Need serious help with SUGAR!!!!

Gemmz2014

I have battled sweets all my life. It wasn't so bad when I was in my teens and eating a bag of oreos because I was skinny!! Now I'm FAT. 5'3 and 185lbs AND almost 50! I am a sugar-aholic. I love cookies, donuts, cakes, brownies, not just one piece and walk happily away either. I have to eat it until they are done.

I am worse now than I have ever been. Being a stress eater doesn't help since my job is very stressful and there is crap to eat everywhere!!

I've tried just limiting myself to a "serving" so I get my sweets without feeling deprived but it never seems to work.

Do I quit cold turkey?? Is this to be looked at as any other addiction?

Thank you all in advance.

Greytfish

It's not an addiction. It's a habit, albeit a pretty deeply ingrained one if this has been lifelong behavior.

whitlisd

Yes and YES. I battle too and you have to go cold turkey and never look back. Look at it as a cocaine addiction. Do it once and you are back in your cycle. Trust me. It will take a week or two, but you will notice your whole frame of mind change, you will become more peaceful and the cravings will go away. That means the white breads and stuff like that too. Don't even go there.

janicebinva

I recommend "Thin Tastes Better" or "The Thin Commandments Diet", both by Dr. Stephen Gullo. He spends a good amount of time on helping people decide what to do when there is a particular food or type of food that they simply can't control.

For me, it's chocolate, and I have to go cold turkey. Otherwise after the first brownie, I eat five more. Then after 45 minutes, when I stop feeling terrible from all the sugar and other bad ingredients, I go eat five more still.

You may be the same way. The only times I've been thin have been when I wouldn't eat any chocolate.

queenbea77

I'm on week 1 without sugar so I can totally relate to your problem. I've been having a cup of hot tea (I'm cutting coffee too) and that is helping a bit. I've been mostly drinking green tea, chamomile and I just finished a cup of white tea with peach so the sweet from the fruit flavor is helping. Friend me if you like - it sounds like we are both faced with the same challenges.

Asherah29

I have hypoglycemia, which causes sugar cravings. I deal with it by buying the healthier snack items like granola bars and lots and lots of fruit with very few things like cookies actually entering my house. I know that if they are there and available I will eat them, so I supplement the cravings with fruit, which takes care of the sugar craving, but has the added benefit of being healthy too! That said I occasionally have days when I'm presented with something like a piece of cake and I end up eating half the pan. its something that you have to be aware of and monitor.

changing4life

It's not just sugar, because sugar is just a carb. It's probably all refined carbs that are contributing to this for you. If you cut out all refined carbs (white bread, white pasta, white rice, cookies, cakes, candy etc.) you will have much better luck than just isolating sugar.

knra_grl

don't totally cut out what you love - leave room for something in your calories but be honest with it and make sure you log it , also have the will power to stick to the treat you have allowed yourself - you will feel better accomplishing that task rather than try to cut it out all together and "cheating"

if you have a cheat moment - don't let it get to you - carry on - I am famous for self sabotage - I really blew it this past weekend but put myself in check and it's all good - no significant loss this week but no gain either

ninerbuff

It's not an addiction, but habitual. Takes about 21 days of consistent behavior to form a habit. You just need to form a new habit. Set aside what ever treats you like in a measured portion for that day and STICK TO IT. Do it for 21 days and see if you can stick to that habit. But you HAVE to want to do this. Don't go in with the case of the "well-uhs":

"Well uh this happened"
"Well uh I wanted more"
"Well uh I don't think I can do it"

Unless you change the habit, it will continue.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

bcattoes

My advice would be yes, go cold turkey. At least for a few weeks. Once you break the habit, you will probably find that you no longer crave it and can eat just one serving.

iamthesweenmachine

I agree with the post above about it being a habit. I was the same way, just fed my stress with ice cream and cheese puffs and other junk. It became habitual and really bad for my waisline, and my wallet.

It's okay to have a piece of chocolate every once in awhile, just don't make it a habit. Go without it for a week and you may find that your cravings subside. Then cut back to only like once or twice a week. And limit it to a serving.

Also, try fruit. It's naturally sweet, and may satisfy those cravings long enough. Or combine the unhealthy item with something healthy. A lot of granola bars contain chocolate chips, or have fruit dipped in dark chocolate. It's a sugar craving you can feel goo about.

Linda09189

I to LOVE LOVE LOVE sugar, However what I've done is really lower my carbs, if you do then it takes away that need
to eat sugar stuff, you can't lose weight if you eat all that sugar, honestly I can't, I'm not a one cookie eater once a week
I can easily sit down and eat a whole box of girl scout cookies and then later on have a piece of cake, I do think you
can be addicted to sugar, some ppl just really crave it....I can say that lower my carbs have really helped me not have
those cravings....good luck

Gemmz2014

I recommend "Thin Tastes Better" or "The Thin Commandments Diet", both by Dr. Stephen Gullo. He spends a good amount of time on helping people decide what to do when there is a particular food or type of food that they simply can't control.

For me, it's chocolate, and I have to go cold turkey. Otherwise after the first brownie, I eat five more. Then after 45 minutes, when I stop feeling terrible from all the sugar and other bad ingredients, I go eat five more still.

