If I can live without alcohol and feel content why is living without sugar harder lol

EddieHaskell97

Because you're yeast.

geebusuk

Your body, as above, has no idea where the sugar comes from and won't process it differently.

Fruits typically have a mix of fructose and sucrose.. a bit like that devil-processed 'HFCS'!

Avoiding foods with additional added (sic) sugars can be a way to find meals that are more filling per quantity with better Gi levels. But it in no way guarantees it.

Personally, what I find works for me is to see tasty sweet food as a reward for doing exercise.
So I might have my standard calories which I'll plan my day food around... then if I manage a 10k run in the evening, along with a few calories left, that might allow me enough some good WHOLE foods...
Like a WHOLE toffee pavlova! (720 calories if I remember )... pretenious post-cardio 'recovery' products are often basically just sugary stuff, so I get that to replenish energy, keep at my weight goals and get a good bit of exercise.

bubblebum82

Great posts. A lot to consider and think about. I think I'll start logging my food on the ap again. Thanks so much for these posts. All have helped

Fuzzipeg

Some of us can have yeast overgrowth, that is when the balance of bacteria in our guts are out of balance, my issue was from having taken many rounds of antibiotics which knock out the most beneficial bacteria as well as the problem one is taking it for, allowing the least beneficial microbes to thrive when they are usually kept under control by the most beneficial ones, if you follow, my digestive tract was not in a good place. I went added sugar free for 6 months, it started with three weeks fruit free as well. I used probiotics to help the balance as recommended by a nutritionist. Doing this also helps the immune system because when the gut is not working well the immune system can be reduced. I'm no longer bound to foods full of added sugar. For some reason this is a problem faced more often by the females amongst.

I can't remember and list the research papers I've read but it transpires the balance within our gut, which should be external to ourselves, even though it travels through us, allowing the foods we eat to be broken down by our microbes and bacteria which reduces our food particles significantly in size so they can pass through what should be a semi permeable membrane, when this lining is compromised oversized particles are able to pass through causing various health issues in the less fortunate as well as this disbiosis. Antibiotic use not necessarily over use contribute to the problem, as does a diet with a high added sugar content or high alcohol consumption also can be detrimental to these microbes and things, even excessive cleanliness can be detremental. Increasing fibre and and veg content in our diets will help speed up digestive transit times which is beneficial to our microbes.

bubblebum82

Great post. Yes I've had problems with digestion. I do today actually. Mine has gone off balance again

zyxst

Please tell me you mean to cut out added sugar. I honestly don't think it's possible to go completely sugar free and have any sort of balanced/healthful diet.

KatieBaack

I used to have a massive sweet tooth (could go through a whole big bag of Hershey's Kisses in less than a week at work) - what worked for me was getting a 20oz travel coffee mug (leak proof) & dumping in 1 packet of Swiss Miss Simply Dark Cocoa & half a cup of milk & topping the rest off with coffee. Shake it up and it's a home made mocha. Satisfies my sweet tooth without doing as much damage as the bajillion kisses. I still have a stash of them at my desk but haven't touched them in over a month. Good luck!

zyxst

GemstoneofHeart wrote: »

I truly believe sugar is one of the most (if not THE most) addictive substances in the world. It is hard to give up, I don't personally know anyone who has been successful at it.

Need2Exerc1se

bubblebum82 wrote: »

Thinking should I just go sugar free this year. I'm all or nothing and I believe that won't change. I can go ages without it but once I have it I just want more. I don't want to continue fighting. Might be easier to remove it for good

The only way to know is to try. If it doesn't work then try something else. There is no rule or law that says you can't mix things up whenever you choose.

earlnabby

1) Sugar is not physically addictive. Many get pleasure from eating sweets but that is not the same as an addiction

2)There is no difference between the sugars that you eat in your fruit and the white stuff that comes in a bag. All come from nature and all get turned into glucose and are used as energy by your body

3) If self control is your issue, don't buy large quantities of your trigger food. OP: you said chocolate is hard to resist. If you really want chocolate, buy a single serving like one brownie at the bakery or a regular sized candy bar and enjoy it. Don't buy a bag or jumbo bar

4) Artificial sweeteners DO NOT affect blood sugars. There is a reason they are recommended for anyone trying to control their blood glucose

5) Some people have allergic reactions to artificial sweeteners and should not eat them.

