Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with craving

I didn't poop this morning, therefore I shall OM NOM NOM all day long

woebot — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:41:55 -0800

Why do I crave sugar on days when I've had a lackluster/no bowel movement? Normally I take a dump within a half hour of waking up, and my day is all sunshine and flowers afterwards.

On days where I don't poop in the morning (either from constipation [rarely], or because I don't have enough time/privacy to poop in peace) or if I don't completely expel all the poop that needs to come out (time restraints. sigh.), I notice an increased craving for sweets and an increased appetite in general (but mainly in the area of super sweet junk food and drinks). The cravings stop once my bowel movements go back to normal.

While this doesn't horribly cripple my life in anyway, I am quite curious as to why my bowel movements change my eating behavior as it seems to do. Any ideas?

Why am I addicted to something I've never tried?

Defenestrator — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:20:47 -0800

Craving cigarettes, but have never smoked. Anybody ever heard of this? I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. Recently I've been having dreams where I'm smoking a cigarette and REALLY enjoying it. It makes me feel very relaxed (which is what they supposedly do right?). When I wake up I have what feels to be the taste of cigarettes in my mouth, and an intense craving to smoke one.

In addition to this I often find myself longing for one when I get a whiff of someone smoking in public. I really enjoy their scent.

Like I said, I've never tried smoking anything in my life. Can anybody explain this phenomenon? Has anybody ever heard of this? Most people I know that have never smoked are repulsed by the smell and have never had this desire that I harbor.

What I find interesting is that the dreams only occur during a stressful period in my life. Also, my dad smoked cigarettes for a long period in his life, which could also have something to do with this. I know that probably makes me more prone to addiction, but it's like I'm already addicted to something I've never tried.

I have paella on the brain, and I can't get it off.

grateful — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:52:18 -0800

Where can I find the best paella in Washington, D.C.? I have paella on the brain, and I can't get it off. Where can I satisfy my insatiable cravings in the DC area? Bonus points for the Maryland suburbs, but I'm willing to travel for quality.

Well, aren't YOU crabby tonight...

symphonik — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 02:18:51 -0800

Hmm... ruh-roh. I've just developed a craving. Where can I get really good crab in the San Francisco Bay Area? I live south of the City, so if there's some phenomenal seafood restaurant that serves heaping piles of Alaskan King Crab here in the Valley, great—but I'll be more than happy to hop Caltrain for this.

Don't ask me what started it. I was reading Jared Diamond's new book (which by the way, is very good) and all of a sudden, my mouth begins watering for a big wad of crab meat doused in melted butter. Yum.

Help me get my fix!

But what was more like a drug was the food.

synecdoche — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 23:08:18 -0800

Do my food cravings mean anything? Or, rather, how can I satisfy that feeling without reaching for the junk food? (Way too much more inside). Over the last ~~few~~ many months, I've totally revamped my lifestyle. I've been eating right, exercising five days a week, and have been feeling wonderful. I'm right at the weight I want to be at, and am looking forward to maintaining this weight with exercise and a healthy, balanced diet. I've discovered foods I'd have ago shunned are actually quite wonderful.

The last couple weeks, though, have been incredibly hard. I seem to be giving into cravings left right and center. I was doing fine until about three weeks ago, when I was housesitting. I was under orders to eat whatever I liked, and I thought that that was fine-- I'd just bring my own groceries over anyway. But they had chocolates and nuts, and I sort of ate more than my fill of those. Anyway, housesitting ended, and I got back on track.

But now I'm housesitting again, and the same thing has happened, only this time with ice cream. See, when I am at home, this food is easy enough to avoid, because I just don't buy it. Done and done. But I'm worried about the long term practicality of this. Obviously I won't be able to avoid this stuff forever. It's going to be available.

So what I am asking is twofold, I guess. First of all, I am wondering if when I get a psychological craving (and I know it is psychological, because I don't really feel hungry-- it is more of the "Wow, that'd taste good!" type thing) if my body is trying to tell me something, like I am not getting enough of some nutrient or something, and if so if there is some way to substitute things. Second, if there is not some physiological need that needs addressing, if anybody has any other tips to, well, bolster my willpower, I guess.

Like I said, I am eating a pretty balanced diet. The last few weeks, I have been monitoring my dietary intake with that sparkpeople site, and usually I am within the healthy range for everything (though I find it more difficult to avoid sodiium, liking soy sauce as much as I do). Typically for breakfast I'll have oatmeal (sometimes with cinnamon and brown sugar) and then some fruit mid-morning; lunch is usually soup (from scratch if I've made some recently and froze it, or from a can) and a salad or a sandwich (either way with some protein, like a chicken breast in the salad). Dinner is usualyl some sort of meat with vegetables (I switch these up all the time, rarely having the same veggies twice in a row) and some grain (barley or brown rice; recently couscous) or potatoes. When I snack it is usually fruit, or popcorn in the evenings.

Everything else health-wise seems to be going fine.