The truth about sugar addiction from a former sugar addict

lemurcat12

kyta32 wrote: »

The 5 teaspoons added sugar means about 25 g/sugar (100 calories)/day for a woman. If this is what you mean by moderation, then your moderation is my limited.

I think you can't really talk about this without reference to individual calorie limit vs. average woman or the like. However, for me, that's pretty much what I mean by moderation. I don't find that I ever need to focus on how much "added sugar" I'm eating, though, but that it tends to be pretty limited when I focus on my overall diet and getting lots of vegetables (ideally 7 servings or so) and adequate protein, as well as my preferred macros and a decent amount of high quality fat.

Maybe that wouldn't be the case if my calorie limit were higher and I might have to worry about where the excess calories came from more, but that's not my issue.

lemurcat12

Jolinia wrote: »

Diabetes runs heavily in my family. Even among members who are not noticeably overweight. So if I ever can eat sugar in moderation and not want to scarf the entire container, I'm going with the new WHO recommendation.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/06/health/who-sugar-guidelines/

WHO is encouraging people to consume less than 5% of their total daily calories from sugars.

Nope. As with the 25 grams recommendation, it refers to only added sugars (or those in things like juice). That's because if you read their reasoning it's not about the effects of sugar, but the connection with extra calories and overall nutrition (and apparently tooth decay, which seems a silly reason). That's also why it's less of a concern if you have a carefully monitored diet and more calories to play with, although for the average person (and me specifically) the numbers are reasonable enough.

lemurcat12

kyta32 wrote: »

Based on what I've read in some of the sugar threads, not everyone's definition of moderation is.

Virtually all of the posts going on about eating donuts constantly are from eliminationists. They are dumb straw men based on the idea that anyone fat (or formerly fat) must be shoving donuts in their mouth constantly.

On the other hand, "sugar is the devil" is something that has been said in these parts non-ironically numerous times.

Jolinia

lemurcat12 wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

Diabetes runs heavily in my family. Even among members who are not noticeably overweight. So if I ever can eat sugar in moderation and not want to scarf the entire container, I'm going with the new WHO recommendation.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/06/health/who-sugar-guidelines/

WHO is encouraging people to consume less than 5% of their total daily calories from sugars.

Nope. As with the 25 grams recommendation, it refers to only added sugars (or those in things like juice). That's because if you read their reasoning it's not about the effects of sugar, but the connection with extra calories and overall nutrition (and apparently tooth decay, which seems a silly reason). That's also why it's less of a concern if you have a carefully monitored diet and more calories to play with, although for the average person (and me specifically) the numbers are reasonable enough.

Yep, I should have clarified, thanks! I was strictly thinking of cookies and cake anyway, not berries and fruit.

SLLRunner

lemurcat12 wrote: »

kyta32 wrote: »

Based on what I've read in some of the sugar threads, not everyone's definition of moderation is.

Virtually all of the posts going on about eating donuts constantly are from eliminationists. They are dumb straw men based on the idea that anyone fat (or formerly fat) must be shoving donuts in their mouth constantly.

On the other hand, "sugar is the devil" is something that has been said in these parts non-ironically numerous times.

Yep. Those two views are extremes.

Over a five year span, I gained 30 pounds back from the 70 some-odd that I'd original lost, by stuffing what many would call healthy foods into my mouth. I was the Queen of Sugar Free and Low Fat, and I exercised as well. No kidding.

Now, it's moderation for me. That means I watch sugar in my overall diet, just as I do fat, protein, and carbs, because I want a more balanced diet. I also limit caffeine because my body disagrees with it, and eliminate lactose and soy due to intolerance. This means I don't always choose something gooey sweet for desert, but sometimes I do. I've had my glucose tested due to my concerns of family diabetes, but thus far I'm okay.

I refuse to eat donuts, too, but only because

I absolutely can't stand the taste!

Sorry I'm making you press "spoiler" to find out why I don't eat donuts.

DeWoSa

SLLRunner wrote: »

I refuse to eat donuts, too, but only because

I absolutely can't stand the taste!

You just haven't found the right donut.

SLLRunner

Thank you, De. That made my day!

sugarnspice33

I can totally relate. I've lost my desired weight thru exercise and calorie restriction. However, when I eat sweets they don't taste the same, I don't get the same emotional pleasure but I find myself binging on them if I dont put them out of site. For example cookies or snack cakes....open to suggestions

girlviernes

Love the Cronut Burger... hmmm, how to fit that thing into daily budget haha.

Sugarnspice, is this new since you lost the weight, or did you have trouble with those foods before?

SLLRunner

sugarnspice33 wrote: »

I can totally relate. I've lost my desired weight thru exercise and calorie restriction. However, when I eat sweets they don't taste the same, I don't get the same emotional pleasure but I find myself binging on them if I dont put them out of site. For example cookies or snack cakes....open to suggestions

I used to be in the same place. Now, I have sweets in my cabinet, fridge, and freezer and don't bother them unless I simply want a serving. The only thing that helped me was to allow myself to eat everything in moderation. After I learned this lesson, those "craving" or "the need to overdo" completely disappeared.

Sometimes I can't find it in my calorie and macro goals to overindulge and I'll save the treat for another day. However, I have some sugar every day, because I eat fruits and vegetables.