Sugar Addict

GirlMomOf3

I will do so well for two weeks or so... then boom, the cravings... I try to fight them. It’s literally the behavior you see in someone quit smoking or drug. I never realized how addicted to sugar I was until I just keep failing and going on binge eating moments of sugary things!

HealthyGinny

GirlMomOf3 wrote: »

I will do so well for two weeks or so... then boom, the cravings... I try to fight them. It’s literally the behavior you see in someone quit smoking or drug. I never realized how addicted to sugar I was until I just keep failing and going on binge eating moments of sugary things!

Maybe you are restricting too much, that's why every two weeks, you binge? don't try to eliminate all sugar in your diet if that's what you're doing and when you really want something (cake, cookies, ice-cream), plan for it and eat it and enjoy it

nutmegoreo

GirlMomOf3 wrote: »

I will do so well for two weeks or so... then boom, the cravings... I try to fight them. It’s literally the behavior you see in someone quit smoking or drug. I never realized how addicted to sugar I was until I just keep failing and going on binge eating moments of sugary things!

If you feel like you have little control, re-evaluate what you are doing. If there are specific items that trigger you, take them out of the house. Allowing yourself an occasional treat can help you keep on track. Think about your goals and ask why it's been so hard in the past and what can you do differently this time.

And stop thinking of it as an addiction. It takes the power out of your control. You have control, you just need to figure out a different way to deal. It may not be easy, but it can be done.

MamaNess2018

I understand. I regularly eat sugar candy (like sour patch kids, etc.). I try to limit myself, I know it’s bad, but I crave it and give in far too often. especially because I am eating healthier meals in general and can’t be tooooo restrictive. I wonder about it just like you are now

shaumom

Hugs - that's how I react to it. My mother and grandmother, too, actually, and a few others I've met. Only way any of us has been able to fully get rid of it is to
1. drop all sugar and added sweeteners for a few months. So, like, no sugar (not in ANY foods), no syrups, not even honey, depending on how bad it is.
2. Make sure you have enough carbs when you drop the sugar, because if you are lower carb And low sugar wow is that bad for cravings.
3. Then after doing this for months, slowly try to add a little sweet back in. If you start having cravings again...you need to go cold turkey to avoid cravings. If you don't have cravings, you can look at how much sweetened you can have without triggering cravings, you know?

Doing this, my mother has not had cravings for at least a couple decades. I have periodically thought 'hey, been doing this a while now, I could have just a little bit now that the cravings are gone, no problem.' And then the cravings came back like crazy and it all went back to the beginning.

Been doing this for over 6 months again now, and once again, cravings are totally gone. But a couple times I had a little honey, and bam, they came right back. :-/ my mom just uses a lot of fruit, bakes her own bready things with lots of fruits for sweetening, and that seems to work for her.

jacalynrose11

The struggle is real! I have found my cravings for sugar unhealthy, seemingly like a drug addiction as well. What I have found to help is to drop most processed foods out of my diet and eat natural sugars. I am not perfect, though! Of course it is okay to indulge every once in a while, too! Good luck! You can do this!

livingleanlivingclean

I just watched an English program on VLCDs. One of the women they put on a vlcd insisted she was addicted to food - she had an appointment with a medical professional who pretty much told her that wasn't possible, and telling herself she was addicted only exacerbated her problem. Telling herself she was one gave her mental ability to act like one and give in to her urges to eat.

AnnPT77

I found it helpful to eat at least 3 fruit servings daily, and minimize sweets that were less nutrient dense for a while (not necessarily eliminate them entirely). After a while, a lot of the simpler sweets started tasting way too sweet, and way too simple - not worth their calories.

This doesn't work for everyone, but I've "talked" with others here for whom it worked well, too, so it may be worth a try.

kshama2001

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I found it helpful to eat at least 3 fruit servings daily, and minimize sweets that were less nutrient dense for a while (not necessarily eliminate them entirely). After a while, a lot of the simpler sweets started tasting way too sweet, and way too simple - not worth their calories.

This doesn't work for everyone, but I've "talked" with others here for whom it worked well, too, so it may be worth a try.

Another vote for more fruit. I don't enjoy peppermint patties anymore - they taste too sweet now.

@GirlMomOf3 if these cravings consistently happen ever two weeks or so, it is probably related to your cycle. I exercise more so I can eat more around ovulation and I up my calories to maintenance for a few days premenstrually.

My "sugar cravings" premenstrually were just my body telling me my metabolism had revved up and wanted more calories. In fact, increased appetite is the first sign that I am premenstrual.

winnies733

GirlMomOf3 wrote: »

I will do so well for two weeks or so... then boom, the cravings... I try to fight them. It’s literally the behavior you see in someone quit smoking or drug. I never realized how addicted to sugar I was until I just keep failing and going on binge eating moments of sugary things!

LivLovLrn

I was addicted to sugar, also did a research paper on it for my master's degree. It is a highly addictive substance, just doesn't affect everyone the same. I tried to stop eating it MANY times before I was successful so don't beat yourself up for falling off the wagon a few times; just keep at it. What worked for me was to read every ingredient of every single thing I ate to be sure not to eat any form of sugar cane at all. Remember it is listed under many different names; sugar, sugar cane, sucrose (this is not ALWAYS sugar cane, but for me it was better to be safe than sorry), molasses, cane juice...you get the picture. I also have to stay away from sugar cane derivitives such as sucralose. Don't give up, and don't pay attention to the nay-sayers, often people don't understand what they've not experienced themselves.