Seriously Addicted to Sugar!
manther88
Posts: 213 Member
I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
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Replies
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Nothing wrong with sugar unless you have a medical condition like diabetes. Weight management is all about calorie intake vs expenditure.10
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Are you interested in eliminating sugar (something that most people would find impossible, as it is in fruits, vegetables, and dairy), eliminating added sugar, or controlling your overeating? These are three separate things.
If you're scared that you're eating yourself to death, it sounds like the over-eating is the problem.
Have you ever thought about professional help? Many people find when they struggle to control a behavior (whatever it is), a professional can be a huge help.8 -
History has shown you you can't eliminate so moderate
Quit focusing on sugar, and focus on calories instead
Get your calories right, eat foods you enjoy to your calorie limit and move more
Sugar isn't keeping you overweight, your all or nothing mindset is (and your food intake and movement levels)8 -
For a fortnight, I tried to drink as little sugar as possible by drinking sparkling water instead. I also exercised rather rigorously, walking a mile a day, doing squats, push-ups, etcetera. I lost somewhere between 20-30lbs I kinda forget.
Though I was closing in on 300lbs, so aunno if that's exactly the same situation.
In any case, if you're worried about getting diabetes like I was, try sparkling water instead of soda water... also exercise. Like I've only known a few people that really got in shape by just dieting.1 -
What foods are you overeating? I'm guessing it's sweets - basic "junk" foods - which are made to be tasty and not 100% sugar (usually half fat half carbs).0
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Sugar is not addicting, but it sounds like you may have a distorted relationship with food and it might be a good idea to ask your doctor to give you a referral to a medical professional who deals with EDs. They can help you navigate through this.7
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For a fortnight, I tried to drink as little sugar as possible by drinking sparkling water instead. I also exercised rather rigorously, walking a mile a day, doing squats, push-ups, etcetera. I lost somewhere between 20-30lbs I kinda forget.
Though I was closing in on 300lbs, so aunno if that's exactly the same situation.
In any case, if you're worried about getting diabetes like I was, try sparkling water instead of soda water... also exercise. Like I've only known a few people that really got in shape by just dieting.
I'm confused. Did the OP say anything about sugary drinks being his or her main issue? Does soda water have sugar in it? Isn't that the same as club soda? I have some in my bar and it has no sugar.
A calorie deficit is what leads to weight loss and there are a number of ways to achieve that. Exercise is certainly important for overall health and physical fitness and it can help contribute to the calorie deficit, but many people are able to successfully lose weight with no exercise whatsoever.5 -
I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
Let's take a deep breath OP. First, let's review some facts. You are 28 years old, 5'8 and currently weigh ~195 lbs? Are you male or female? Are you trying to lose weight? What is your goal weight?
You seem to feel sugar is the source of your troubles, that you eat too much of it. Can you be more specific? What sorts of things are you eating? Do you track your foods here? How many grams of sugar are you consuming? When you are eating sugary foods (and I'm assuming you mean sweets not straight sugar or fruits/vegetables) do you feel out of control, like you are binging? Or do you just eat a little too much a little too often and feel that you should cut back?
Sugar isn't actually an addictive substance, but it is in many tasty foods that people find comforting and may have difficulty moderating. The good news is that by gaining perspective on how much you are actually consuming and what the triggers are for overconsuming it, you can possibly learn to moderate these sort of foods so that you can achieve your goals and still enjoy the foods you love.
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What foods are you overeating? I'm guessing it's sweets - basic "junk" foods - which are made to be tasty and not 100% sugar (usually half fat half carbs).
I have the same question/suspicion. There's often as much sugar in an apple as in a cookie (I've compared an average apple with a cookie recipe in my recipe box and the apple has more). The cookie tends to be more likely to cause me to want to eat a second cookie, but that's because of the mix of ingredients (including butter) and (same thing) taste, even though I love apples too. (The apple has fewer calories, of course.)