You may be the same way. The only times I've been thin have been when I wouldn't eat any chocolate.

We must be related.

jonnythan

I have battled sweets all my life. It wasn't so bad when I was in my teens and eating a bag of oreos because I was skinny!! Now I'm FAT. 5'3 and 185lbs AND almost 50! I am a sugar-aholic. I love cookies, donuts, cakes, brownies, not just one piece and walk happily away either. I have to eat it until they are done.

I am worse now than I have ever been. Being a stress eater doesn't help since my job is very stressful and there is crap to eat everywhere!!

I've tried just limiting myself to a "serving" so I get my sweets without feeling deprived but it never seems to work.

Do I quit cold turkey?? Is this to be looked at as any other addiction?

Thank you all in advance.

Well honestly the best thing you can do is understand it's not an addiction. There's no physical need there, the way there is with nicotine or even alcohol.

Learn to moderate your intake. Learn how to have one donut. There will always be another donut tomorrow. Pre-log your food for the day and stick to the plan. There are other techniques to help you.

susan12c2001

So glad you posted this. A lot of us sugar holics out here. I'd love to see recipes with low or no sugar because the home baked goods are a temptation. Best of luck to you on your journey!!!

konerusp

my sugar issue really had to do with magnesium deficiency,once i started taking supplements i was able to stop with 1.
I still love sweets and eat 1 piece of sweet everyday be it a chocolate,small piece of cake etc.
There are times when i do feel like eating more sweet like during TOM or stress-I pick up fruit in such cases and still stick to my 1 sweet a day rule.
I also found that increased vegetable intake helps the body from craving sweets, i think its all the vitamins in vegetables that make sweets less tasty.I added vegetable juices to my diet and now i get an aversion if i eat too much sweet.Try upping your vegetables and eat them until you are full,it keeps you full and not wanting to eat more.

susan12c2001

Great advice!

Gemmz2014

You guys have some great advice!! It's nice to know there are so many people that can relate to my "issue".

Okay, now to try and quit cold turkey. Why do I feel like it's the end of the world? I'm 49 years old for Christ sake!

Sovictorrious

Just snort it... no calories that way

Fit_Mama84

There are a few things you could try. You could try replacing your sugar foods with sugar free versions or healthier/low calorie versions. Fruit can be helpful for this.

You could try cold turkey and use distractions to keep yourself from eating those sugary foods.

You could also try changing your mindset, which is what I have had the most luck with. Let go the the "I can't stop myself" mindset and take responsibility for the decisions you make. For example, when eating a package of cookies, say to yourself I am choosing to eat the entire package of cookies rather than stop at a serving to improve my health (or whatever goal you have set). Put it in perspective and don't give the sweets the control. Make sure to state with honesty the decisions you are making and soon you'll start making better ones.

And as a side note to the last suggestion, I find that I don't obsess over foods as much now that nothing is considered off limits.

climbing_trees

chocolatecoveredkatie.com

dessertswithbenefits.com

foodiefiasco.com

thecoconutdiaries.net

all have good healthy dessert recipes!
I have a killer sweet tooth and I survive because of blogs like these :P

DeltaZero

You should try the new Mega Stuff Oreo's. They blow my mind.



But maybe first you should find this word called moderation.

DeltaZero

ruffnstuff

You are very clearly just starting out on MFP. Here's a great post for you to read (very sensible with instructions, not full of fads or give it all up). http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

I am not at all trying to be condescending, just wanting you to understand that sooooo many of us have been in the place you are now, and we've come out of it. You don't have an "addiction" like drugs or alcohol. It is very much within your control to eat one Oreo or the whole bag, but it also very much a psychological issue. Food problems usually are. Start telling yourself that you CAN/ARE CAPABLE of just eating the one cookie. Or maybe pre-log that treat in and plan the rest of your day to fit around it. This stuff we're doing here is trial and error because not everyone is the same. I've have always had a wicked sweet tooth and for years didn't bother to control it, just took what I wanted. Also an emotional eater. However, once I really got serious and started tracking my calories (Aug 2013) I found out pretty quickly that I was happy to plan treats into my day and when it's gone, it's gone. The other thing I've found is that it gets much easier to be satisified on a smaller treat. Hang in there, stick with it and in two months you'll be like "oh, no biggy, I like to have my cup of ice cream at night and then I'm good."

Good luck!

skullshank

fructose turns to fat!
keep your sugar intake to 10%!!!!!

skullshank and joanne moniz

da_bears10089

Show me someone that goes through withdrawal symptoms similar to drug or alcohol addicts and watch them be "detoxed" and then MAYBE i will consider food addiction a real thing.

ItsCasey

Yes and YES. I battle too and you have to go cold turkey and never look back. Look at it as a cocaine addiction. Do it once and you are back in your cycle. Trust me. It will take a week or two, but you will notice your whole frame of mind change, you will become more peaceful and the cravings will go away. That means the white breads and stuff like that too. Don't even go there.

I'm going to disagree with all of this.

