Sugar withdrawals

sloth3toes

In.

sue_langley

I've read that taking glutamine can help keep sugar cravings at bay. I haven't tried it myself, but it's worth doing some research if you're struggling.

yes, I recently started taking L-glutamine raw and can't believe how I don't crave sugar and bad carbs.
I use the powder form, 1/4 serving morning and again at about 3 PM.
I've lost 1/2 inch off my hips in a short period of time. my hips were my problem area and now I think it may have been the sugar or bad carbs, worth a try.

jamesisaac108

When I started my little adventure October of 2012 I was honest with myself. Im not giving up sweets altogether. Ill cut down a lot but Ill be realistic. As I used to be hooked on drugs pretty bad in the past it became sort of easy to recognize some the addiction from some of the sweets I was eating. A couple of months ago I actually found myself obsessing about peanut M&Ms. I was actually a little freaked out about it. I guess there was truth in all those stories about how companies are making food more addictive. Recognize that makes it a lot easier to stay away from it. If I want something sweet then I will stick to chocolate with at least 60% dark chocolate in it. Staying away from processed food as much as possible will help in all aspects of your diet and exercise.

tigersword

peer reviewed, published scientific studies comparing cocaine and sugar addiction:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0000698#pone-0000698-g006

http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/pha/15/5/481/

from the plosone article

"Here we report that when rats were allowed to choose mutually-exclusively between water sweetened with saccharin–an intense calorie-free sweetener–and intravenous cocaine–a highly addictive and harmful substance–the large majority of animals (94%) preferred the sweet taste of saccharin."

so the rats went for what tasted better?

Also, if the cocaine was given intravenously how did they choose between the water and the intravenous injection? It is not like they can ask …

It would seem to make more sense to have cocaine in water and sweetener in water and see what they went for….no?

A more interesting observation. Saccharin isn't sugar.

CynthiasChoice

Nora D Volkow is a well-respected researcher of substance abuse. She is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2003 – present.

In one journal article she writes:

“repeated exposure to certain foods (particularly those with a high fat and sugar content) in vulnerable individuals can also result in compulsive food consumption, poor food intake control, conditioning to food stimuli, and, over time, massive weight gain.”

And also: “we propose that some forms of obesity are driven by an excessive motivational drive for food and should be included as a mental disorder”

She says there’s an “urgent need to develop better therapeutic interventions that help mitigate the pathologically intense drive for food consumption.”

http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=98310
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/363/1507/3191.short

Those who have never experienced an excessive, intense drive to eat have a difficult time understanding what that’s like, and may be tempted to demonize those with poor impulse control, or criticize them for making the “excuse” that they are addicted to sugar. You know the saying…until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes…

Just on this thread alone we’ve seen many people who say that eating sugary foods makes them lose control of their eating. They report that giving up sugar is incredibly hard, but when they stop eating sugar, the drive to eat excessively diminishes.

Is there anyone reading these testimonies that would have to gall to disregard these very real struggles that people are having, and try to deny that their experiences are credible?

We have to remember that the human body and the human brain are amazingly complex – beyond what scientists can yet understand. We don’t gain any new knowledge by being closed-minded. What is to be gained by saying there is no such thing as sugar addiction?

jamesisaac108

Nora D Volkow is a well-respected researcher of substance abuse. She is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2003 – present.

In one journal article she writes:

“repeated exposure to certain foods (particularly those with a high fat and sugar content) in vulnerable individuals can also result in compulsive food consumption, poor food intake control, conditioning to food stimuli, and, over time, massive weight gain.”

And also: “we propose that some forms of obesity are driven by an excessive motivational drive for food and should be included as a mental disorder”

She says there’s an “urgent need to develop better therapeutic interventions that help mitigate the pathologically intense drive for food consumption.”

http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=98310
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/363/1507/3191.short

Those who have never experienced an excessive, intense drive to eat have a difficult time understanding what that’s like, and may be tempted to demonize those with poor impulse control, or criticize them for making the “excuse” that they are addicted to sugar. You know the saying…until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes…

Just on this thread alone we’ve seen many people who say that eating sugary foods makes them lose control of their eating. They report that giving up sugar is incredibly hard, but when they stop eating sugar, the drive to eat excessively diminishes.