Sharon_C

I, personally, refuse to give up added sugar. Hence my daily handful of M&Ms. But I also have no problem eating just a handful and walking away. It's taken a long while to get to the point of walking away but I conquered that *kitten*

Life without M&Ms = no bueno for me

earlnabby

KatieBaack wrote: »

I used to have a massive sweet tooth (could go through a whole big bag of Hershey's Kisses in less than a week at work) - what worked for me was getting a 20oz travel coffee mug (leak proof) & dumping in 1 packet of Swiss Miss Simply Dark Cocoa & half a cup of milk & topping the rest off with coffee. Shake it up and it's a home made mocha. Satisfies my sweet tooth without doing as much damage as the bajillion kisses. I still have a stash of them at my desk but haven't touched them in over a month. Good luck!

I know Walden Farms calorie free products don't get much love here on MFP but they have a calorie free chocolate syrup that has its use. It is definitely not something I would use alone, like on top of ice cream, but a tablespoon of it in my coffee along with a tablespoon of 1/2 & 1/2 makes for a great cup of mocha

KatieBaack

earlnabby wrote: »

KatieBaack wrote: »

I used to have a massive sweet tooth (could go through a whole big bag of Hershey's Kisses in less than a week at work) - what worked for me was getting a 20oz travel coffee mug (leak proof) & dumping in 1 packet of Swiss Miss Simply Dark Cocoa & half a cup of milk & topping the rest off with coffee. Shake it up and it's a home made mocha. Satisfies my sweet tooth without doing as much damage as the bajillion kisses. I still have a stash of them at my desk but haven't touched them in over a month. Good luck!

I know Walden Farms calorie free products don't get much love here on MFP but they have a calorie free chocolate syrup that has its use. It is definitely not something I would use alone, like on top of ice cream, but a tablespoon of it in my coffee along with a tablespoon of 1/2 & 1/2 makes for a great cup of mocha

I'll definitely have to check and see if they have it at my local grocery store & give that a shot! Thanks for the tip!

Fuzzipeg

Directed to OP. you may find adding HCI and pepsin to your diet, one capsule with each proper meal could help. Low or less than adequate stomach acid, could be contributory to many digestive problems. You should be able to find it at a health food store.

belinda_73

it's funny that you posted this, my husband just recently gave up sugar and beer for 30 days. he said the beer he doesnt crave but the sugar is very tough. i gave it up for 8 months and i had one dessert and it was all over. so trying to give it up again and it's a bit easier this time. He's noticed huge improvement in energy, digestion, no more heartburn. and lost 15 lbs in the 30 days. He was a huge sweets with every meal and beer drinker. good luck to you. oh fyi, i gave sugar up and sub with brown rice and sweet potatoes, i was eventually able to give up the sweet potatoes, then the rice, but it was a process. almond butter at your desk. acv after dinner. there are tricks to it.

Tweaking_Time

bubblebum82 wrote: »

Thinking should I just go sugar free this year. I'm all or nothing and I believe that won't change. I can go ages without it but once I have it I just want more. I don't want to continue fighting. Might be easier to remove it for good

Other way around for me...sugar - pffft.

Bourbon however - mmmmm

bubblebum82

Thanks for advice everyone. "Kitten" it, I'll be true to myself and do what I feel is necessary to help things. #determined

ChelsAlegriaSantiago

Your body does not need either thankfully, but you can be addicted to either. Also, artificial sweeteners are not necessarily good for Diabetics, or anyone really. Some may be low on the glycemic index (some aren't so low) but spike the ish out of your insulin -- NOT good for Diabetics. Fructose, found in fruits, is NOT great for your body. Sugar is sugar is sugar is sugar. It's funny that we "need" sugar, because I've been running without eating it for quite a while (just 1 of several steps I've taken to control my insulin resistance...thanks, PCOS) and I feel better than ever.

ChelsAlegriaSantiago

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/09/artificial-sweeteners-worse-than-sugar.aspx
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/year-of-no-sugar-one-family-grand-adventure/
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/jphysiol.2012.230078/abstract

bubblebum82

Thank you

Coleen312

I, too, struggle with sugar!! It's awful. I feel worse after I eat it; like wanting to sleep for a week! Lol. I gave up alcohol 13 yrs ago and don't miss it at all. I'm currently trying to kick sugar to the curb. I can't have sugary things or I just want more. No fake sugar either. I guess I'm a sugar-aholic too. No moderation. I can't. Have. Any. (The best thing is not having sugar withdrawal headaches. Anyone else ever have those? They are the worst!)

earlnabby

KatieBaack wrote: »

earlnabby wrote: »

KatieBaack wrote: »

I used to have a massive sweet tooth (could go through a whole big bag of Hershey's Kisses in less than a week at work) - what worked for me was getting a 20oz travel coffee mug (leak proof) & dumping in 1 packet of Swiss Miss Simply Dark Cocoa & half a cup of milk & topping the rest off with coffee. Shake it up and it's a home made mocha. Satisfies my sweet tooth without doing as much damage as the bajillion kisses. I still have a stash of them at my desk but haven't touched them in over a month. Good luck!

