Self Diagnosed Sugar Addicts Sure Do Lie A Lot
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People rarely eat coffee right out of the bag?janejellyroll wrote: »thecunninglinguist wrote: »
theres the problem, its not by most definitions. addiction has no hard and fast definitionjanejellyroll wrote: »
I do think it's entertaining that a lot of people who freak out about the "sugar addict" threads had no problem (and many post in) the coffee addict threads.Just to stir it up a bit - I'm pretty sure when people say they're "addicted" to something, they don't mean it literally and in fact are not trying to offend a recovering alcoholic by using the A-word. The word has simply become common in conversation. I say I'm addicted to coffee all the time: I'm not implying that I need an intervention or rehab.
I think. Or maybe I'm wrong. Carry on.
Is caffeine not addicting?
It's a CNS stimulant that users develop a tolerance to and a mild dependence (complete with withdrawal symptoms) can develop. Honest question: what would be the argument against caffeine addiction being real?
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LavenderLeaves wrote: »mamapeach910 wrote: »Careful there, though. There is a subset of people for whom food addiction might be an appropriate way to phrase what's going on, and for them, it would be a clinical diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder. This would not be just someone who says they eat a box of cookies, mind you.
There's current literature to support this thinking and way of phrasing things, and again, it's not something that's really up for self-diagnosis.
As someone in recovery from BED, I can say that I never, ever considered it a food addiction. The behaviour was an addictive process for me, and I definitely have certain types of food that I am more vulnerable to binging on, but I would never, ever say I have a food addiction. If anything, an eating addiction is more appropriate.
If I'm not mistaken, it's a subset of people with BED, so you may have not fit the profile.
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DeguelloTex wrote: »
People rarely eat coffee right out of the bag?janejellyroll wrote: »thecunninglinguist wrote: »
theres the problem, its not by most definitions. addiction has no hard and fast definitionjanejellyroll wrote: »
I do think it's entertaining that a lot of people who freak out about the "sugar addict" threads had no problem (and many post in) the coffee addict threads.Just to stir it up a bit - I'm pretty sure when people say they're "addicted" to something, they don't mean it literally and in fact are not trying to offend a recovering alcoholic by using the A-word. The word has simply become common in conversation. I say I'm addicted to coffee all the time: I'm not implying that I need an intervention or rehab.
I think. Or maybe I'm wrong. Carry on.
Is caffeine not addicting?
It's a CNS stimulant that users develop a tolerance to and a mild dependence (complete with withdrawal symptoms) can develop. Honest question: what would be the argument against caffeine addiction being real?
That's a good point. I had always heard that caffeine was addictive, never really thought about it that much.
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DeguelloTex wrote: »
People rarely eat coffee right out of the bag?janejellyroll wrote: »thecunninglinguist wrote: »
theres the problem, its not by most definitions. addiction has no hard and fast definitionjanejellyroll wrote: »
I do think it's entertaining that a lot of people who freak out about the "sugar addict" threads had no problem (and many post in) the coffee addict threads.Just to stir it up a bit - I'm pretty sure when people say they're "addicted" to something, they don't mean it literally and in fact are not trying to offend a recovering alcoholic by using the A-word. The word has simply become common in conversation. I say I'm addicted to coffee all the time: I'm not implying that I need an intervention or rehab.
I think. Or maybe I'm wrong. Carry on.
Is caffeine not addicting?
It's a CNS stimulant that users develop a tolerance to and a mild dependence (complete with withdrawal symptoms) can develop. Honest question: what would be the argument against caffeine addiction being real?
I only saw that in one circumstance...in the military out in the field...we didn't have time to brew any coffee so some of the boys dumped a packet of instant coffee, creamer and sugar in their mouth and took a big drink of water at 4am...I almost gagged...
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Although, chocolate-covered espresso beans...janejellyroll wrote: »DeguelloTex wrote: »
People rarely eat coffee right out of the bag?janejellyroll wrote: »thecunninglinguist wrote: »
theres the problem, its not by most definitions. addiction has no hard and fast definitionjanejellyroll wrote: »
I do think it's entertaining that a lot of people who freak out about the "sugar addict" threads had no problem (and many post in) the coffee addict threads.Just to stir it up a bit - I'm pretty sure when people say they're "addicted" to something, they don't mean it literally and in fact are not trying to offend a recovering alcoholic by using the A-word. The word has simply become common in conversation. I say I'm addicted to coffee all the time: I'm not implying that I need an intervention or rehab.
