Need to crack this sugar addiction.....if I could just do that I know I would succeed !

GrammiJano

So I need to crack my sugar addiction. I just end up craving it on a night. I kid myself I buy "Healthy" cereal bars.,but I eat one and the taste of sugar just spiralls me into eating more sugary stuff. I chucked my whole cereal bar stash in the bin today. They liken sugar addiction to stopping smoking and I have seen how hard that can be for ppl. I am gonna try and go cold turkey with it and drink more water. I know if I can break my sugar addiction I will succeed in my weight loss journey.

L1zardQueen

Have you ever had nicotine habit?

GrammiJano

No

GrammiJano

But I saw on t.v that they liken it to it

baibaibaibaby

Have you tried making sweets at home with artificial sweeteners? We've made a few desserts with artificial sweeteners that turned out quite well, including ice cream, chia seed pudding, and chocolate peanut butter bites.

GrammiJano

No I haven't but thank u for the idea -)

NessaR2011

I have had the same issue up until I completely cut out any added sugar or artificial sweeteners. First few days are rough but by day 5 I had more energy than I have had in probably a decade. On top of that I can smell things better than I used to, things taste better and I actually have to remind myself to eat because I stopped craving everything and things I do eat seem to stay with me longer. 40 days later and almost 20 lbs gone. It's been eye opening.

GrammiJano

WOW! Thank u soooo much for ur reply its exactly what I was hoping for. I am going to give it my best shot. Well done to you I am glad that you are feeling all the better for it xx

MichelleSilverleaf

GrammiJano wrote: »

But I saw on t.v that they liken it to it

People on tv say a lot of things. Doesn't make them true.

Making your own sweets is definitely an option, I buy sorbet instead of ice cream. 80cal a serving, can't go wrong with that and for me at least it's a satisfying helping. Halo Top is supposed to be another good option, I've never had it. But if you still can't manage yourself with sweets it may be a good idea to just keep them out and away, and endure the cravings.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

so does that mean you are cutting out fruits,veggies and dairy? or just refined/added sugars?

GrammiJano

No just refind fruit and veggies are important to me.

Orphia

GrammiJano wrote: »

So I need to crack my sugar addiction. I just end up craving it on a night. I kid myself I buy "Healthy" cereal bars.,but I eat one and the taste of sugar just spiralls me into eating more sugary stuff. I chucked my whole cereal bar stash in the bin today. They liken sugar addiction to stopping smoking and I have seen how hard that can be for ppl. I am gonna try and go cold turkey with it and drink more water. I know if I can break my sugar addiction I will succeed in my weight loss journey.

You're in luck. There's no such thing as sugar addiction. Yay! You've succeeded.

To succeed in your weight loss journey, you just need to eat less calories than you burn.

GrammiJano

Well if you go to the NHS there is

Nicky882018

Don't buy anything with added sugar. What is good to do is buy dates and walnut halves. When you feel the urge have a date sandwiched with two walnut halves. It really is delicious and filling. After a while the cravings for refined sugar will be replaced with a repulsive feeling when the thought of it arises. Remember your brain is like computer that you've programmed. You are the one in control and there's a default setting that we're all supposed to be at. You can totally dissolve the neuro reward pathways by weaning off the sugar. All the best, you can do it

Nicky882018

The food industry are liars, they don't care about us they only care about money and they want you as their slave

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=LPxIssabhTc

lemmyhead

Good luck! You'll get a lot of mixed opinions and approaches on here to try for yourself, so keep trying and you'll find the solution that works for you.

BitofaState

If you need motivation try reading Pure, White and Deadly

https://www.amazon.com/Pure-White-Deadly-John-Yudkin/dp/0241965284

or watch Sugar. the bitter truth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

If you want to get off the sugar habit you might also want to reduce your fructose consumption through fruits. Focus on fruits that give higher fiber and lower fructose.

Tomatoes and avocados (yes technically fruits!)
Lemons and limes
Cantaloupe melon
Raspberries, blackberries & strawberries
Clementine
Kiwi fruit
Grapefruit

and avoid dried fruits, Mango, Grapes, Watermelon and banana which have higher levels of fructose.

stevencloser

Nicky882018 wrote: »

The food industry are liars, they don't care about us they only care about money and they want you as their slave

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=LPxIssabhTc

Ah, YouTube Videos. The last bastion of truth and science.

