A Craving To Kill For

What do you crave?

For me it's chocolate. Dark chocolate. I have had a love affair with junk food since mom started going to the thrift store and freezing boxes of Devil Dogs, Ring Dings and Yankee Doodles. My brother, sister, and I went crazy for those.

 

Unchecked my craving will give me a bulge around the middle, high cholesterol, and a few other health problems that can be worked off by munching carrots and working out like a madman.

 

In the last two months I've been working on a project that involves more serious cravings for heroin. These cravings drive people to do tragic things to each other. The stories I've read have made me physically sick and writing this book has been difficult.

One particular aspect of my research has plagued me. Heroin addicts get clean using Methadone in clinics, or by sweating it out at home. Either way, beating the addiction means a horrible sickness that lasts a week and involves sweating in the fetal position with cramps, vomiting and the worst fever symptoms you could imagine.

Even while addicts are taking the drug, they require a larger and larger dose to get off "E". In other words, addicts need more and more of the drug just to feel ok. It becomes harder and harder to get high and many times they are stealing or prostituting themselves simply to get rid of the sickness that will eventually consume them.

I'm awed by the power of not only the drug, but the other emotional and life issues that would inspire someone to go back to heroin after kicking it. Sweating it out is a deterrent for sure, but recovering addicts go back over and over. Some have been in detox dozens of times. Thinking about this boggles my mind and assures me of heroin's power.

I won't risk my life and my health by trying heroin, so I'm going to explore my own cravings.

I've made a bet with myself. Or maybe I'm conducting a psychological experiment on myself to help put me in touch with the three recovering addicts in my new book. Starting today, until I finish writing the book (or I crash and burn), I am going to go on my No Junk diet and get in touch with the cravings I have for junk food.

Anyone is welcome to join me.

Here is my official list of banned foods (yours may vary):

No Chocolate… granola bars with chocolate chips are ok
No Fast Food – McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC… Subway is acceptable
No Donuts, Cake, Cookies, Pies… birthday cake for my kids is acceptable
No Candy
No Soda
No Ice Cream 

I allow myself the following:

Beer and wine
Pizza
Chinese food

As time progresses I'll check in with my word count, my success on the diet, and the affect my cravings have had on me over the week.

If you decide to join me on the challenge, don't be shy. Post a reply and let me know how you are doing.