I think. Or maybe I'm wrong. Carry on.
Is caffeine not addicting?
It's a CNS stimulant that users develop a tolerance to and a mild dependence (complete with withdrawal symptoms) can develop. Honest question: what would be the argument against caffeine addiction being real?
That's a good point. I had always heard that caffeine was addictive, never really thought about it that much.
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ladybird89 wrote: »sugar is addictive in the sense that the more you consume it on a regular basis, the more you crave it and feel like you need it just to feel "normal." this is a fact.
No, it's not. Some of us who thought this was the case have been able to conquer this belief, eat small amounts of sugar without craving for further amounts, and walk away satisfied.
This is just some of the BS that goes around in pop culture about sugar masquerading as "science".
A lot of things taste good. That doesn't mean your body CRAVES them and makes you want more than you should eat. It just means they taste good. Heck, my lentil stew tastes delicious to me too. I eat my portion, then I'm done.
People who overeat ANYTHING will find so many ways of telling themselves that the food made them do it. It's really absurd.
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This is my point. The average person doesn't know the definition of addiction. For most, an addiction means something they don't want to live without, and that causes unpleasant feelings if they stop using/ eating. Hence, addiction.janejellyroll wrote: »thecunninglinguist wrote: »
theres the problem, its not by most definitions. addiction has no hard and fast definitionjanejellyroll wrote: »
I do think it's entertaining that a lot of people who freak out about the "sugar addict" threads had no problem (and many post in) the coffee addict threads.Just to stir it up a bit - I'm pretty sure when people say they're "addicted" to something, they don't mean it literally and in fact are not trying to offend a recovering alcoholic by using the A-word. The word has simply become common in conversation. I say I'm addicted to coffee all the time: I'm not implying that I need an intervention or rehab.
I think. Or maybe I'm wrong. Carry on.
Is caffeine not addicting?
It's a CNS stimulant that users develop a tolerance to and a mild dependence (complete with withdrawal symptoms) can develop. Honest question: what would be the argument against caffeine addiction being real?
Sugar/ caffeine
Po-tay-to/ po-tah-to
I think everyone is just getting too riled up by semantics. IMHO.
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I do think it's entertaining that a lot of people who freak out about the "sugar addict" threads had no problem (and many post in) the coffee addict threads.Just to stir it up a bit - I'm pretty sure when people say they're "addicted" to something, they don't mean it literally and in fact are not trying to offend a recovering alcoholic by using the A-word. The word has simply become common in conversation. I say I'm addicted to coffee all the time: I'm not implying that I need an intervention or rehab.
I think. Or maybe I'm wrong. Carry on.
They aren't writing angry letters to HGTV to demand Rehab Addict be taken off the air, either.0 -
mamapeach910 wrote: »
If I'm not mistaken, it's a subset of people with BED, so you may have not fit the profile.
Huh! Interesting. I misunderstood your original post. I'll definitely have to look that up.
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Yes. OMG they are amazing.DeguelloTex wrote: »
Although, chocolate-covered espresso beans...janejellyroll wrote: »DeguelloTex wrote: »
People rarely eat coffee right out of the bag?janejellyroll wrote: »thecunninglinguist wrote: »
theres the problem, its not by most definitions. addiction has no hard and fast definitionjanejellyroll wrote: »
I do think it's entertaining that a lot of people who freak out about the "sugar addict" threads had no problem (and many post in) the coffee addict threads.Just to stir it up a bit - I'm pretty sure when people say they're "addicted" to something, they don't mean it literally and in fact are not trying to offend a recovering alcoholic by using the A-word. The word has simply become common in conversation. I say I'm addicted to coffee all the time: I'm not implying that I need an intervention or rehab.
I think. Or maybe I'm wrong. Carry on.
Is caffeine not addicting?
It's a CNS stimulant that users develop a tolerance to and a mild dependence (complete with withdrawal symptoms) can develop. Honest question: what would be the argument against caffeine addiction being real?
That's a good point. I had always heard that caffeine was addictive, never really thought about it that much.
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Is it getting riled up by semantics OR
Is it not wanting to foster a way of thinking that's ultimately detrimental to weight loss?
I personally think that saying one is addicted to sugar is blame shifting. I don't think that meaningful progress with any sort of ongoing weight problem can be made until one is able to accept responsibility for their own behavior with food.
If you're still finding ways to blame the food, you're still going to fail in the end.
I know that sounds cold, but that's been my experience, and that's been what I've observed over time with other dieters.