GrammiJano

Thank u everyone for ur views, opinions and help. Good luck in ur journeys

snowflake954

OP--I'd just like to caution you that if you can't keep this up long term, you are not a failure. To completely cut out sweets for the rest of your life is very hard to do. If you want to try this, and it helps you feel in control, fine. However in the long term it's best to learn to add in treats now and again, so you don't feel deprived when eating with friends and family. Many people binge on sweets when they can't keep up anymore. The media is full of alot of misinformation. There are many knowlegeable and successful people on the forums, follow along and learn with us.

GrammiJano

Thank u it's just that when I eat say a small sweet or a cereal bar it just seems to make me crave more it's like I have no self control at all. Wish it was different.

deimosphoebos

I look at sugars as fast sources of energy. Sometimes my body craves it. But if I plan ahead of time, and eat a good meal full of proteins, fats and carbs (less the refined sugars), my body is much more satisfied because of the slow release of energy from the macro molecules. One step at a time, you can do it.

GrammiJano

deimosphoebos wrote: »

I look at sugars as fast sources of energy. Sometimes my body craves it. But if I plan ahead of time, and eat a good meal full of proteins, fats and carbs (less the refined sugars), my body is much more satisfied because of the slow release of energy from the macro molecules. One step at a time, you can do it.

TonyB0588

GrammiJano wrote: »

So I need to crack my sugar addiction. I just end up craving it on a night. I kid myself I buy "Healthy" cereal bars.,but I eat one and the taste of sugar just spiralls me into eating more sugary stuff. I chucked my whole cereal bar stash in the bin today. They liken sugar addiction to stopping smoking and I have seen how hard that can be for ppl. I am gonna try and go cold turkey with it and drink more water. I know if I can break my sugar addiction I will succeed in my weight loss journey.

Good idea to manage your sugar intake, but weight loss is more about calorie counting than sugar counting. What does your MFP Diary look like at the end of each day? Which numbers are in the red? Which are in green?

snowflake954

GrammiJano wrote: »

Thank u it's just that when I eat say a small sweet or a cereal bar it just seems to make me crave more it's like I have no self control at all. Wish it was different.

For many people, yes, it seems that way. Log and count your calories. Don't cut your calories too low. If you're hungry sooner or later you may binge big time. If your calorie goal is doable, and you weigh and measure everything with a digitale food scale, you'll find that it isn't so hard. Sweets usually take care of themselves over time, because you can see while logging that they push your calories up. If you stay within your goal, you'll have to cut down. Don't worry, you can do this. Good luck. Remember, we want a success story in the future.

squatsnotsquat

Erythritol was a game changer for me. It's a sugar alcohol that doesn't spike your blood sugar like other artificial sweeteners, no calories, no bad side effects (aside from a laxative effect ). You just use it to cook and bake desserts with, or you can find desserts that are already sweetened with it. When mine came (ordered off Amazon), I literally thought I was ripped off because it tasted so much like sugar I thought it was just sugar. Never in my life have I thought I'd find a healthy sweetener that wasn't bitter, but this is amazing. Definitely agree with NessaR that just cutting out sweet foods will help you stop craving them-- you kind of just stop seeing certain foods as food when you stop eating them. But if you can't manage that (it's tough!), erythritol is a good way to go. Whatever you do though, don't turn to other artificial sweeteners besides stevia and sugar alcohols. Some spike your blood sugar worse than sugar, making you hungrier later than if you just ate sugar. I blame Splenda for a 10 lb weight gain a few years back... Oh and if you're cutting out sugar, you also kind of have to cut out white bread, pasta, rice etc. as well. They literally turn into sugar in your mouth so it's like eating sugar-- you'll still get the cravings.

stevencloser

squatsnotsquat wrote: »

Erythritol was a game changer for me. It's a sugar alcohol that doesn't spike your blood sugar like other artificial sweeteners, no calories, no bad side effects (aside from a laxative effect ). You just use it to cook and bake desserts with, or you can find desserts that are already sweetened with it. When mine came (ordered off Amazon), I literally thought I was ripped off because it tasted so much like sugar I thought it was just sugar. Never in my life have I thought I'd find a healthy sweetener that wasn't bitter, but this is amazing. Definitely agree with NessaR that just cutting out sweet foods will help you stop craving them-- you kind of just stop seeing certain foods as food when you stop eating them. But if you can't manage that (it's tough!), erythritol is a good way to go. Whatever you do though, don't turn to other artificial sweeteners besides stevia and sugar alcohols. Some spike your blood sugar worse than sugar, making you hungrier later than if you just ate sugar. I blame Splenda for a 10 lb weight gain a few years back...