Is there anyone reading these testimonies that would have to gall to disregard these very real struggles that people are having, and try to deny that their experiences are credible?

We have to remember that the human body and the human brain are amazingly complex – beyond what scientists can yet understand. We don’t gain any new knowledge by being closed-minded. What is to be gained by saying there is no such thing as sugar addiction?

I couldn't agree with you more. My sister and I often discuss weight loss. She is trying to shed a few pounds and she is frustrated about what to eat. I try to always remind her that its just food and not to worry so much about what to eat. It's just food. Its nutrition. Just nutrition. I have been where so many of these people been and my heart goes out to everyone.

CynthiasChoice

When I started my little adventure October of 2012 I was honest with myself. Im not giving up sweets altogether. Ill cut down a lot but Ill be realistic. As I used to be hooked on drugs pretty bad in the past it became sort of easy to recognize some the addiction from some of the sweets I was eating. A couple of months ago I actually found myself obsessing about peanut M&Ms. I was actually a little freaked out about it. I guess there was truth in all those stories about how companies are making food more addictive. Recognize that makes it a lot easier to stay away from it. If I want something sweet then I will stick to chocolate with at least 60% dark chocolate in it. Staying away from processed food as much as possible will help in all aspects of your diet and exercise.

James - How has it been with not giving up sweets altogether for you? Has cutting back on sugar decreased your cravings for it, or do you still have thoughts about eating sugary foods through the day? I'd love to hear more about your experience.

My experience has been that after I give up sugar for a number of weeks, the cravings get much milder and I don't find myself obsessing about food. At that point, after I'm "clean," I can have a very small treat (50 cals) once every few days and still stay on track, but it takes a lot of self discipline to keep that treat small.

I'm still cautiously experimenting with this, because I really don't want to sabotage all my efforts to get my brain working optimally. I'd like to find a way to enjoy a small treat occasionally without my prefrontal cortex going haywire. Staying away from sugar seems to keep the "parent" in my brain strong and able to control the child.

jamesisaac108

I dont remember having any withdrawls to tell you the truth. But I run enough that I dont worry about what I eat very much. The shakes I make in the morning for my workouts helped a ton. Nothing really special about them. Fresh fruit and whey protein in a blender. Its important to see food as nothing more than nutrition. Believe me, it helps a lot. Losing weight doesnt have to be hard. Its as hard as you make it. I lost about 75 pounds in about 18 months and they were an absolute blast.

When I started my little adventure October of 2012 I was honest with myself. Im not giving up sweets altogether. Ill cut down a lot but Ill be realistic. As I used to be hooked on drugs pretty bad in the past it became sort of easy to recognize some the addiction from some of the sweets I was eating. A couple of months ago I actually found myself obsessing about peanut M&Ms. I was actually a little freaked out about it. I guess there was truth in all those stories about how companies are making food more addictive. Recognize that makes it a lot easier to stay away from it. If I want something sweet then I will stick to chocolate with at least 60% dark chocolate in it. Staying away from processed food as much as possible will help in all aspects of your diet and exercise.

James - How has it been with not giving up sweets altogether for you? Has cutting back on sugar decreased your cravings for it, or do you still have thoughts about eating sugary foods through the day? I'd love to hear more about your experience.

My experience has been that after I give up sugar for a number of weeks, the cravings get much milder and I don't find myself obsessing about food. At that point, after I'm "clean," I can have a very small treat (50 cals) once every few days and still stay on track, but it takes a lot of self discipline to keep that treat small.

I'm still cautiously experimenting with this, because I really don't want to sabotage all my efforts to get my brain working optimally. I'd like to find a way to enjoy a small treat occasionally without my prefrontal cortex going haywire. Staying away from sugar seems to keep the "parent" in my brain strong and able to control the child.

LauraFouhse

I know without a doubt that for me the only way to not binge on refined sugar is to avoid it completely. Complete abstinence. I also really limit my intact of natural sugars (fruit).