I read a good run-down of how people often come to think of their relationship to their favorite sweets as an addiction (why sugar only gets blamed, I dunno, maybe because they are referred to as "sweets" or sweet is the most distinctive flavor, but if you ask me to pick between a cookie and a spoonful of sugar, well, no contest, as eating a spoonful of sugar seems entirely unappealing, and I often will prefer a less sweet "sweet" to a sweeter one). None of this means I can't understand overeating sweets (or other foods).
Anyway, the run-down:
(1) Have an unorganized diet and no plan, think of dieting as "well, I'll just eat less," and repeatedly fail to do so or to have the "will-power" (really, it's a lack of a well-understood reason) to turn down offered tasty items or a suggested lunch with friends or dessert or whatever and then at the end of the day remember you'd intended to start eating less and feel bad. (Often you don't really know how much you ate vs. what you should eat, though and maybe visualize "eating less" as just eating diet food or tiny meals or some such.)
(2) Decide your problem is sweets (or some other tempting item you enjoy) and that you will cut it out. Do that for a while and then be presented with a situation where you don't. It's been a while and you know you are cheating and have to give them up again tomorrow so you totally go nuts and make the most of the bad day, since it's already a bad day and all.
(3) Afterwards feel bad about how much you ate. Decide that the fact that you overate so much and felt somewhat out of control when doing it means you are an addict. Vow off sweets for good this time.
(4) Repeat steps (2) and (3) but with increasing frustration, anger with yourself, shame, and conviction that clearly you must be a total addict and need to give up sweets for good. This feeling makes you have the "it's the last time, might as well enjoy it" thing even worse when you do end up giving in to temptation.
I think one point I'd make is that this is a pattern that people can easily get into, but the underlying factors -- I like sweets and find them tempting, I can get into a pattern where I overeat them (or feel out of control about them), and without a plan I cannot control my eating -- are all totally normal things that probably are true for a majority of people and have nothing to do with innate "addiction."
If you find it helpful to think of yourself as an addict I have no issue with that and won't argue -- I think the question is if so, what then? How is it useful? (Not saying there isn't an answer, but that these are questions to think about.) But the above is one reason I think that way of looking at things is not only probably not accurate but can be counterproductive.
Learning moderation for items you find difficult may take a while and it may be easier to stay away from some of them for a while (or it may not be), but I think the real issue tends to be fixing the lack of plan in (1), and focusing the whole plan on not eating certain foods is often not the answer.10 -
I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
When I quit, my body freaks out until day 3, then I am in the clear. As much as I have tried moderation, it eventually doesnt work. I have shortened my peaks so things dont get out of control with my weight, and then I deal with the 3 day cut off.
People, clinics, etc say L-glutamine helps with sugar cravings. I am not so sure but it has other benefits as well.
You are going to have to figure out yourself. Here is how I do it (not right or wrong) I quit drinking in 1994 and because of the downside and serious of alcohol dependence (with family history), I dont test it again. With sugar, the downside isnt that bad so I indulge ... not to binge, but its only a matter of time before I need dessert after every meal and then I am eating 2 pints of ice cream at night every night until I break free. If this sugar issue has done anything for me beyond simple enjoyment, its served as an awesome suggestion to continue not drinking.
Good luck3 -
walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
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Wow
Read up on the difference between physical addiction and behavioural eating "addiction"
You may learn something7 -
I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
Try Stevia. I started using it in place of sugar for the most part in coffee. It helped a bunch. I didn't eliminate sugar, because I didn't have to, I just wanted to reduce the calories I was consuming from sugar. So if I have a choice now I choose 'no sugar added' versions of foods, or sugar free drinks. Beyond that I still use it in some things, and I'll eat Christmas candy, drink egg nog, you name it. If you don't have diabetes or aren't pre-diabetic, then simply cutting down may be what you need/want. Otherwise no need to deny yourself every little pleasure. Losing weight is as simple as eating less calories than you expend. Try choosing lighter or less sweet options whenever possible, log it all, and eat at a deficit to lose your weight.1 -
The issue is you like the TASTE. Hence you likely buy foods that have sugar in them. Try first reducing the amount and work on adding more whole foods to your diet. And of course watch your calorie intake.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Wow
Read up on the difference between physical addiction and behavioural eating "addiction"
You may learn something
I have been around the issue for 20+ years, and have done plenty of research. I also know you can research this to conclude opposite sides ... so its which research you choose to believe.
