Quitting Sugar

I'm trying to quit eating sugar. I don't include fruit in this, but I am limiting my fruit intake to 1 serving per day.
The sugar withdrawals are intense! Headaches, fatique, hypoglycemic blood sugar levels, even shaking at times.

Have you been able to completely quit sugar? Did you feel withdrawal symptoms? How did you deal with them? How long did it take for the effects to stop?
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Replies

  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    Unless you're diabetic, why would you quit sugar?
  • brraanndi
    brraanndi Posts: 325 Member
    Unless you're diabetic, why would you quit sugar?

    This. And why limit good things like fruit?
  • veggiegirl228
    veggiegirl228 Posts: 27 Member
    Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    I have never tried to quit sugar.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you

    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Why? Are you diabetic? If not, what purpose does it serve to deprive yourself of something you enjoy?

    And, more importantly, why would you limit yourself to 1 serving a day of fruit?
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    Winners-never-quit-quitters-never-win.jpeg
  • That doesn't sound pleasant at all.

    I tried to give up caffeine once, and I had similar symptoms.

    Moral? Didn't give up caffeine. Went back to drinking coffee and being happier.

    You can, of course, limit your refined sugars if that is the thing that seems to send you over your daily calorie goals, but giving up fruit also gives up an exceptional source of vitamins that are harder to get elsewhere. Not to mention the rehydration and balancing of electrolytes, fiber, and happy taste buds.

    Don't make your diet so restrictive that you can't sustain it.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?
    Buy some 13C labelled sucrose ?
  • debress
    debress Posts: 36 Member
    There is sugar in lots of foods. There is sugar in broccoli. It's not all bad sugar. If you want to cut out sugar, stop eating things like candy and sugary desserts. Read labels. A lot of protein bars and healthy looking granola bars have as much sugar as a Snickers bar. The first time I cut sugar out was with South Beach Diet, and it did take about a week of withdrawl before it got easier. But it did get easier.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Unless you're diabetic, why would you quit sugar?

    Exactly.

    I don't want to quit sugar! I have become way more aware of my sugar consumption thanks to MFP, and I definitely don't want to overdo it...but for me, being happy is #1 and I don't think I'd feel totally happy without an occasional slice of pie or scoop of ice cream in my life. Meanwhile, if I gave up sugar then those once-weekly treats might screw with my body and/or become a huge trigger for me to overdo it. No thanks. If I'm gonna lose weight and keep it off, it's got to be moderate and allowing me my favorite things.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Why? And only 1 serving of fruit? Fruit is full of awesome nutrition...antioxidants, pectin (soluble fiber which helps remove bad cholesterol) and all kinds of vitamins and minerals. 2-3 servings of fruit per day is highly awesome...
  • DatMurse
    DatMurse Posts: 1,501 Member
    Why? And only 1 serving of fruit? Fruit is full of awesome nutrition...antioxidants, pectin (soluble fiber which helps remove bad cholesterol) and all kinds of vitamins and minerals. 2-3 servings of fruit per day is highly awesome...


    this is what I was thinking. I havent heard anyone say they are limiting their fruit intake....

    Vitamin C is one of the weird things we cannot synthesize
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    Most of the time when people say they want to "cut out sugar" what they really mean is they want to "cut out sugary, calorie-dense, tempting foods". The reason why they want to cut them out is because when they eat them they tend to eat too much of them and end up eating a calorie surplus and gaining weight.

    There is "sugar" in just about everything. There is sugar in apples and sugar in cake. You'll probably do yourself a favor cutting out cake. Cutting out apples? Not so much.
  • Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you

    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?

    Your body knows what is natural versus what is processed. You body is also able to better metabolize natural sugar than processed. I have heard that usually the amount of sugar in fruit you can actually cut in half when recording, since it is natural. (I am not a nutritional counselor so don't quote me but I have heard it multiple times from those in the dietary field)
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you

    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?

    Your body knows what is natural versus what is processed. You body is also able to better metabolize natural sugar than processed. I have heard that usually the amount of sugar in fruit you can actually cut in half when recording, since it is natural. (I am not a nutritional counselor so don't quote me but I have heard it multiple times from those in the dietary field)

    You should hang with a different crowd that doesn't make things up
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you

    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?

    Your body knows what is natural versus what is processed. You body is also able to better metabolize natural sugar than processed. I have heard that usually the amount of sugar in fruit you can actually cut in half when recording, since it is natural. (I am not a nutritional counselor so don't quote me but I have heard it multiple times from those in the dietary field)

    Interesting.

