Sugar withdrawal

HappyGrape

I am getting myself off added sugars, day 2 and I feel so low. I have been eating poorly for awhile, and badly need to get back on feeling good & eating better.

My head is so sore, I have no energy for anything today! Tell me it's going to get better!

I am tempted to get a painkiller

twixlepennie

Or you could eat the foods you enjoy, in moderation.


People, why do you insist on making this thing harder than it needs to be?! The odds are already stacked against you, don't add more unnecessary restrictions and rules becasue it only leads to failure. Ok, end rant, must take a break from MFP, it's driving me batty today :ohwell:

HappyGrape

I find I am happier without added sugars, my hunger levels go down and I feel healthier and happier. And I am one person, not people

this is personal request for support - not sure why you decided to throw a speech to the masses on my post!

Phaedra2014

I doubt it is the sugar per se. Your withdrawal is more likely from the foods that contain it...if you were eating a lot of packaged foods or fast food.

Give it a week and you should feel better. You haven't just cut out sugar but also those other ingredients so keep that in mind.

I don't eat added sugar either and I do just fine. When I do consume sugar, or the occasional packaged product that contains it, it messes me up. I get brain fog, super hungry but it's not real hunger, and my energy level doesn't stay constant.

Phaedra2014

Or you could eat the foods you enjoy, in moderation.


People, why do you insist on making this thing harder than it needs to be?! The odds are already stacked against you, don't add more unnecessary restrictions and rules becasue it only leads to failure. Ok, end rant, must take a break from MFP, it's driving me batty today :ohwell:

I believe it is an individual thing. lucky you if your body make up and neurochemistry can handle sugar. Mine cannot. Moderation doesn't happen in my case and eating sugar (as in table sugar, maple syrup, honey, etc) really does a number on me.

I do feel better without it. It's interesting how we all react differently to the same product and how moderation is just not possible in some cases.

nomeejerome

:huh:

Wants to cut out added sugars, but is considering a pain killer for a headache?
What if I told you sugar is a carb?

twixlepennie

I find I am happier without added sugars, my hunger levels go down and I feel healthier and happier. And I am one person, not people

this is personal request for support - not sure why you decided to throw a speech to the masses on my post!

This is like the 10th post I've read today of people 'struggling' to cut out sugar and it gets tiring, sorry you're post was the last straw for me Do what you feel you need to do, but taking pain killers, really?

Athena98501

I am getting myself off added sugars, day 2 and I feel so low. I have been eating poorly for awhile, and badly need to get back on feeling good & eating better.

My head is so sore, I have no energy for anything today! Tell me it's going to get better!

I am tempted to get a painkiller

I'd recommend you have some berries (a fair amount, if you can). Most of them are low enough in sugar as not to cause a crash, and they're nutritious enough to help when you're feeling crappy from eating poorly.

HappyGrape

This is like the 10th post I've read today of people 'struggling' to cut out sugar and it gets tiring, sorry you're post was the last straw for me Do what you feel you need to do, but taking pain killers, really?

Right, so you read 10 posts, you have no interest of reading and this makes you tired and batty, yet you are continuing reading and you are giving me advise - really? Do you think that I would be interested in hearing advise on health from someone that is tired and batty after reading 10 posts?

Let me answer you, in case you are too tired to figure it out- Nope I am not!

HappyGrape

I believe it is an individual thing. lucky you if your body make up and neurochemistry can handle sugar. Mine cannot. Moderation doesn't happen in my case and eating sugar (as in table sugar, maple syrup, honey, etc) really does a number on me.

I do feel better without it. It's interesting how we all react differently to the same product and how moderation is just not possible in some cases.

There are enough scientific research on addictive properties of added sugars that impact some people. There is also no research to prove the necessity of added sugars to healthy diet.

TR0berts

I find I am happier without added sugars, my hunger levels go down and I feel healthier and happier.

But that is directly at odds with your op:

My head is so sore, I have no energy for anything today!

So... Eat some sugar. Just not as much as you normally would. Then, in a few days, eat less sugar. Wean yourself off, if you really want to cut out sugar.

Here's the thing: twixle is/was right. Too many people try making big changes and fail. Make smaller changes. Eventually, those smaller changes will add up into big changes.

HappyGrape

I find I am happier without added sugars, my hunger levels go down and I feel healthier and happier.

But that is directly at odds with your op:

My head is so sore, I have no energy for anything today!

So... Eat some sugar. Just not as much as you normally would. Then, in a few days, eat less sugar. Wean yourself off, if you really want to cut out sugar.

Here's the thing: twixle is/was right. Too many people try making big changes and fail. Make smaller changes. Eventually, those smaller changes will add up into big changes.

This doesn't work for me! I need to go cold turkey, so I will just have to struggle trough the first few days.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it but have done my research on what I want to do and what I need to do.