I dont think everyone processes everything the same way.
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Ugh.... please don't start the 'sugar is a drug, sugar is like *insert drug of choice*' crap. Sugar is nothing like that. At all. I know both sides well. Ever see someone withdrawing from opiates? Yeah....nothing, absolutely NOTHING like sugar. Even a popular pain medication Lyrica has horrid withdrawal symptoms. Nothing like sugar.I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
You don't need to 'quit' sugar, you need to weigh all your food on a food scale and count calories. I thought I was addicted to sugar once, I also believed that sugar was making me fat. I was wrong. I was just eating too many calories and not logging my intake. Every time I tried to quit sugar, I would fail miserably which caused me to feel awful about myself. Turns out, I didn't have to try. I now moderate and am doing just fine.
I still eat sugar. I like my chocolate, and that won't get in the way of me losing weight if I am diligent with weighing my food and logging.12 -
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.8 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »Sugar is not addicting.
^ so not true...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2015/01/07/sugar-health-research
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/13/sugar-addiction-like-drug-abuse-study-reveals/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/sugar-has-similar-effect-on-brain-as-cocaine-a6980336.html
There are studies, peer-reviewed, scientific articles.. you name it. It affects the dopamine and 'reward' centers of the brain and is considered addictive.2 -
walterm852 wrote: »
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.
Did you miss her mentioning that she's a drug addict and that's why she posted that gif?
Your understanding of the issue is limited because you're using rat studies, and they don't necessarily translate to humans. They only, when it comes to this sort of thing, call for further research.
In a recent meta-analysis of human studies, it was concluded that there's no evidence of physical addiction to sugar in humans.
This isn't to say the some people don't struggle with certain foods. And this seems to be the OP's case.
The problem with calling it an addiction to "sugar" is that sugar is present in foods like fruits, vegetables and dairy, and that if sugar were truly a substance of addiction, those foods would need to be avoided. That would not be healthy. Before you try to say those are different than processed sugar, think again. They are not. When your body breaks everything down and digests it all, sugar is sugar.
The solution for the OP is simple. OP has a problem with certain trigger foods. He has two options. Restrict the foods that cause issues. Go cold turkey. Don't buy them. There's really no way around it. Just don't eat them. If he wants them on occasion, buy them in single servings.
Or, he can try to learn to moderate by repeating something simple like "this food is not leaving the planet, if I only have 2 cookies, the rest will be there for me to have 2 more tomorrow."
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walterm852 wrote: »
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.
I have watched a loved on withdraw from Alcohol abuse, and I myself have cut out sugar previously. They are not the same. They can not even compare. I craved apples. They shiver, and puke, and sweat, and hallucinate, have blood pressure 202/145. IT IS NOT THE SAME!13 -
spacecase76 wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »Sugar is not addicting.
^ so not true...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2015/01/07/sugar-health-research
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/13/sugar-addiction-like-drug-abuse-study-reveals/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/sugar-has-similar-effect-on-brain-as-cocaine-a6980336.html
There are studies, peer-reviewed, scientific articles.. you name it. It affects the dopamine and 'reward' centers of the brain and is considered addictive.
Here's that study I mentioned. Yours references animals. This is in regards to humans:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-016-1229-66 -
cerise_noir wrote: »Ugh.... please don't start the 'sugar is a drug, sugar is like *insert drug of choice*' crap.
Yeah, I agree, and I don't think the argument is helpful to OP either. Talking about what specifically leads to him or her feeling out of control and what we all did to help us cut back on foods we tended to overeat probably is what would be helpful.