This is NOT to say that one cannot be cognizant of the fact that sugar is a problem for them and chose to give it up while owning responsibility for their behavior. The two positions aren't mutually exclusive. I don't think people doing this generally go around saying they're addicted, though.0 -
Looncove_Farm wrote: »Ok so I would chance to guess when someone says they are addicted to sweets (sugar) that maybe its not the sugar itself as much as it is the junk food with all the added sugar.
Maybe they are very much drawn to sugary drinks abnd cakes, cookies, pies, pudding, candybars, hard candies, peeps, ya know, that sort of thing. Maybe its not so much the sugar itself,,,maybe its the processed carbs.......maybe? Is that crickets i hear?
Processed carbs is the addictive substance? Sadly that is also as silly as being addicted to "sugar"0 -
Agreed.mamapeach910 wrote: »Is it getting riled up by semantics OR
Is it not wanting to foster a way of thinking that's ultimately detrimental to weight loss?
I personally think that saying one is addicted to sugar is blame shifting. I don't think that meaningful progress with any sort of ongoing weight problem can be made until one is able to accept responsibility for their own behavior with food.
If you're still finding ways to blame the food, you're still going to fail in the end.
I know that sounds cold, but that's been my experience, and that's been what I've observed over time with other dieters.
This is NOT to say that one cannot be cognizant of the fact that sugar is a problem for them and chose to give it up while owning responsibility for their behavior. The two positions aren't mutually exclusive. I don't think people doing this generally go around saying they're addicted, though.
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Is it getting riled up by semantics OR
Is it not wanting to foster a way of thinking that's ultimately detrimental to weight loss?
I personally think that saying one is addicted to sugar is blame shifting. I don't think that meaningful progress with any sort of ongoing weight problem can be made until one is able to accept responsibility for their own behavior with food.
If you're still finding ways to blame the food, you're still going to fail in the end.
I know that sounds cold, but that's been my experience, and that's been what I've observed over time with other dieters.
This is NOT to say that one cannot be cognizant of the fact that sugar is a problem for them and chose to give it up while owning responsibility for their behavior. The two positions aren't mutually exclusive.
Realistically, that would require someone to be psychic. The assumption in any thread where the word "addiction" is used in correlation to "sugar" is that the person means it literally and clinically. They are never given the benefit of the doubt that it's a colloquial use, just like when people say OMG I'm addicted to Quest bars or coffee.
You can pretty much forecast it down to the post:
I want to cut sugar because I'm so addicted to it, any pointers?
Addiciton not real n00b
Stop being mean
Stop policing the forums
Stop moving goalposts
OMFG DID YOU KNOW FRUIT HAS SUGAR IN IT??? OMG NOBODY HAS EVER MENTIONED IT BEFORE!
hehehe are you going to stop eating apples? How could you not eat apples?
***generic mod warning***
I'm so offended you dared to compare my drug/alcohol/sex addiction to your Dunkin Donuts habit, How very dare you?!?!?!?!?!
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Is it getting riled up by semantics OR
Is it not wanting to foster a way of thinking that's ultimately detrimental to weight loss?
I personally think that saying one is addicted to sugar is blame shifting. I don't think that meaningful progress with any sort of ongoing weight problem can be made until one is able to accept responsibility for their own behavior with food.
If you're still finding ways to blame the food, you're still going to fail in the end.
I know that sounds cold, but that's been my experience, and that's been what I've observed over time with other dieters.
This is NOT to say that one cannot be cognizant of the fact that sugar is a problem for them and chose to give it up while owning responsibility for their behavior. The two positions aren't mutually exclusive.
Realistically, that would require someone to be psychic. The assumption in any thread where the word "addiction" is used in correlation to "sugar" is that the person means it literally and clinically. They are never given the benefit of the doubt that it's a colloquial use, just like when people say OMG I'm addicted to Quest bars or coffee.
You can pretty much forecast it down to the post:
I want to cut sugar because I'm so addicted to it, any pointers?
Addiciton not real n00b
Stop being mean
Stop policing the forums
Stop moving goalposts
OMFG DID YOU KNOW FRUIT HAS SUGAR IN IT??? OMG NOBODY HAS EVER MENTIONED IT BEFORE!
hehehe are you going to stop eating apples? How could you not eat apples?
***generic mod warning***
I'm so offended you dared to compare my drug/alcohol/sex addiction to your Dunkin Donuts habit, How very dare you?!?!?!?!?!
