Sugar cravings but I dont normally eat sugar

Morgaen73
Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi :)

I dont normally have sugar but lately I'm been getting major cravings so much so that I've had 2 flavoured coffees and a red velvet cookie today.

I'm busy with recomp so protein is my priority. I dont necessarily follow a low carb diet but carbs are not my priority. Hasn't been a problem for the first couple of weeks but the last 2 I've been uncharacteristically craving sugar.

Weird thing is once I indulge the craving is over.

Any ideas on what it could be and how I can stop it?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I am not a big sugar person, but I find that I crave it when I don't get enough sleep. Have your sleep patterns changed recently?
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Is there a reason you need to stop it? It sounds like you can control it fine and it's not leading to an all out binge...

    Is it getting in the way of you eating a predominantly nutritious diet? Are you still hitting protein and fat goals?
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    Is it affecting your ability to maintain a calorie deficit while getting enough protein and fat? If not, it's totally normal and fine to both crave and enjoy some coffee and a cookie.
    I eat relatively high protein and fit in more sugary treats than that.
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    I am not a big sugar person, but I find that I crave it when I don't get enough sleep. Have your sleep patterns changed recently?

    No actually I'm not sleeping well.
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    livingleanlivingclean wrote: »
    Is there a reason you need to stop it? It sounds like you can control it fine and it's not leading to an all out binge...

    Is it getting in the way of you eating a predominantly nutritious diet? Are you still hitting protein and fat goals?

    Yeah I'm hitting my protein and fat goals but it takes me way over my calorie limit. I know that it isn't supposed to bother me since I'm technically in maintenance but it does lol
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    I am not a big sugar person, but I find that I crave it when I don't get enough sleep. Have your sleep patterns changed recently?

    No actually I'm not sleeping well.

    This could be why you're having these cravings (if you're like me anyway). But like other people have said, as long as you're fitting it into your plan and it isn't crowding out other things you need, it isn't necessarily a problem.

    But I find when I get my sleep back in line, the cravings are no longer an issue.
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Is it affecting your ability to maintain a calorie deficit while getting enough protein and fat? If not, it's totally normal and fine to both crave and enjoy some coffee and a cookie.
    I eat relatively high protein and fit in more sugary treats than that.

    Yes it is. Awesome Idea thanks :)
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Gimsteinn1 wrote: »
    Yeah I always get like this 7-9 days before my period.. but I don't think that's your problem lol

    Actually I pms once a week so uhm tomorrow I'm probably going to be a wreck :(
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    edited April 2017
    I found recently that an increase in potassium foods, banana, yogurt, nuts, cured my craving for sweets? idk but it worked 4 me, so...

    edited to add: Absolutely, not getting sleep plays a big part in cravings for fast energy. That tird feeling always makes me want a candy bar or pastry u know?
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    Gamliela wrote: »
    I found recently that an increase in potassium foods, banana, yogurt, nuts, cured my craving for sweets? idk but it worked 4 me, so...

    edited to add: Absolutely, not getting sleep plays a big part in cravings for fast energy. That tird feeling always makes me want a candy bar or pastry u know?

    Bananas are sweets...
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Gamliela wrote: »
    I found recently that an increase in potassium foods, banana, yogurt, nuts, cured my craving for sweets? idk but it worked 4 me, so...

    edited to add: Absolutely, not getting sleep plays a big part in cravings for fast energy. That tird feeling always makes me want a candy bar or pastry u know?

    Bananas are sweets...

    No their not. Their closer related to vegeterribles ...
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Gamliela wrote: »
    I found recently that an increase in potassium foods, banana, yogurt, nuts, cured my craving for sweets? idk but it worked 4 me, so...

    edited to add: Absolutely, not getting sleep plays a big part in cravings for fast energy. That tird feeling always makes me want a candy bar or pastry u know?

    Bananas are sweets...

    No their not. Their closer related to vegeterribles ...

    Average banana has 14 grams of sugar. That's more sugar than is in a Dum Dum Pop.

    They may be related to vegetables (I don't know), but that doesn't mean they aren't sweet.

    Exactly. My point was that if you're craving something sweet and a banana satisfies that craving it's because the banana was sweet...

