Success Stories: Going Cold Turkey with Sugar

rosestring

I have tried to have self-discipline when it comes to eating in moderation. However, it always fails; when I start eating something I really like, I cannot just stop at one serving. I binge. I think going cold turkey is the way to go, but that comes with its own challenges. I have tried it though, and it is difficult. Still, can you really cut your cravings in the long run for a particular kind of food by cutting it out completely?

Anyone have success with going cold turkey? How did you do it?

EvgeniZyntx

Maybe you don't need to focus on going cold turkey with sugar?
Are you too restrictive and that leads to binging?

Hollywood_Porky

YES! Incredible success. If you eat sources from fruit, you are fine because of the fiber content in fruit. That's part of what makes the fruit a complex carb but not completely. My cravings are gone - and I never have any craving to have cheesecake or carrot cake or anything loaded with sugar anymore. Stevia is a great addition to the diet as well.

rosestring

No, I am not restrictive at all. I have gained back 20+ pounds in a few years (gaining and losing 10 pounds off and on) by constantly eating a lot of sugar. I don't crave fried foods as much, or drink much soda at all, but I eat a lot of sugar, causing me to float between 150-160 at being a 5' 4" woman.

stephy1771

I've never cut out sugar completely, but the more I avoid eating and buying treats, the easier it gets to avoid them in general. It also helps me to pay careful attention to how I feel after eating a bunch of junk - the more I note the negative impacts of a food, the easier it gets to say "no." And perhaps the biggest help I've had is eating more quality fat (including saturated fats) - it DRASTICALLY reduces my hunger overall and especially my sugar cravings. Also, I try to go for high quality foods and taking time to savor them when eating - makes a big difference in being able to moderate your consumption.

Hollywood_Porky

stephy1771 wrote: »

I've never cut out sugar completely, but the more I avoid eating and buying treats, the easier it gets to avoid them in general. It also helps me to pay careful attention to how I feel after eating a bunch of junk - the more I note the negative impacts of a food, the easier it gets to say "no." And perhaps the biggest help I've had is eating more quality fat (including saturated fats) - it DRASTICALLY reduces my hunger overall and especially my sugar cravings. Also, I try to go for high quality foods and taking time to savor them when eating - makes a big difference in being able to moderate your consumption.

That's it! You found that magical combination! I agree - reducing to eliminating simple sugars (not fruit mind you) is the path of least resistance to becoming fit. High quality foods, nutrient-dense, not calorie-dense, is also the way to go.

EvgeniZyntx

stephy1771 wrote: »

I've never cut out sugar completely, but the more I avoid eating and buying treats, the easier it gets to avoid them in general. It also helps me to pay careful attention to how I feel after eating a bunch of junk - the more I note the negative impacts of a food, the easier it gets to say "no." And perhaps the biggest help I've had is eating more quality fat (including saturated fats) - it DRASTICALLY reduces my hunger overall and especially my sugar cravings. Also, I try to go for high quality foods and taking time to savor them when eating - makes a big difference in being able to moderate your consumption.

So perhaps focus on macros and meeting them. Make sure you get enough fat/protein in each meal.

MinimalistShoeAddict

tedboosalis7 wrote: »

If you eat sources from fruit, you are fine because of the fiber content in fruit. .

So fiber is the key? Can I just add some Benefiber to my soda for the same effect?

OP,

On a serious note, it is fine to cut out specific high sugar treats if they lead you to binge eating and exceeding your calorie/macro targets. Focus on the specific foods causing the binge eating, not sugar itself. Sugar is not the problem, just an ingredient of some of the foods you happen to binge on.

Don't listen to the people hung up on "fruit sugar" vs non fruit sugar. Just avoid the foods that cause you to binge and hit your calorie/macro targets.

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jddnw

rosestring wrote: »

Anyone have success with going cold turkey? How did you do it?

I'd done it. I simply don't keep trigger foods in the house. Out of site. Out of mind.

canary_girl

I had a lot of success with eliminating sugar "cold turkey". I used to eat a lot of processed sugar. So I gave it up. Day One was fine, no problem. Day Two Sucked *kitten*. It was terrible. I finally just went to bed and laid there until I fell asleep. Day Three was hard, but easier than two. Day Four was fine, no more craving. I eliminated processed sugar (cakes, cookies, muffins, that type of thing and anything that had more than 3grams of sugar per serving, but not fruit or veggies) for quite a long time. Now I practice moderation. Now I can have a cookie or two without eating half the package. Sugar tastes very sickly sweet to me now, so a bite or two is all I want. And I have kids, so there is always cookies/ice cream in the house. I just don't want it. Eliminating sugar cold turkey for about a year was the turning point for me.

