Addicted to Sugar

Flora_Delirus

During this time of year with all the sweets out there, I find it harder and harder to say no. Heck, I have trouble saying no at ANY time of the year.

When one has depression and on medication for it, it doesn't always help with the 'cravings' of sugar to self-medicate ones self. I also have very little will power most of the time. It's like my stomach shuts my brain off and begins to dictate that I go take care of that sugar craving.

This is my situation. I'm addicted to sugar, like some are with booze. I don't know how to stop or minimize it in my diet, much less ignore that 'need' for it.

If anyone has suggestions or ideas, I'm willing to listen. I don't want to say I 'can't' go completely sugar-free, to me that's unrealistic. But I dispise artificial sweetners. They taste bitter to me and leave a terrible after taste in my mouth.

I need help learning how to curb these cravings, to minimize the effect on me.

Heather B.
Frumpy in NE

AnnaPixie

The only way to curb the cravings is to stop eating it!! Pretty much like any addiction really. The more you have, the more you want. It's the release of insulin that causes the craving and you always release insulin when you have sugar.

You need to eat low GI foods that dont spark your insulin.

Good luck :flowerforyou:

patio1313

I hear ya when it comes to this time of year. I always had a tough time around Halloween (who deosn't like to eat an entire bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for dinner...Seriously I have done that) Since sugar is terrible for me (having diabetes) I have found that when I get that really strong craving for something sweet I usually go after a granny smith apple...it is filling and has a good amount of sweet and tart. If you MUST HAVE sugar, then you might want to try having just a few "fun size" candy bars around the house knowing that it is ok to have one or two of them but just not more than that and when you eat it, really savor it...Don't eat it too fast. I went for about 3 months without ANYTHING like a piece of candy and then when I had one, I ate it slowly and it was one of the best things EVER.

Good luck, cravings are tough and we all have them...Just keep saying to yourself that you can do this.

deannarey13

I can say that I feel your pain 100%. I have the exact same problem. I have actually given myself incentives to see how many days straight I could go without any added sugar. No cookies, cakes, soda, candy ect ect. I made it a total of 12 days. Is that a big accomplishment, probably not. However, during that time I did notice a difference. I wish I had the will power to continue that streak, but I just can't. I had this NEED for these foods. For this reason, I understand your comparison to an alcoholic addiction.

JodiS75

I don't know the answer (I struggle with this myself) but I remember a while back my mom found a book about sugar addiction. It seems like it had something to do with yeast, or something? I don't remember the name of the book. Useless, aren't I? :huh: But maybe you could Google it a find a good book so you can educate us!

patio1313

Another thing that I have used when I really want that "sweet" are Fiber One Oat's and Caramel Bars...They are a chewy granola bar that will give you a good amount of fiber and they taste like butterscotch...Just don't eat too many...heehee

danellajade

l-phenylalanine and chromium supplements really help me 100mg each a day
Im a mega sugar addict
I also only keep 90% cocoa chocolate in the house, its a chocolate hit but doesn't really taste that great

Red13

If you train your taste buds, you should be able to change the way sugar will taste to you. I've noticed that after I cut out a lot of processed foods that included lots of sugar and salt, that things started to taste differently. Then when I would try something once in a while (ex: potato chips now seem WAY too salty and soda is WAY too sweet) I wouldn't even want them anymore. I won't say cut out sweets altogether cuz that's unrealistic. Just don't fill your house with the stuff and expect to eat minimally. Buy little things that are also somewhat good for you like dark chocolate, peanut butter, someone mentioned Fiber Bars (good) and maybe even sipping on some hot chocolate will help, it will last longer and the liquids will make you feel fuller. Hope this helps, I think women in particular because of our changing hormone levels, have a tough time resisting sweets but you can do it and a little here and there won't hurt.