    I wasn't claiming that a banana is a baked good...
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Gamliela wrote: »
    I found recently that an increase in potassium foods, banana, yogurt, nuts, cured my craving for sweets? idk but it worked 4 me, so...

    edited to add: Absolutely, not getting sleep plays a big part in cravings for fast energy. That tird feeling always makes me want a candy bar or pastry u know?

    Bananas are sweets...

    No their not. Their closer related to vegeterribles ...

    Average banana has 14 grams of sugar. That's more sugar than is in a Dum Dum Pop.

    They may be related to vegetables (I don't know), but that doesn't mean they aren't sweet.

    Exactly. My point was that if you're craving something sweet and a banana satisfies that craving it's because the banana was sweet...

    I wasn't claiming that a banana is a baked good...

    lol I know I was trying to be cute ... and to use the word "vegeterribles" in a grownup conversation :P

    I had a banana and yogurt this morning. Didnt seem to help though.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Gamliela wrote: »
    I found recently that an increase in potassium foods, banana, yogurt, nuts, cured my craving for sweets? idk but it worked 4 me, so...

    edited to add: Absolutely, not getting sleep plays a big part in cravings for fast energy. That tird feeling always makes me want a candy bar or pastry u know?

    Bananas are sweets...

    No their not. Their closer related to vegeterribles ...

    Average banana has 14 grams of sugar. That's more sugar than is in a Dum Dum Pop.

    They may be related to vegetables (I don't know), but that doesn't mean they aren't sweet.

    Exactly. My point was that if you're craving something sweet and a banana satisfies that craving it's because the banana was sweet...

    I wasn't claiming that a banana is a baked good...

    lol I know I was trying to be cute ... and to use the word "vegeterribles" in a grownup conversation :P

    I had a banana and yogurt this morning. Didnt seem to help though.

    Personally, I don't think I've ever had a banana satisfy a craving for anything other than a banana. Generally when I'm craving some type of sweet snack it's either that I want chocolate or ice cream...
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    Carlos_421 wrote: »
    Gamliela wrote: »
    I found recently that an increase in potassium foods, banana, yogurt, nuts, cured my craving for sweets? idk but it worked 4 me, so...

    edited to add: Absolutely, not getting sleep plays a big part in cravings for fast energy. That tird feeling always makes me want a candy bar or pastry u know?

    Bananas are sweets...

    No their not. Their closer related to vegeterribles ...

    Average banana has 14 grams of sugar. That's more sugar than is in a Dum Dum Pop.

    They may be related to vegetables (I don't know), but that doesn't mean they aren't sweet.

    Exactly. My point was that if you're craving something sweet and a banana satisfies that craving it's because the banana was sweet...

    I wasn't claiming that a banana is a baked good...

    lol I know I was trying to be cute ... and to use the word "vegeterribles" in a grownup conversation :P

    I had a banana and yogurt this morning. Didnt seem to help though.

    Vegeterribles. :laugh:
    Thanks for that!

    Yeah, not sleeping well can definitely cause me to have a carby day, for sure.

    I find taking magnesium 1hr before sleep really helps to improve sleep. Have you tried melatonin and valerian, too?

    Have you been stressed lately?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    Morgaen73 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    I am not a big sugar person, but I find that I crave it when I don't get enough sleep. Have your sleep patterns changed recently?

    No actually I'm not sleeping well.

    Poor sleep leads to carbs cravings for me as well. I've been working on my sleep hygiene since I learned about the concept in 2015.

    http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips
    https://www.thelifepilot.com/sleep/index3.html?ver=1 (ignore the hype and click on the link to the ebook)
  • TheCupcakeCounter
    TheCupcakeCounter Posts: 606 Member
    I found 150 calorie packs of dark chocolate covered almonds. They will have both sugar and some protein so might fit with your macros better than the coffees and cookies.
    Although if you also need the caffeine I make a latte of sorts that might work for you too. Pour hot coffee over some coconut oil and stir in some chocolate protein powder - i usually make it in a nutribullet but if you stir it up really good it works fine without one . If you need more sweet add a packet of sugar or a squirt of stevia/monk fruit extract.
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    awesome thank you very much for all your comments :)
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,447 Member
    Have you tried the protein cheesecake recipe on mfp. It meets my dessert and sugar craving.
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Yes I have :) It's pretty awesome.
  • codename_steve
    codename_steve Posts: 255 Member
    I second the suggestion for magnesium. Should help with the sleep and the cravings. I've seen different numbers, but usually between 70-80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium.
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