    How do natural sugars differ from processed sugars at a molecular level? More precisely, how does the molecular structure of naturally occurring sucrose differ from processed sucrose? Fructose? Glucose?
  • romancefan1983
    romancefan1983 Posts: 88 Member
    Not the sugar!!! :noway:

    Now I do try to limit the processed sugars but I haven't/can't/won't give them up completely. I do eat all the fruits that will fit into my macros. Bring on the bananas and oranges! :drinker:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Why? And only 1 serving of fruit? Fruit is full of awesome nutrition...antioxidants, pectin (soluble fiber which helps remove bad cholesterol) and all kinds of vitamins and minerals. 2-3 servings of fruit per day is highly awesome...
    I don't eat much of any food with added sugars, but +1 for the comments about fruit. fruit is good for you!!!
    Fruit also has FIBER. Fiber is good for you!!!
  • glin23
    glin23 Posts: 460 Member
    Keep in mind that vegetables also have sugars in them.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Keep in mind that vegetables also have sugars in them.
    And vegetables are GOOD too!!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you

    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?

    Your body knows what is natural versus what is processed. You body is also able to better metabolize natural sugar than processed. I have heard that usually the amount of sugar in fruit you can actually cut in half when recording, since it is natural. (I am not a nutritional counselor so don't quote me but I have heard it multiple times from those in the dietary field)

    Interesting.

    How do natural sugars differ from processed sugars at a molecular level? More precisely, how does the molecular structure of naturally occurring sucrose differ from processed sucrose? Fructose? Glucose?

    C'mon brah...science? What do you think this is? Sheesh....
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you

    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?

    Your body knows what is natural versus what is processed. You body is also able to better metabolize natural sugar than processed. I have heard that usually the amount of sugar in fruit you can actually cut in half when recording, since it is natural. (I am not a nutritional counselor so don't quote me but I have heard it multiple times from those in the dietary field)

    Interesting.

    How do natural sugars differ from processed sugars at a molecular level? More precisely, how does the molecular structure of naturally occurring sucrose differ from processed sucrose? Fructose? Glucose?

    C'mon brah...science? What do you think this is? Sheesh....

    In. For bro science.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Natural sugars are good for you. It's the processed stuff that's bad for you

    How do I let my body know which is natural sugar and which is processed sugar?

    Your body knows what is natural versus what is processed. You body is also able to better metabolize natural sugar than processed. I have heard that usually the amount of sugar in fruit you can actually cut in half when recording, since it is natural. (I am not a nutritional counselor so don't quote me but I have heard it multiple times from those in the dietary field)

    Interesting.

    How do natural sugars differ from processed sugars at a molecular level? More precisely, how does the molecular structure of naturally occurring sucrose differ from processed sucrose? Fructose? Glucose?

    C'mon brah...science? What do you think this is? Sheesh....

    In. For bro science.

    I'm actually still in...

    ...for actual science. Am really looking forward to an answer to my question.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member

    I'm actually still in...

    ...for actual science. Am really looking forward to an answer to my question.

    There IS no answer....
  • 4homer
    4homer Posts: 457 Member

    I'm actually still in...

    ...for actual science. Am really looking forward to an answer to my question.

    There IS no answer....
    42
  • Yeller_Sensation
    Yeller_Sensation Posts: 373 Member
    42

    I wave my towel in your honor, Sir.
  • FrauHaas2013
    FrauHaas2013 Posts: 615 Member
    This week, I couldn't have any sugar, either. I didn't have a problem with it (like you, I am talking about processed sugar). I do have fruit every single day - 1 cup of mixed berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and/or blueberries). I usually add 1/2 cup to my AM snack and the other 1/2 cup to my PM snack. Maybe that's why I haven't been craving sugar so much?
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member

    I'm actually still in...

    ...for actual science. Am really looking forward to an answer to my question.

    There IS no answer....


    There is no answer to this question?
    How do natural sugars differ from processed sugars at a molecular level? More precisely, how does the molecular structure of naturally occurring sucrose differ from processed sucrose? Fructose? Glucose?

    It seems to be common knowledge (at least in this thread) that there is a definite difference between the two. I'm just curious what that difference is.

    I'm not looking for the difference in IUPAC ID (unless that's actually where the difference is). I just want to understand the difference in composition. Given that processed sucrose is something like C12H22O11...(or is that naturally occurring sucrose?)...then what is the composition of naturally occurring sucrose?