I need help, I am addicted

Jerkis

Hi guys,

I am 33 years old. I started on this app a while back. I lost a lot of weight about 100lbs. Now about 12 years later and with kids I have gained all that back, and more. I am now diabetic. I am obsessed with sugar. I crave it and I want it and I need to have it when I crave it. I have tried multiple times to stop but the minute someone tells me about sugar or if I see it I need to have it. I know it’s an addiction and I know sugar is like crack. I have eaten tubs of ice cream and have done it multiple times. There are times I don’t eat real food at all! I want is sugar and more sugar. I know all about health and diabetes. Can you believe I am a nurse??? I teach my patients all about this. Yet I can’t do it myself. I need an accountable person to help me this time. I need to lose the weight, I know how to but this obsession
over sugar is driving me crazy. I need help! I need encouragement I need help

Crochetluvr

Hi! I totally understand. I was sugar addicted, overweight, diabetic and I finally had a meltdown over my body. Came to MFP and lost 50 pounds. But I had to go cold turkey on the sugar. Wasn't easy....took a couple weeks to lose the cravings, but it did happen. However, I slid back into old habits and gained back 30 of the 50 I lost. I have since lost 15 of that 30. It's harder this time because I am older, but I am determined.

I joined a group called "Serial Starters" for repeat MFPers. Consider joining us. 🙂

Good luck with your restart!

mrsmeteor

Some people don't take sugar addiction seriously, they think it has to be heroin or alcohol for someone to be addicted to it, but sugar gives a dopamine hit just like those other things do. Remember all the bad stuff about sugar: inflammation, diabetes (as you know), the high and then the crash, your teeth, and cancer risk. Think about how much better future you will feel after quitting, and how much easier it'll be for your kids to continue healthy habits if they don't get used to sweet foods. It really is worth it

chris_in_cal

Jerkis wrote: »

I need help! I need encouragement I need help

Hello,

This is really a rough situation you are in. A lot of us get it, and have been there, or are currently right there with you.

IMHO you absolutely nailed it in needing accountability. Other ideas are motivation, fear, self-discipline, etc and quite often those all come and go easily. Accountability is where it is!

It isn't easy for you to be accountable to me. I'm a random dude on the internet, but possibly. I've began to feel accountable to a group here in MFP. Usually it is easier finding someone you can actually meet in your town, talk on the phone, look at each other.

In situations like you are describing you would need to look outside of your current circle to find somebody else. Your spouse or child or parents or friend isn't necessarily going to turn into a good accountability partner, after you have already been with them your whole life.

Someone else kind of like you, in your community, that is also looking for an accountability parter. Additionally at the neighborhood gym there 'trainers,' a social worker, a counselor, even a therapist. Just work to find an accountability partner. You are exactly right.

Maybe me, probably someone better than an Internet guy, but yes find an accountability partner. Tell them what you wrote here, tell them what you want, and show up. Ask them that if you don't show up to come by or call and be accountable to them for sticking with your plan.

Team work makes the dream work. You are building a different accountability team, than the one you currently have. A great strategy.

MaggieGirl135

@Jerkis You may wish to consider working with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. An ED therapist could help you build coping skills for when you hear about/see sugar.

kcrainshaw

It honestly isn’t your fault. The sugar and CPG industries have engineered those foods to create addiction. A drastic elimination, like 3 months of whole 30, would be very difficult but I would be willing to bet you’d no longer crave sugar. After 3 months, you won’t even miss it.

lauren_989

I can understand that struggle! Sugar can be so addicting and it's easy to say do as I say, not as I do.

We have a group with a lot of support. Come take a look! We are opening registrations for new members next Saturday!

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/114605-fat-2-fit-weight-loss-challenge-and-support-group

mea0610

I’m in my 3rd day of no sugar. It was getting out of control for me. I’ve reduced my carb intake as well. It’s been a bit challenging, but I feel like the cravings will ease after a bit. I’ve done this before and relapsed, but now I think I need to see it as an addiction and avoid completely.
Good luck to you.

patriciafoley1

Have you seen the clip from the West Wing where Leo McGarry talks about alcoholism and drug addition? "I don't want one drink. I want ten drinks". That's what sugar addiction is like for a lot of people (including me). I don't just mean white sugar. I mean white flour, rice, processed carbs of any kind. The good thing is that once you wean yourself off from carbs, the cravings largely disappear and you can look at carbs and walk away. That bad thing is that the addiction never goes away (or to put it more clearly, a person sensitive to sugars triggering response or addiction to carbs never goes away) and it is very easy to get readdicted. Then you have to go through withdrawal once again. The best thing I can say, from experience, is to go low carb, avoid all sugar, white flour, rice, and other processed carbs as much as possible. Life not being ideal, you probably won't be able or even want to entirely avoid them. Don't fall back again into the "ten drinks" trap, whatever that might be for you sugar wise. Just regard it as poison, which it is for me (and probably for you) and treat it as such. People used to take a little bit of arsenic as a beauty aid. A little and it might (at least they thought so then) give a bloom. Too much and it will kill you.

Jerkis

Thank you all for all of your responses! I am truly grateful. I know I need help, And I want this year to be the one for me. Its been way too long. I will join in some groups here and there and see how it goes, I have tried the therapist but did not go too into the sugar addiction. I think I will try again. Thank you all.

chris_in_cal

Jerkis wrote: »

Thank you all for all of your responses! I am truly grateful. I know I need help, And I want this year to be the one for me. Its been way too long. I will join in some groups here and there and see how it goes, I have tried the therapist but did not go too into the sugar addiction. I think I will try again. Thank you all.

Good to see you back. Please bookmark this thread (it is a little bookmark looking symbol up at the top right. I turns blue when you click it.) and every day for the next 30 days without missing, come post something here. It doesn't need to be much, just something. We'll be here for you.

totameafox

Hi. I'm also a diabetic. Feel free to join my group. I'd be happy to provide support as we get and stay healthy.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/147555-speak-friend-and-enter

EccentricRainbow

Sugar addiction is absolutely real!! Years and years ago I had the opposite problem-- I was absolutely terrified of sugar but obsessed with it at the same time. If you completely cut yourself off you will be prone to binging, and your obsession/addiction will only get worse. Moderation is key! Be careful of added sugars but do not be afraid of them If you do not allow yourself to have any treats at all it could consume you mentally.

An extreme in either direction is bad-- Avoiding sugar completely is something that nearly killed me. Added sugars are NOT the devil, you just need to treat them as.. a treat When we make cookies we add sugar, is that so wrong? Cookies are not something we eat every day, so it's okay I think it's really important to have a healthy relationship & understanding of food

I'm wishing you all of the best, you've got this!!! We believe in you!!

letsgolessie

Things I'm trying:
1. A mantra: "it just sucks" (said with a positive tone)
2. Focusing on adding something: eating more vegetables and protein
3. Meditation aka. Talking to myself with cool and calm thoughts.
P.s. would love to join a Richmond, VA, weight loss group. If anyone knows of any please let me know.

elisa123gal

I can't believe I'm saying this; but...if you start eating healthy non processed low carb foods as you fight your addiction.. at least you're giving your body something good as you prepare to kick your habit. Do that as you cut down on your usual sugar rush. Then.. you're gonna have to go cold turkey. You'll feel like crap for a week or so.. then you'll have the monkey off your back. Maybe use sugar free chocolate here and there and soda to try and get through. good luck.