I understand that some people for whatever reason really want to argue that it is an addiction, but I don't see how that helps OP.10 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »cerise_noir wrote: »Ugh.... please don't start the 'sugar is a drug, sugar is like *insert drug of choice*' crap.
Yeah, I agree, and I don't think the argument is helpful to OP either. Talking about what specifically leads to him or her feeling out of control and what we all did to help us cut back on foods we tended to overeat probably is what would be helpful.
I understand that some people for whatever reason really want to argue that it is an addiction, but I don't see how that helps OP.
Good point. I'm sorry I went there.
Okay, I'll share. I'm at a point where I can't moderate right now, so here's what I'm doing. I'm just not buying things. That's easy for me to do because I have to eat a special diet and need different treat foods than my family does. I really have no other advice. If it's not around, you can't eat it.
Back in the days when I had a job and there were office treats, I just ignored them. I have the ability to draw a line in the sand and say no more. A sort of cold turkey approach.
I've been able to moderate treats in the past, and I expect to be able to do so again. I don't know what's going on with me right now and am working to get through this phase. I suspect it has to do with cutting body fat, but that's me.
What are you feeling? Do you just feel out of control? Like once you start you can't stop? Do you feel like since the food is bad you might as well eat the whole bit and then you're never eating it again?1 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »walterm852 wrote: »
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.
Did you miss her mentioning that she's a drug addict and that's why she posted that gif?
Your understanding of the issue is limited because you're using rat studies, and they don't necessarily translate to humans. They only, when it comes to this sort of thing, call for further research.
In a recent meta-analysis of human studies, it was concluded that there's no evidence of physical addiction to sugar in humans.
This isn't to say the some people don't struggle with certain foods. And this seems to be the OP's case.
The problem with calling it an addiction to "sugar" is that sugar is present in foods like fruits, vegetables and dairy, and that if sugar were truly a substance of addiction, those foods would need to be avoided. That would not be healthy. Before you try to say those are different than processed sugar, think again. They are not. When your body breaks everything down and digests it all, sugar is sugar.
The solution for the OP is simple. OP has a problem with certain trigger foods. He has two options. Restrict the foods that cause issues. Go cold turkey. Don't buy them. There's really no way around it. Just don't eat them. If he wants them on occasion, buy them in single servings.
Or, he can try to learn to moderate by repeating something simple like "this food is not leaving the planet, if I only have 2 cookies, the rest will be there for me to have 2 more tomorrow."
I never said I use rat studies???????????0 -
walterm852 wrote: »
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.
I have watched a loved on withdraw from Alcohol abuse, and I myself have cut out sugar previously. They are not the same. They can not even compare. I craved apples. They shiver, and puke, and sweat, and hallucinate, have blood pressure 202/145. IT IS NOT THE SAME!
With information and education, some people realize they have an issue before it gets to the level that your love one regretfully went through (everyone has their own bottom) . Circling back to a previous comment, if a person feels really bad about themselves, but feel mentally or physically like they cant stop, its an issue.
We agree, as I said in a previous post "With sugar, the downside isnt that bad (compared to alcohol) so I indulge ... not to binge, but its only a matter of time before I need dessert after every meal and then I am eating 2 pints of ice cream at night every night until I break free. If this sugar issue has done anything for me beyond simple enjoyment, its served as an awesome suggestion to continue not drinking.1 -
walterm852 wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »walterm852 wrote: »
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.
Did you miss her mentioning that she's a drug addict and that's why she posted that gif?
Your understanding of the issue is limited because you're using rat studies, and they don't necessarily translate to humans. They only, when it comes to this sort of thing, call for further research.
In a recent meta-analysis of human studies, it was concluded that there's no evidence of physical addiction to sugar in humans.
This isn't to say the some people don't struggle with certain foods. And this seems to be the OP's case.
The problem with calling it an addiction to "sugar" is that sugar is present in foods like fruits, vegetables and dairy, and that if sugar were truly a substance of addiction, those foods would need to be avoided. That would not be healthy. Before you try to say those are different than processed sugar, think again. They are not. When your body breaks everything down and digests it all, sugar is sugar.