Liiinas

I'm right there with you. I cut all added sugar two days ago because I had lots almost all my apetite for food and would replace at least one (sometimes all) my meals with candy, crisps etc. It's just not normal. So far no headaches but I'm prepared for them to kick in any time now... Many people here in the coments advice against stopping with all sugars and instead learn how to eat in moderation. I agree but to get to that "normal" state one do sometime need a drastic detox. It doesn't mean you decided to never eat sugar ever again in your life. I wish some people would have a better understanding of addiction before giving advise.
I wish you the best of luck!

Liiinas

Ok this is simple: cutting sugar is hard for some, your body will go through a withdrawal if you start detoxing. Part of this is headache. Why would it be so horrible to take a pill if it helps? Surely the benefits are greater.

HappyGrape

Haters gonna hate, nothing I can do about it! It doesn't really bother me.

I did cut sugar last year and stayed off pretty much by the end of August, I felt great. I am not overweight, I eat allot of healthy foods already, I exercise, I lift - cutting crap isn't that big of a change for me!

New job, allot of socialising, eating out and not as much time to prepare food last few months have ring the alarm that I need to get myself back on track. Eating healthy isn't new for me at all!

What a crazy statement that I am setting myself for failure! Who do you think you are - expert on goals? My nutritionist, doctor or shrink? Some people are hilarious giving advice on others, when they really know nothing in for the person or the subject

Sabine_Stroehm

Or you could eat the foods you enjoy, in moderation.


People, why do you insist on making this thing harder than it needs to be?! The odds are already stacked against you, don't add more unnecessary restrictions and rules becasue it only leads to failure. Ok, end rant, must take a break from MFP, it's driving me batty today :ohwell:

why do you insist they do like you do? Perhaps their goals are different. Like the girl wanting to give up diet coke earlier today. Perhaps (as she stated) her reasons weren't weight loss related. Perhaps folks have more than goal. And maybe, just maybe, they differ from yours?

Sabine_Stroehm

I find I am happier without added sugars, my hunger levels go down and I feel healthier and happier.

But that is directly at odds with your op:

My head is so sore, I have no energy for anything today!

So... Eat some sugar. Just not as much as you normally would. Then, in a few days, eat less sugar. Wean yourself off, if you really want to cut out sugar.

Here's the thing: twixle is/was right. Too many people try making big changes and fail. Make smaller changes. Eventually, those smaller changes will add up into big changes.

arent there other things that suck at first but bring benefits? Or that are hard at first the. Get easier? I can think of a few.

Liiinas

Good luck!

HappyGrape

Lets put it this way, I spend last few weeks having good few nights out, drinks, tons of yummy food and very little goodies. My body craves good sleep, veggies, fish, fruit, long walk on the beach, good workout

Eating Mars bar won't help my headache in any way. Getting some fresh air and wholesome food is what I need.

Thanks for all supportive comments.

F00LofaT00K

I am wondering if you ended up cutting our caffeine along with added sugars... like sodas or sweetened coffee drinks. That would definitely give a headache. If it isn't that, then try eating some more fruit in the meantime. If you're against added sugar but not naturally occurring sugar, compensate with fruit. Sugar is really sugar. If you look into the research (the actual studies themselves, not sensationalized media reports of the findings of one study) done on added sugars and why the recommendation was made to limit it, you'll find that the answer is as simple as: it's easier to tell people to limit added sugars than to limit all sugars from fruit, veggies, meat, etc. If you don't restrict the naturally occurring sugars, you'll still get all of the vitamin benefits from those foods. If they tell people to limit ALL sugar, you'll have people trading cookies for vegetables and fruit and they'll miss out on some vitamins and minerals that they need. You will also find that many of the health problems and the obesity associated with a high sugar diets are largely due to the fact that the more sugar you eat, the more calories you eat. People with very high sugar diets tend to rack up the calories in other places because they are eating more overall. So when the AHA tells people no more than 6tsp of added sugar per day for females, they're taking into account the sugar you're already getting from other foods.

That being said, the body doesn't NEED sugar in excessive amounts (or at all). Your carbs can come from places other than sugar. If you want to give it up and you're getting some carbs elsewhere, go for it. Take some Aleve or eat more fruit to deal with the headache.

MysteriousMerlin

Lets put it this way, I spend last few weeks having good few nights out, drinks, tons of yummy food and very little goodies. My body craves good sleep, veggies, fish, fruit, long walk on the beach, good workout

Eating Mars bar won't help my headache in any way. Getting some fresh air and wholesome food is what I need.

Thanks for all supportive comments.

Then get some fresh air! I've had to reduce my carbs the last few years due to being diagnosed with diabetes, and it was a struggle at first. Give it about a week, take a tylenol for the headache and get some extra sleep.