Sweets are my weakness, too. I gave up dessert for years. I gave up bread and pasta and rice and potatoes, too. And while I truly feel like I could go the rest of my life without the latter four things (if I had to), I have come to accept the fact that I love sugar. Cookies, cupcakes, cake, ice cream, anything involving chocolate, peanut butter, or both. Sign me up. I eat sweets every day. I've still lost weight. I still look awesome. You do not have to quit cold turkey and never look back. It is most definitely not a cocaine addiction. It's just food. You can do anything you want with it, including leaving it alone. It is not easy. It's never going to be. But you do have control. The mind is primary.

A wise and accomplished man named George S. Patton once said "Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one
thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

I don't know about you, but I thought it was a valid point.

_Waffle_

I am a sugar-aholic. I love cookies, donuts, cakes, brownies, not just one piece and walk happily away either. I have to eat it until they are done.

I used to have this problem until I switched to chips. I feel much less guilty about eating a bag of chips than I do eating half a dozen donuts. Chips barely have any sugar in them so I think this is a good plan for me.

PrideH

I agree with YES, you have to quit cold turkey. I've always felt the same about myself.... I DO feel it's an addiction in that I KNOW if I cheat even once, I'll be throwing all my progress away.... You need to quit for awhile then find an acceptable substitute.... I have desert every day, FF/ sugar free jello or pudding with 2 tbs free whip topping.... If you QUIT sugar for awhile ( just a week or so) the pudding/ jello will be a TREAT and taste SO much better ( than it probably sounds right now) Sugar was always my weakness too.... Good luck.....

edmondgal

I love sweets too. Quitting cold-turkey is not for everyone because it depends on your personality. I like balance. I don't like all or nothing because it doesn't work. What I do is allocate a certain number of calories a week to sweets. Having a limit and tracking it helps me choose wisely and be picky about what I eat. If someone at work brings cookies and they don't taste very good after one bite, I just throw the rest of the cookie away. Also, tracking helps me with resistance because I know I am 'allowed' to have sweets. It is not forbidden. Forbidding is what causes addictive behavior. That being said, you may be the type of personality that has to go cold-turkey for a period of time and then slowly allow some sweets in to achieve a balance.

FIREBALL777

Who hasn’t experienced the overwhelming desire to eat some­thing specific, whether it be chocolate, potato chips, a burger, or some other food? We’ve all experienced cravings, but we should be careful about the way in which we satisfy them. By understanding what your body is actually deficient in (assuming it is a physical, not an emotional food craving) you can get to the root cause of the crav­ings, and eventually kick them all together.

There are numerous possible meanings of cravings, depending on the type of craving and your eating habits. Before you satisfy cravings, drink a tall glass of pure water. Quite often we misinterpret our body’s signal for thirst as a signal of hunger. By drinking a tall glass of water first, you may be giving your body exactly what it wants and alleviate craving. Some experts estimate that up to 80 percent of the population is chronically dehydrated, so start with water before you try to decipher your cravings.

Chocolate.
If you crave chocolate, it doesn’t mean your body has a chocolate deficiency, although I think most people would prefer that. Chocolate is high in magnesium. Cravings for it often indicate that your body is deficient in magnesium, which is a common deficiency. If you’re going to eat chocolate, choose organic cocoa and mix it into a healthy smoothie, or eat a small amount of dark chocolate. Because that is unlikely enough to deal with a magnesium deficiency, it’s also important to eat other foods high in magnesium, such as nuts, seeds, fish, and leafy greens.

Sweets
If you crave sweets you may be experiencing blood sugar fluctuations. When your blood sugar drops, your body may be try­ing to get you to give it more fuel to keep your blood sugar levels stable. If this is a chronic occurrence you may have hypoglycemia, which simply means low blood sugar. Whether your sugar cravings are sporadic or chronic, it is important to choose the right type of food to bring your body back into balance. Giving in to cookies, cakes, candies, or other refined sweets will only make the problem worse and cause a blood sugar roller coaster that leads to more crav­ings. Instead, choose a piece of fruit when you’re craving sweets. In the interim, add more high-fiber foods like beans and legumes, and complex carbohydrates like whole grains to give you the fuel you need without the blood sugar spikes. If you’re really struggling with sugar cravings, you may also wish to supplement with the mineral chromium since it helps to regulate blood sugar levels and ward off cravings.

Salty Foods
Cravings for salty foods like popcorn or chips often indicate stress hormone fluctuations in the body. Getting on top of the stress in your life is step one. The adrenal glands help your body cope with stress and, in our fast-paced, hectic lives, tend to become worn out, especially from stress-hormone production. Try medita­tion, breathing exercises, or other stress management techniques. Research at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City showed that people who take a break to breathe deeply or meditate before reach­ing for salty snacks reduced their stress hormones by 25 percent and cut the bingeing in half.

If your adrenal glands are worn out, you can also support them with a high-quality B-complex vitamin, with extra pantothenic acid (that’s vitamin B-5) and vitamin C. Eating more leafy greens helps to supply your body with minerals that support the adrenal glands, especially potassium.

Next: Learn about cravings for cheese, red meat, and the general desire to snack



Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/what-your-cravings-mean.html#ixzz2r9bhV91q