When I am not eating sugar at all, I don't crave it at all (after the first week of withdrawal). As soon as I allow myself to eat even a tiny bit of sugar, I immediately become obsessive in my thinking which always leads to obsessive in my eating.

My life is not in anyway enhanced by eating sugar and I"m learning to accept that.

jamesisaac108

I know without a doubt that for me the only way to not binge on refined sugar is to avoid it completely. Complete abstinence. I also really limit my intact of natural sugars (fruit).

When I am not eating sugar at all, I don't crave it at all (after the first week of withdrawal). As soon as I allow myself to eat even a tiny bit of sugar, I immediately become obsessive in my thinking which always leads to obsessive in my eating.

My life is not in anyway enhanced by eating sugar and I"m learning to accept that.

It's not a bad idea getting rid of refined sugar if you can manage it. Personally, I never felt I had to. The teas I been drinking lately have been so good that sugar would just ruin it. But no way am I giving up fresh fruit. I dont think that is very healthy.

bpotts44

I know without a doubt that for me the only way to not binge on refined sugar is to avoid it completely. Complete abstinence. I also really limit my intact of natural sugars (fruit).

When I am not eating sugar at all, I don't crave it at all (after the first week of withdrawal). As soon as I allow myself to eat even a tiny bit of sugar, I immediately become obsessive in my thinking which always leads to obsessive in my eating.

My life is not in anyway enhanced by eating sugar and I"m learning to accept that.

It's not a bad idea getting rid of refined sugar if you can manage it. Personally, I never felt I had to. The teas I been drinking lately have been so good that sugar would just ruin it. But no way am I giving up fresh fruit. I dont think that is very healthy.

What in sugary fruits do you think is so healthy that you can't easily get elsewhere?

Charmainedelaney

I cut it out & was fine till week 2 then got mild sore head but otherwise ok.

KoopaSix

You can have simple carbs...the trick is knowing WHEN. I have fruity pebbles/whey pre workout and poptarts/whey post workout... these are times when simple carbs actually become BENEFICIAL in inducing protein synthesis via increased insulin secretion, AKA (Insulin Spike).

So if you want sugary treats, I'd focus on having them around your workout and make sure they fit into your macros...as the day goes on you should taper into lower GI foods I.E. Brown rice, ww pastas, grains, legumes, beans etc

tattooedmadre

Exactly. Sugars are not ALL bad. I still have some. The trick is knowing how much and when. What I mean is, I will have a few extra sugars on days I work out more excessively. If you try to cut it out all at once (just like caffeine) chances are, you're going to have serious setbacks and end up back at square 1, or even worse than where you began. Just do some research on sugars and how much is good, bad, too much, etc.

lafilledelarue

Sending you a private message to explain my total abstinence from sugar. I'm nearly 8 months sugar free. Down 30 pounds from my top weight (pre-MFP). I'll tell you more in email message.

THINMED

I gave up on sugar and I have done three weeks without it! I totally feel better after quitting sugar. I have cheated a few times - but that has not derailed my efforts!

sloth3toes

got mild sore head

That sounds painful. :blushing:

charliehefferon

bump for reading later

Harrisonsauntie2005

No, and I see no reason to do so

This...

my PT tried to get me to do it with sugar in my tea which equaled 0 enjoyment I would get. I continue to have sugar just reduce the number of cups instead

Yabiwaz

When I do cut out sugar I find that I can become very grumpy even if I have fruit.

tennisdude2004

Wow, some of the mood and physical symptoms people are talking about when they cut back on sugar sounds very uncomfortable and enduring.

Maybe if people would like to cut back on sugar (obviously there personal choice) another option maybe to do it very gradually, rather than the severe approach which some have under taken.

Good luck to all who look to do this and the same to those who don't

tigersword

There's a reason for the mood swings. Sugar helps regulate dopamine and serotonin. Cut way back on it overnight, and your dopamine and serotonin levels get all screwed up. Low levels of serotonin and dopamine cause all kinds of mental issues.

Holly_Roman_Empire

In to get smarter about sugar.