I know Walden Farms calorie free products don't get much love here on MFP but they have a calorie free chocolate syrup that has its use. It is definitely not something I would use alone, like on top of ice cream, but a tablespoon of it in my coffee along with a tablespoon of 1/2 & 1/2 makes for a great cup of mocha

I'll definitely have to check and see if they have it at my local grocery store & give that a shot! Thanks for the tip!

I find it along with the other ice cream toppings in my store.

leanjogreen18

I could say the same about homemade bread or salty things like potato chips and saltines.

Here how I moderate...

They don't come into my house in family size portions, one single serving and usually after or with a satisfying meal. Or I eat when going out to eat so I plan for them. I rarely eat them anymore but they are not restricted.

I only make homemade bread when family comes over so they help eat the loaf:).

But honestly you'll figure out what works just keep playing with different ways and if none work then maybe you will need to cut it out.

Personally I will one day have a family size bag of chips, saltines or homemade bread in my house because ultimately I will win:).

ndj1979

GemstoneofHeart wrote: »

I truly believe sugar is one of the most (if not THE most) addictive substances in the world. It is hard to give up, I don't personally know anyone who has been successful at it.
I think a gradual reduction in sugar (added sugar that is...) is the best approach. Just my opinion though, because it has worked for me over the last 4 months. I used to roughly have 140 grams of sugar a day (yikes!) to now 50-60 ish grams. Still not great, but a lot better and most of those grams are from natural sugar.

do you have any studies to back up this assertion???

ndj1979

iangibson135 wrote: »

I gave up sugar at the beginning of the year, lost 11.6kg. No junk food, nothing in a packet or a box, read the labels, they all have added sugar. I drink low carb beer or straight spirits with soda water, not everyday, read Sweet Poison, you will understand.

so you eat no bread, vegetables, fruit, etc???

ndj1979

ChelsAlegriaSantiago wrote: »

Your body does not need either thankfully, but you can be addicted to either. Also, artificial sweeteners are not necessarily good for Diabetics, or anyone really. Some may be low on the glycemic index (some aren't so low) but spike the ish out of your insulin -- NOT good for Diabetics. Fructose, found in fruits, is NOT great for your body. Sugar is sugar is sugar is sugar. It's funny that we "need" sugar, because I've been running without eating it for quite a while (just 1 of several steps I've taken to control my insulin resistance...thanks, PCOS) and I feel better than ever.

so we are avoiding fruit now?

do you also avoid protein because insulin spikes?

FoxyMars25

sardelsa wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

Simple answer, cause your body runs on sugar and is vital to life, unlike alcohol.

I duno, wine is pretty vital to my life..

I completely agree

allie2girlz

Sugar is highly addictive. I know from personal experience. I cannot just eat it in moderation. The only way I could kill the beast was by totally giving it up. There is research (look it up yourself) that sugar lights up the same pleasure centers in the brain as cocaine and other addictive substances. Also, people report withdraw symptoms when they try to give it up. I don't know why others get so butt hurt over someone else's personal choices or experiences about giving up sugar. Eat it if you want, don't eat it if you decide that may be the best thing for you. My health has greatly improved since giving up sugar, so I have decided that is what is best for me. Good luck to the people trying to improve their health.

Hornsby

allie2girlz wrote: »

Sugar is highly addictive. I know from personal experience. I cannot just eat it in moderation. The only way I could kill the beast was by totally giving it up. There is research (look it up yourself) that sugar lights up the same pleasure centers in the brain as cocaine and other addictive substances. Also, people report withdraw symptoms when they try to give it up. I don't know why others get so butt hurt over someone else's personal choices or experiences about giving up sugar. Eat it if you want, don't eat it if you decide that may be the best thing for you. My health has greatly improved since giving up sugar, so I have decided that is what is best for me. Good luck to the people trying to improve their health.

The wheels on the bus go round and round.

ndj1979

allie2girlz wrote: »

Sugar is highly addictive. I know from personal experience. I cannot just eat it in moderation. The only way I could kill the beast was by totally giving it up. There is research (look it up yourself) that sugar lights up the same pleasure centers in the brain as cocaine and other addictive substances. Also, people report withdraw symptoms when they try to give it up. I don't know why others get so butt hurt over someone else's personal choices or experiences about giving up sugar. Eat it if you want, don't eat it if you decide that may be the best thing for you. My health has greatly improved since giving up sugar, so I have decided that is what is best for me. Good luck to the people trying to improve their health.

and we are back to the dopamine center argument. You realize that you get the same response from petting puppies in that area of your brain too, right?

sugar is not as addictive as cocaine and too even try and link the two is ridiculous and ludicrous..