'd suggest snacking on cut fresh fruit and carrot sticks when you get the munchies.

All the best

Laura

in reply toLaura009

On best foods to fill up on, oatmeal was way up there on a list I recently viewed. Eggs were mentioned. Forget the others but have wanted to add that drinking plenty of water before eating is a help to fill up and eat less. A Dr. told me that craving sweets is very common when giving up the booze and definitely when quitting smoking. Double whammy, I imagine, when having given up both. But a wonderful and wise decision! For weight loss, I used to follow the lose the whites rule. It helped. Walking more too.

Laura009 profile image
Laura009 in reply to

Excellent , well done xx

Hi Chris

As your probably aware I've lost 3 stone in weight which in the early stages wasn't easy. I found eating lots of chicken and lamb curries cooked in nil per cent fat yoghurts to be very filling which did eventually stop my munchies.

Breakfast was eggs cooked various ways with the addition of grilled salmon, grilled lean bacon, tomatoes with 1 slice of toast. Almonds and cashew nuts really handy also to have around.

On some other occasions I made myself a bowl of chicken tikka for when I had the munchies and dipping the chicken pieces in a cucumber minted yogurt dip stopped my cravings which I kept in the fridge for emergencies.

There's one more thing I found that I had to do for about a month was to count calories to re educated my brain again to what I was eating !

We all have the munchies now and then and especially through the winter months when most of us curl up in front of the TV more! I'm currently one who's having to kick her own butt into gear for gaining a few pounds.

I agree with Fili, preparation is also part of enjoying your food plus to me it's all about TASTE which can stop cravings in there track.

Good luck with losing that additional weight Chris.

Love

Trish x

ThreeSmiles profile image
ThreeSmiles in reply to

Why do you keep your cravings in the fridge Trish? Do please tell....

.

.

😑

in reply toThreeSmiles

As like most Milo, I get the cravings at night 😁 so having chilled yummies in the fridge do actually go in hand with me chillin on the sofa ....🤣

.

ThreeSmiles profile image
ThreeSmiles in reply to

Oh dear my SOH has gone over your head again 😂 ne’er mind - just me being “rude” - yet again! 😕

in reply toThreeSmiles

Maybe not as I deleted my first message around 1.30am ......lol

Yes I'm a spoil sport 👎

ThreeSmiles profile image
ThreeSmiles in reply to

No it’s still there- my rudery still applies lol!

in reply toThreeSmiles

I'm not playing today👎

briccolone profile image
briccolone

I like the sound of your breakfast tbh

in reply tobriccolone

Breakfast/brunch is my favourite meal of the day which can be mouth watering tasty with a variety of items and not full of bad fats!

Laura009 profile image
Laura009

Pasta is also a good filler.... lasagne, spag bol and carbonara were always favourites of my husbands !

There's some mention of coffee... unfortunately 1 of the many symptoms of cirrhosis is insomnia so l would suggest drinking decaffeinated !

in reply toLaura009

How I wish I could eat pasta dishes which you are correct are definately filling . Unfortunately for me I have to be extremely strict with any pasta dishes as I gain weight at the blink of an eye plus I always want to add nice tasty sauces which are very moorish ! I guess it's all about quantity and little and often cannot be all bad. 🤨

Laura009 profile image
Laura009 in reply to

If on a weight loss plan, the amount you should have is what you can fit in the palm of your hand. 🖐

in reply toLaura009

I know plus years ago I wored for Slimming World ....lol

Bootandall profile image
Bootandall

It's murder on the teeth, but air popped popcorn is very filling, and without salt, butter or toppings, low calorie. You can mix it with a handful of mixed nuts and dried fruits for a low calorie gorp, which is another word for trail mix, used by hikers to keep up energy.

Chris-harris profile image
Chris-harris

That sounds like a good option, treat like without the treat evils

Chris-harris profile image
Chris-harris

thank you everyone for your advice, I will have a good read up and try some of your ideas, after tonight that is as I am going out for an indian :) x

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