The solution for the OP is simple. OP has a problem with certain trigger foods. He has two options. Restrict the foods that cause issues. Go cold turkey. Don't buy them. There's really no way around it. Just don't eat them. If he wants them on occasion, buy them in single servings.
Or, he can try to learn to moderate by repeating something simple like "this food is not leaving the planet, if I only have 2 cookies, the rest will be there for me to have 2 more tomorrow."
I never said I use rat studies???????????
Every study ever done which would lead anyone to think that it's even the slightest bit possible that sugar may be addictive has been a rat study.
ETA: they also don't even indicate that sugar is addictive in rats. Only that "maybe" it "might" be (though not probable).8 -
walterm852 wrote: »
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.
Yeah, because your alcoholism and counseling experience is much better than my drug addiction. Yes, you know what you're talking about. I know nothing at all.
OP still hasn't said what foods are causing his/her overeating, aka the "sugar addiction". I still bet it's basic "junk" foods that can either be eliminated or moderated without the need for complete removal of all sugars.9 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »cerise_noir wrote: »Ugh.... please don't start the 'sugar is a drug, sugar is like *insert drug of choice*' crap.
Yeah, I agree, and I don't think the argument is helpful to OP either. Talking about what specifically leads to him or her feeling out of control and what we all did to help us cut back on foods we tended to overeat probably is what would be helpful.
I understand that some people for whatever reason really want to argue that it is an addiction, but I don't see how that helps OP.
Awesome, I agree the posts should be about helping the OP, per my first post, I offered my experience.
I dont think "calling it a drug crap or the addiction" issue started the argument, it was his first sentence "I've been addicted to sugar my whole life" ... that I responded too.
0 -
walterm852 wrote: »
Actually, most of the time it's people who have addictions that scoff at sugar addiction (especially when the sugar = cocaine comparison crops up).walterm852 wrote: »I've been addicted to sugar my whole life and I'm 28 years old now. I've tried giving it up many times in my life and just go back to it. Im 5'8.5 and have never weighed more than 210 lbs. I currently weigh 199 lbs and jump back and forth from 193 - 199.
I need advice on how to kick sugar to the curb for good!! I eat so much that I'm scared I'm eating myself to death! I need help but don't know where to go.
People who have never had addiction problems will never understand.
FTR, I have a drug addiction. The only way I stopped was to stop taking the drug. Can't really do that with sugar because you would starve to death.
I know people scoff at it, and I described in my post, its not as scary as alcohol...for me.
I also know in my experience with addiction and addiction recovery, people use comparisons but it doesn't make the situation any better. "I was more of a drunk than you" or "Coke addiction is worse than alcohol addiction" so blah blah blah. Because cocaine addiction is "worse" doesnt make the original poster feel any better about what he is feeling and going through right now and his ability to stop.
Cool that you mock me with your Gif, the 5k+ mega posters and experts on all issues have driven a lot of good people out of the community rooms.
Yeah, because your alcoholism and counseling experience is much better than my drug addiction. Yes, you know what you're talking about. I know nothing at all.
OP still hasn't said what foods are causing his/her overeating, aka the "sugar addiction". I still bet it's basic "junk" foods that can either be eliminated or moderated without the need for complete removal of all sugars.
I'll even bet that a significant portion of the calories in OP's problem foods come from fat.6 -
spacecase76 wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »Sugar is not addicting.
^ so not true...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2015/01/07/sugar-health-research
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/13/sugar-addiction-like-drug-abuse-study-reveals/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/sugar-has-similar-effect-on-brain-as-cocaine-a6980336.html
There are studies, peer-reviewed, scientific articles.. you name it. It affects the dopamine and 'reward' centers of the brain and is considered addictive.
Triggering a release of dopamine =\= addictive.
If dopamine was the root of addiction, crack addicts could get their fix from petting puppies.
You gonna have fits and sell your body for another fix if you don't get to hold another kitten soon? Kittens affect the same reward center in the brain as crack.10
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