emmaps55

I did -- and it's now almost 7 weeks and I am still losing without the age-old struggle over cravings: see my blog post: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/emmaps55/view/three-weeks-along-and-thistime-it-s-different-738752

Kirawolfkin

I've been low sugar/no dessert for three weeks now and I still absolutely die every time I grocery shop. How the heck do sugar cravings fade in a few days? It's my biggest hurdle.

i4gv777

In the past, I went on an extremely low carb Atkins diet of no sugar, no breads, no fruit. I ate sugar free jello with whip cream, and drank a lot of sweet diet rootbeer. When I was tempted by sugar, I would change my thoughts to something else. Eventually, after losing about 40pds I fell off the diet. I was super surprised when I discovered sugar actually tasted gross at first when I started eating sweets again!

rosestring

lmjohnson110 wrote: »

I had a lot of success with eliminating sugar "cold turkey". I used to eat a lot of processed sugar. So I gave it up. Day One was fine, no problem. Day Two Sucked *kitten*. It was terrible. I finally just went to bed and laid there until I fell asleep. Day Three was hard, but easier than two. Day Four was fine, no more craving. I eliminated processed sugar (cakes, cookies, muffins, that type of thing and anything that had more than 3grams of sugar per serving, but not fruit or veggies) for quite a long time. Now I practice moderation. Now I can have a cookie or two without eating half the package. Sugar tastes very sickly sweet to me now, so a bite or two is all I want. And I have kids, so there is always cookies/ice cream in the house. I just don't want it. Eliminating sugar cold turkey for about a year was the turning point for me.

Thank you for your detailed response! I think I will try to cut it and just force myself to eat more fruits and veggies. Thank you to everyone else for sharing as well!

Francl27

It worked great for me for about 3 months, then I binged badly. I've switched to moderation since...

corsayre8

I have a major sweet tooth. Ate candy nearly daily, drank soda regularly, lots of desserts. The. I dropped refined sugar/corn syrup/artificial sweetners the begining of the year. No issues here. I don't limit fruit and use honey daily in my tea, so usually still get sweet in my life.

When I really need a treat I'll make cookies with coconut sugar or such, but this is in moderation.

isulo_kura

I just don't understand why anyone would eat cold turkey with sugar. Is it like a caramalised turkey then?

bigandstripy

I have cut out soft drinks and chocolate and my sugar levels are SO much better. I'm not actively looking for sugary products but I'm still consuming it in regular every day things that I don't necessarily associate with sugar.

Sabine_Stroehm

I cut out all refined carbs: sweets, pastries, store bought white bread, candy, sugar sweetened soda and snacks etc. For a couple of weeks, then limited them to less refined alternatives (100% whole grain, no sugar added etc.).

My palate has changed. My hunger has changed, my cravings changed.
Been maintaining my weight loss about 14 years now.

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lemurcat12

My palate didn't change, but I didn't have a problem appreciating fruits and veggies to begin with (and was already something of a sweets snob). I found that cutting sugar out when it was a go-to for me for emotional/stress eating purposes was helpful in teaching myself I didn't need it. I realized after the fact that what had really been helpful about that, for me, was cutting out the unplanned eating, since I can easily go for non sweet foods for the emotional eating, sweets were just what was more commonly around.

I'd say that what might be helpful is really thinking through what's going on when you struggle with moderation. Is it related to a long-term habit, emotional eating, specific trigger foods, a time or place, etc.?

This seems kind of obvious, but I've seen people here complain that when they pull out the bag of chips or box of donuts or whatever that they don't stop. For many (probably most) people you just aren't going to if you set yourself up like that--you need a cue to stop eating. It may make a huge difference to actually get out a serving size and tell yourself that's what you are eating today. I know if I let myself just eat out of the refillable supply of tortilla chips on the table at a Mexican restaurant I'm not going to easily stop when I should be full, and it's not because I'm not capable of moderation, but because the situation is setting me up. I eat ice cream in moderation with no problem now, but that doesn't mean I think I could sit in front of the TV with a pint and stop after half a cup, even though half a cup is plenty when I measure it out.

dutchandkiwi

I went cold turkey on added for three months. I found that after that I just did not like sweets anymore. Some cakes are OK-ish in small bits but really most cakes taste awful to me. After the three months I use sugar, but very much in moderation and find it easy to stay away from the really sweet things.
The other day my husband and I were at a store which also had hot belgian waffles and syrup. Whereas he said "that smells nice" I said "Eeeew that smells sickly sweet"

lemurcat12

isulo_kura wrote: »

I just don't understand why anyone would eat cold turkey with sugar. Is it like a caramalised turkey then?

You aren't into cranberry sauce, then?

coebybrown

I have had awesome success with cutting out sugars.