Want to do Flight, but, well, I cannot stop eating CRAP!

Specialties Flight

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi all,

No this thread is no joke. And no I am not really eating crap in a literal sence, although actual crap might be healthier for me.

I am not huge by any means, but just a little over weight. I know I want to be a flight paramedic in the future, but I have a horrible addiction to ice cream and other sweets...

How do you guys keep away from them?

Happy

hi...I also wanted to be a paramedic. But dont have any exact idea on what and where to start. Could you help? Maybe you have infos. thank you so much.

P.S I'm into sweets before also, and what I did is that every time I want to eat something sweet like ice cream. I eat bitter foods first in order to lessen up the craving. Its all just in your mind...

Take a look at the Eat Clean books and cookbooks from Tosca Reno,

she has a number of healthy fun snacks. If you are going to do Flight,

you need food that is "jet fuel" so you will have the energy to meet

the demands. If you google, she has a website with regular recipe

examples. I was a former junk food person, but feel much healthier

on this nutrition approach...healthly choices and I have more energy.

Specializes in Critical Care/Flights/Family Practice.

It's a hard thing. I'm a foodie and a Flight Nurse and the two don't go together well.

An important first step is to get all the junk out of the house and don't let it back in. That being done, when you have a Jonesing for something bad, it just won't be there. Next, put a few consolation prizes in the house so you don't feel deprived and lose spirit. There's all sorts of 100 calorie packs of cookies and things that can get you over a craving without blowing your diet. It might be a good idea to put up some pictures of aircraft or whatever on the fridge and around the house to remind you of your goal when you're heading towards the kitchen for a snack.

Remember though, the sweet satisfaction of achieving your goal is better than any dish of ice cream, any candy bar. You can do it!

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
It's a hard thing. I'm a foodie and a Flight Nurse and the two don't go together well.

An important first step is to get all the junk out of the house and don't let it back in. That being done, when you have a Jonesing for something bad, it just won't be there. Next, put a few consolation prizes in the house so you don't feel deprived and lose spirit. There's all sorts of 100 calorie packs of cookies and things that can get you over a craving without blowing your diet. It might be a good idea to put up some pictures of aircraft or whatever on the fridge and around the house to remind you of your goal when you're heading towards the kitchen for a snack.

Remember though, the sweet satisfaction of achieving your goal is better than any dish of ice cream, any candy bar. You can do it!

Thank you so mch for your reply! How do you do it? I think I just need to get rid of all the bad stuff in the house, but I tried that before and I just went to the store and got more, I have no will power. maybe I need to stop working so I will be to poor to buy that stuff :) The aircraft pictures are a good idea, I will try that for sure!

I guess I should have asked "santa" for some will power!!! :)

Thanks again,

Happy

I'm glad I don't like sweets but I do enjoy fatty, greasy, cholesterol-rich goodness. That said, I work out a lot so I can eat a lot, lol. I'm 6'2" 175lbs. I run and do P90X. I used to lift a lot, but obviously I haven't in a while which you can tell by my weight.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I'm 4'11" which leaves zero wiggle room for extra lbs ... I run, and I don't eat crap, because I feel sooooo much better when I am "good." LOL. I love food as well, but I love being in shape more, and I hate the feeling I get with carb overload! I started P90X, but had a difficult time keeping up with it due to my wacky schedule. Maybe I'll try it again. I think once you get in the cycle of eating better/feeling better, it can be just as addictive as the sweets.

Find some good substitutes for sweets, like mixed berries with Cool Whip. Very yummy treat, and not so terrible for you.

If you can't kick the sweets habit, then there's always ground critical care transport. Not as sexy as flight, but some of the patients can be just as challenging.

On a diet note- try eating fruit for dessert instead of ice cream- or have fruit and (low or non-fat) frozen yogurt.

If you try to completely deprive yourself of those things you crave, you will crave them all the more. All things in moderation. If you know something is available to you , you will crave it less. That being said, try increasing your activity. Exercise is a great way for me to limit my hunger. I am 53 years old, go to the gym at 5am 4 days a week. At 5' 11'' and 205 I am considered overweight by most charts but have a bodyfat % of 7-9%. I realize if I eat too much or too poorly I will have to work harder to make up for it. That in itself is an incentive to keep myself "under control"

Specializes in icu/er.

have wanted to fly since i was a new guy in the unit, but i like to eat...alot. though im pretty active with wts and judo my matabolic rate seems slower than everyone elses.

Specializes in CNA.

Totally understand... when you have a craving for sweets, pop in a piece of gum and get a glass of water. Granted, it does not make up for the deliciousness of ice cream or other sweets, it will satisfy a sweet tooth and keep you away from those extra calories. And trust me, it takes a lot of will power - but the non-guilty feeling after is rewarding!

Good luck!!

Specializes in CNA.

Totally understand... when you have a craving for sweets, pop in a piece of gum and get a glass of water. Granted, it does not make up for the deliciousness of ice cream or other sweets, it will satisfy a sweet tooth and keep you away from those extra calories. And trust me, it takes a lot of will power - but the non-guilty feeling after is rewarding!

Good luck!!

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