Do you try to limit your sugar intake or do you only care about calories?
Molly_234
Posts: 89 Member
Sugar is in everything! I would like to limit my sugar intake to hopefully stop having bad sugar cravings but it's in everything I enjoy. I love fruit, cereals, yogurt, ice cream and sometimes I have really bad chocolate cravings. How did you kick the sugar habit or did you just accept it and fit these foods in your daily calories?
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I focus on protein, fat, and calories. Once those are in check, everything falls into place for me. In 3+ years I've never looked at my sugar numbers.9
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when I am logging i don't track sugar at all. I just track total calories
I have a sweet tooth and some things are best left in the shop. I.e haribo sweets. Lol
I have some 10 cal jelly and 39 calorie hot chocolate to help3 -
I used to eat a lot of prepared treats and it was a long process of cutting them back to a manageable amount.
I kind of had to make the decision to be able to eat enough other nutritious foods or be hungry all the time if I wanted to stay within my allotted calories and still have regular cookies (or the equivalent.)
You can still eat sugary things. I have fruit and plain yogurt every day. I have one teaspoon of added sugar spread out over a couple cups of coffee, and I have milk, cheese, and many prepared foods with sugar (like spaghetti, bbq sauce, etc.) I just make it work, calorie-wise.2 -
The only sugar I track is added sugar. I dont track sugar from natural sources like fruit. The added sugar and processed foods are the ones we should avoid.
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I eat right around or under the RDA recommendations. I don't eat fruit or grains really. I'm on the lower side of carbs. I add sugar to my coffee once per day, eat a treat once per day...pretty easy actually. And I love sugar too. I actually have a painful side effect when I eat too high carb/sugar so I need to moderate but find that on a day to day basis it comes naturally.1
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I need to eat a fairly strict low carb diet in order to eliminate cravings. It's unfortunate I had to go that route but I enjoy low carb foods as well as sweets, starches and grains so it's not exactly a hardship. Having a normal appetite and not being ruled by cravings and obsessive food thoughts is definitely worth it to me.
Experiment. Something will work it just takes time to figure out that perfect combination of enjoyable and sustainable. Best wishes.2 -
Personally, I like to focus on what I'm putting into my diet instead of what I'm taking out. I focus on calories, my protein minimum, getting my veggies into every meal, and sometimes other things like fiber or iron. Doing this naturally keeps my sugar lower (though not really "low") without feeling deprived.3
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I focus on protein, fat, and calories. Once those are in check, everything falls into place for me. In 3+ years I've never looked at my sugar numbers.
Same here. As far as added sugar it becomes obvious quite quickly if you want to maintain a calorie deficit and still provide yourself optimal nutrition some of that may have to go. I do fit some sweets into my daily allotment, just a lot less than in the past.1 -
I focus on protein, fat and carbs in that order (because the first two are the most satisfying and the third completes the perfect satiety trifecta for me personally).
I happen to not eat a lot of fruit or sweet things, at most a banana and some dried fruit once a day. And perhaps a snack size chocolate or biscuit bar.
So calories for me really. If it fits, I eats. Don't think I ever look at sugar in my nutrition intake info.2 -
I have tried to cut out sugar many times, and I was really afraid of sugar, but it was so difficult. Then I learnt why I was so afraid, and why it seemed impossible to eliminate: Sugar is sugar, and there is naturally occurring sugar in fruit, vegetables and dairy. Sugar isn't toxic, and it doesn't negate the nutrition in the food it is added to. Sugar is even extracted from (natural) plants. (Actually, it was the Lemurcat in here who explained it to me so I finally understood. Many thanks to her.)
Cravings come partly from the habit of eating too much of whatever you are craving, partly from trying to restrict those foods, partly from being surrounded by them (temptation and availability), partly from worry about not eating healthily enough, partly from lack of nutrition, which may in part be caused by too much sugary and low-nutrient foods taking up room from more nutritious food.
I am much more relaxed about sugar (and food choices generally) now, and I just make sure I don't buy "for the house" anything I know I have trouble moderating. My preferences in food has also broadened, so I enjoy a lot more variety than I did before, which also leads to better nutrition, which in turn contributes to lessen cravings.3 -
As a Type 2 Diabetic, I try to limit high sugar and high starch foods. I still consume them, as I love the taste of them ... they have to play into my calorie and total carb allowance for the day, within reason. For example, I like pie and once in a while I purchase a piece for myself, I also adore candy and will purchase a little bit once in a while ... but not in the same week as I had pie. If I have bread on a day, I'll only have it one time, and not on a day when I plan to have rice or pasta, a potato, or had pie or candy ... And, when I haven't had any of that kind of food, I'll sometimes have a cup of tea with some crystalized ginger, lemon slices, and a teaspoon of honey; or I'll make a cup of hot cocoa with milk, Hershey's chocolate powder (used for baking) and either a teaspoon of sugar or one of honey; as a snack .... invariably, however, on the days I have the type of foods mentioned above, I will have a higher fasting blood glucose reading the next morning (12 hour fast) ... so I do try to be very careful of how often I have these treats.