No artificial sweeteners spike your blood sugar. That's kindof the point of them.

squatsnotsquat

stevencloser wrote: »

squatsnotsquat wrote: »

Erythritol was a game changer for me. It's a sugar alcohol that doesn't spike your blood sugar like other artificial sweeteners, no calories, no bad side effects (aside from a laxative effect ). You just use it to cook and bake desserts with, or you can find desserts that are already sweetened with it. When mine came (ordered off Amazon), I literally thought I was ripped off because it tasted so much like sugar I thought it was just sugar. Never in my life have I thought I'd find a healthy sweetener that wasn't bitter, but this is amazing. Definitely agree with NessaR that just cutting out sweet foods will help you stop craving them-- you kind of just stop seeing certain foods as food when you stop eating them. But if you can't manage that (it's tough!), erythritol is a good way to go. Whatever you do though, don't turn to other artificial sweeteners besides stevia and sugar alcohols. Some spike your blood sugar worse than sugar, making you hungrier later than if you just ate sugar. I blame Splenda for a 10 lb weight gain a few years back...

No artificial sweeteners spike your blood sugar. That's kindof the point of them.

I should be more specific. The sweetener itself doesn't usually spike insulin or at least not very much, but the maltodexrin mixed in as a filler spikes blood sugar nearly twice as much as sugar. Splenda contains maltodexrin and dextrose which both lead to weight gain.

WinoGelato

squatsnotsquat wrote: »

stevencloser wrote: »

squatsnotsquat wrote: »

Erythritol was a game changer for me. It's a sugar alcohol that doesn't spike your blood sugar like other artificial sweeteners, no calories, no bad side effects (aside from a laxative effect ). You just use it to cook and bake desserts with, or you can find desserts that are already sweetened with it. When mine came (ordered off Amazon), I literally thought I was ripped off because it tasted so much like sugar I thought it was just sugar. Never in my life have I thought I'd find a healthy sweetener that wasn't bitter, but this is amazing. Definitely agree with NessaR that just cutting out sweet foods will help you stop craving them-- you kind of just stop seeing certain foods as food when you stop eating them. But if you can't manage that (it's tough!), erythritol is a good way to go. Whatever you do though, don't turn to other artificial sweeteners besides stevia and sugar alcohols. Some spike your blood sugar worse than sugar, making you hungrier later than if you just ate sugar. I blame Splenda for a 10 lb weight gain a few years back...

No artificial sweeteners spike your blood sugar. That's kindof the point of them.

I should be more specific. The sweetener itself doesn't usually spike insulin or at least not very much, but the maltodexrin mixed in as a filler spikes blood sugar nearly twice as much as sugar. Splenda contains maltodexrin and dextrose which both lead to weight gain.

Too many calories lead to weight gain, period. Individual ingredients, individual foods, groups of foods like “sweets” do not cause weight gain.

mabelgrex

no such thing as a "healthy cereal bar" be prepared with a real food snack if that is why you are eating one,
'might as well eat a Milky WAy

WinoGelato

OP as a couple of others have said - sugar isn’t physically addictive, and biochemically the refined sugar in your cereal bars or donuts is handled by your body the same as the sugar in foods like honey, agave, and even fruits and vegetables. For many people, understanding that it isn’t an addiction, that the substance doesn’t hold power over them the way that truly addictive substances do, is empowering.

Once you accept that, then you can move on to the “why” you tend to overeat certain foods and work to address those habits to achieve your long term goals. Some people find that they eat those foods when they are in certain emotional states - boredom, stress, sadness, anxiety, etc. they then work to find alternatives to cope with those emotions. Other people find that it’s truly just a habit, no specific triggers, and starting to build different habits - like logging accurately to know how the food impacts your total day, or going for a walk when a craving strikes - help them build overall strategies around how to deal with the foods they struggle with. Some people find that they need to stay away from their trigger foods completely, some find that they just need to remove them from home but can indulge in them in other situations, some buy only single servings of the foods - it’s not a one size fits all and you can try different strategies to see what works for you.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about health, nutrition and weight loss - you tube and blogs are not good sources of information. People who want to sell you something often try to convince others that certain foods are inherently bad and that they must be cut out in order to be successful. In actuality, if weight loss is your goal - that comes down to a calorie deficit and you can achieve that eating a lot of different foods. What I found is that if I build a generally healthy diet around lean protein, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats - and log everything accurately - I know exactly how much wiggle room I have for things like a couple of Girl Scout cookies after dinner, or pizza on the weekends with my family.

Good luck.