It's not the semantics of the word addicted, it's if you claim to have an issue with a substance, shouldn't you know what that substance is? Sugar takes many forms but so called addicts only focus on very few of them and only when in certain products, meaning they don't actually have an issue with sugar at all0 -
If I ever overdo it on something, I know that it's my fault. It's not the foods fault. I was the one who didn't have the self control to stop. I don't get why we blame so many things on foods. Weight loss is a mental battle more than anything, I think.0
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Is it getting riled up by semantics OR
Is it not wanting to foster a way of thinking that's ultimately detrimental to weight loss?
I personally think that saying one is addicted to sugar is blame shifting. I don't think that meaningful progress with any sort of ongoing weight problem can be made until one is able to accept responsibility for their own behavior with food.
If you're still finding ways to blame the food, you're still going to fail in the end.
I know that sounds cold, but that's been my experience, and that's been what I've observed over time with other dieters.
This is NOT to say that one cannot be cognizant of the fact that sugar is a problem for them and chose to give it up while owning responsibility for their behavior. The two positions aren't mutually exclusive.
Realistically, that would require someone to be psychic. The assumption in any thread where the word "addiction" is used in correlation to "sugar" is that the person means it literally and clinically. They are never given the benefit of the doubt that it's a colloquial use, just like when people say OMG I'm addicted to Quest bars or coffee.
You can pretty much forecast it down to the post:
I want to cut sugar because I'm so addicted to it, any pointers?
Addiciton not real n00b
Stop being mean
Stop policing the forums
Stop moving goalposts
OMFG DID YOU KNOW FRUIT HAS SUGAR IN IT??? OMG NOBODY HAS EVER MENTIONED IT BEFORE!
hehehe are you going to stop eating apples? How could you not eat apples?
***generic mod warning***
I'm so offended you dared to compare my drug/alcohol/sex addiction to your Dunkin Donuts habit, How very dare you?!?!?!?!?!
It's not the semantics of the word addicted, it's if you claim to have an issue with a substance, shouldn't you know what that substance is? Sugar takes many forms but so called addicts only focus on very few of them and only when in certain products, meaning they don't actually have an issue with sugar at all
Then shouldn't you also be lecturing the people who are addicted to cookie dough quest bars but don't like the lemon ones?0 -
ladybird89 wrote: »sugar is addictive in the sense that the more you consume it on a regular basis, the more you crave it and feel like you need it just to feel "normal." this is a fact. also, i've never heard anybody say "i'm addicted to sugar, therefore i'm giving up on losing weight. i'm addicted and always will be, brb gotta go eat two dozen donuts now." to the contrary. being self-aware enough to recognize that your body has become dependent on a certain substance (whether its for "comfort," for "energy," etc) is the first step to undoing that unhealthy habit.
The link between consumption and increased craving is true for some. All the "..ose" chemicals hit fast, depending on what else is consumed that might slow them down (pectin, for ex) and have an immediate effect on brain function - lights up receptors in the brain in the same place that is activated when people addicted to alcohol crave substance or drink, spikes dopamine (more so than puppies? maybe), increases presence of serotonin. Many people experience a crash afterwards ... which is alleviated by more sugar .... the alleviation of "crash" is experienced subjectively as a return to normal.
Whether or not you view the process judgmentally as an "excuse" ... why you would says more about you than anything; if the person you are judging is you, just say no? ... understanding it and being curious about how it plays out for you, individually, can be helpful in moderating a habit if that is what you want to do.
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Well Im gonna gO ahead and say this. I dont consider myself an "addict" but I love sugar. Plain ole white sugar. Leave a box of sugar cubes anywhere near me and I will eat the entire box. As a kid I would snag sugar packets from the target food court and suck on them in the store through the package!!! I Would shove the whole pack in my mouth. I actually told my mother in law about this a few months ago and funny enough at Christmas after 14 years of regular sugar in a container she suddenly had a box of sugar cubes. Of course I went straight for them. Im 99% sure she set me up.0
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Processed carbs is the addictive substance? Sadly that is also as silly as being addicted to "sugar"
Nope, I didnt say addictive substance, you did. I said drawn to. Some people think their so called Addiction is to sugar,,maybe they just really like all the processed junk food, cakes, cookies, etc and they tend to eat that because, it tastes good. Its not an addictive thing. Its about what they like and enjoy eating. They crave it and to them it feels like they cant go another minute without it. So when they ask about it on these boards they say they are addicted to it, and want advice.
Just dont buy junk food, to me its simple, ya cant eat what ya dont buy.
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