PS ... and my most favorite of the foods that I have to be extremely cautious with is dried fruit. I just love, love, love any and all of the dried fruits ... raisins, prunes, apricots, pears, apples, peaches, dates, figs ... dried cherries and cranberries - not so much because the cherries always have a burnt taste and the cranberries are rubbery due to too much sugar in the processing of them. Dried banana chips, mangos, pineapple, etc .. not at all ... I'd rather have crystalized ginger or homestyle candied citrus fruit peels.1 -
As many above, I don't track my sugar specifically. The only "limiting" I do is to drink Cherry Coke Zero instead of regular, but that's it (and that's more about calories than sugar). I wouldn't sweat it, especially in reference to fruits and yogurt, unless you have special considerations with the body regulating sugar.1
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jillybeansalad wrote: »As many above, I don't track my sugar specifically. The only "limiting" I do is to drink Cherry Coke Zero instead of regular, but that's it (and that's more about calories than sugar). I wouldn't sweat it, especially in reference to fruits and yogurt, unless you have special considerations with the body regulating sugar.
WHAT?!? THATS A THING????????? *kitten* i need to look at the grocery store when i go later today...
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I have cut back on a lot of sugary foods, but that's more a product of calorie counting and trying to hit a protein minimum. The sugar itself, idgaf.2
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JaydedMiss wrote: »WHAT?!? THATS A THING????????? *kitten* i need to look at the grocery store when i go later today...
Yup! I don't generally enjoy "fake sugar" alternatives, but the cherry hides it pretty well. I still get my caffeine and fizz without the 250 calories that I could use for ice cream. lol
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Sounds like a delicious thing to mix with my rum.... I hope its in canada
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I as I was educated to eat like a diabetic I have cut a lot of sugar out of my diet but I still enjoy sweet. All fruit are fair game. Artificial sweeteners help. Stevia in my pancakes this morning.
Sadly cherry Coke Zero is not available in Canada.
https://www.amazon.com/Coca-Cola-Cherry-Coke-12-Ounce/dp/B0050MLWWI
yet
https://www.facebook.com/Bring-Cherry-Coke-and-Cherry-Coke-Zero-to-Canada-154319681272015/
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Terrible news. Sorry, Canada.0
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I don't track sugar, instead preferring to look at my fiber intake. My biggest concern is usually calories, though.
...having said that, I have an insatiable sweet tooth when it comes to sweets, and I've been craving them a lot lately. Since they are typically higher in calories and I could get better nutrients from eating other "healthier" foods besides these, I've been trying to limit my intake of those lately.1 -
I try to limit my sugar for sure. Not naturals sugar from fruit etc.. but anything extra. I find once I start, even if it's sugar in my coffee.. I want more. Same with diet sodas or sweeteners, so I just try to stay clear of them altogether.1
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I love candy. LOVE it. That being said, I have to watch my fat intake and my sugar intake. I try to find low sugar foods to eat to satisfy that.0
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I don't eat as much as I used to, but I don't track it. I still have something sweet nearly every day.0
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No cares given about sugar. Only care bout calories. It's been working for me. Plus, as long as I don't eliminate something from my diet, I tend to not crave it exceptionally hard. Right now, I want yogurt. I will have a small helping of yogurt, then I'm good with yogurt. Later I may want french fries, so I'll go to McDonalds and get myself a kid's fries (only 100 calories!). As long as it fits, huzzah.
Sugar is in everything that's delicious, and it's 100% natural (if you're worries about natural vs. synthetic things, which I also don't worry about thanks to extensive lab testing prior to release for consumer use, but that's an entirely different conversation). Enjoy it (in moderation, aka: within your calorie allotment)!1 -
I stay away from processed foods for the most part. If I go over my sugar limit, it is normally with fruits (including dried) and/or vegetables which is okay by me. I do allow myself a dark chocolate square or dark chocolate covered almonds as part of my sugar intake as my "dessert" at the end of the day. If you want to kick the sugar habit, I would do as other suggest which is to focus on proteins and if you are going to have fruit - lemon, lime or a just barely yellow banana have less to no sugar.
Ultimately for me, I accept it and limit processed type foods and watch caloric intake.0 -
I focus on my calorie intake and then eating a varied and balanced diet full of all the foods I like. I don't pay any attention to my sugar intake and have had no problems hitting my weight and health targets 0
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I found that any liquid sugars contribute to visceral fat rather quickly so I cut those sugars out. Maybe once a week I'll have a mocha, or a cocktail with friends, but that's it. I feel the sugar rush now when I do drink and also found that I don't like the feeling. I do LOVE chocolate though...so I don't keep it in the house
Natural sugars from fruits and such, I don't worry about at all.
Those artificial sugars, which I'm happy I can't stand, were a no-go for me after reading up on them. I don't feel like i'm missing out on anything or sacrificing at all, just a choice.1 -
I don't track it and I allow it in my diet, however I do limit processed sugar simply because of the calories. A banana has fewer calories than a doughnut. Both satisfy my sweet tooth, but I know which one I'd rather have every day. If I do a long run, I'll enjoy some ice cream or an oatmeal cookie because I have burned enough calories for them to fit in my diet. If I have calories left at the end of the day, I'll have a piece of chocolate or some pudding.1
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Nonsense. Of course it isn't!Sugar is in everything!
No sugar isn't a worry to me in the slightest. Never tracked it as it's just a subset of carbs.
Your body and digestion also doesn't differentiate between sources of sugar.
I focus on the broader aspects on an overall healthy diet and lifestyle and don't obsess over particular parts of my diet.1 -
Agree with what most have said. I don't track sugar, but I do track macros. I use another website for my macro calculations (if it fits your macros).1
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