Addicted to bad sugars and carbs....

cryslynn1980

I think my body is truley addicted to sugar. I have tried for the past week to cut out all refined/processed sugars and carbs and I find myself overloading in minutes then I HATE myself for doing it. Does anyone have any suggestions to help me from having these attacks?...snak attacks lol.

sara_m83

Part of it will likely be psychological and by attempting to eliminate 100% of refined sugars and carbohydrates from your diet at once will seem like any slip is a massive failure. I suggest you cut down and work at eliminating them slowly. Carbohydrates, of course, are essential part of your nutrition, so I wouldn't recommend eliminating them from your diet. However, if you think you eat too many carbs or don't have the right balance, I suggest a slow change. The less the dramatic the change to your diet, the less your body will overwhelm you with cravings.

lukybug

I swear by Shakeology by Beachbody. I honesly think it has helped curb my carb and sugar cravings.

Good luck in your weight loss jouney! Feel free to add me as a friend if you need some encouragement and support.

sara_m83

I just had a look at your diary, as well, and would suggest you focus your carb intake on more complex carbohydrates with higher fibre content and eat more veggies.

kelseyt17

My worst problem is sugar. I cannot quit, I've tried and tried and failed. So I just fit it into my daily calories and I even end up eating sugary foods 2-4 times a day. Best thing I have found is eating low-calories sugary snacks. I love special K strawberry and chocolate bars. (90 cals) Jello mousse temptations (60 cals) And the 100 calories snack packs they have a huge variety. Most of my daily calories is from eating those.

Moma_Do

What i did was cut out all bad sugars and carbs, then let myself eat as much good stuff as necessary, till i am over the withdrawal period. Which can last about a week. So for example eat homemade popcorn, fruit, jerky, anything that is good, and just eat the heck out of it. cuz you are still quitting the bad stuff, even though you are eating alot, and your body will stop craving it. Good luck, it is a slow process. I myself have not mastered, but hey i'm still trying.

MisdemeanorM

don't cut all of them out. Deprivation makes me go overboard when I do have some. Moderation I can keep up all year long (of course, I splurge from time to time, but not because I feel I HAVE to or can't help it.)

asltiffm

I feel your pain. I was born a chocoholic, like all my siblings. We had 1/8 each of a 9x13 pan of brownies or chocolate chip cookie bars or whatever other creation my mom made that night, each night. She would usually buy us a candy bar for the middle of the day to get us through...and of course all the soda you can ask for. 17 years ago I gave up soda cold turkey. I had serious cravings but just fought through it and made it. Now I can't stand the thought of soda! I never would have believed that 17 years ago while I was going through withdrawls. More recently than that, I had a bet (with money behind it) going that I wouldn't eat any sort of sweets for a year. I am cheap and losing my money wasn't an option. My siblings would taunt me with their desserts by asking repeatedly if I wanted any while savoring theirs in front of me, occasionally helping the smell to penetrate my agonized soul. The withdrawl pains for chocolate were about 50 times worse than the soda was. It lasted for a couple of months! But I made it through them and ended up finishing the year with no sweets and didn't crave them at all so went on for another year. But then I met my DH and he convinced me to try a piece of chocolate cake. I don't know what I was thinking. I don't even like cake. I am back to eating sweets but I don't eat the quantity that I used to. If it'll help, you can make the same bet with me and I'll take your money if you mess up. ;o) lol

SkierElle

A few days before Halloween was the last time I really gave in to my sugar cravings. I had to quit cold turkey. I've had a few things since - pumpkin pie on thanksgiving, a couple lattes, etc. It really depends on YOU if you can give it up all at once. I'd say it takes more will power to give it up slowly.

what has worked for me:
1. Try not to eat ANY processed carbs especially white flour and pasta.
2. artificial sweeteners cause cravings - don't have them at all
3. Fill up on fruits and sweet vegetables
4. Whey protein shakes!! They can taste like milkshakes if you put together milk, ice and the protein powder in a blender. If you like chocolate use unsweetened cocoa powder.
5. Read Nancy Appleton's book Suicide By Sugar
6. Protein, protein protein
7. Exercise at least once a day it will lessen cravings!

Sugar is the most common addiction in the US and people ignore it. It's a huge problem for a lot of people. I am worried I'll go back to my old ways - I always told myself before that it would be ok if I could just allot for calories for sugar, but then I'd be miserable and always be wanting more. I feel SO much better now that sugar is almost completely out of my life. I feel like I need a support group - sugaraholics anonymous or something!

SkierElle

I feel your pain. I was born a chocoholic, like all my siblings. We had 1/8 each of a 9x13 pan of brownies or chocolate chip cookie bars or whatever other creation my mom made that night, each night. She would usually buy us a candy bar for the middle of the day to get us through...and of course all the soda you can ask for. 17 years ago I gave up soda cold turkey. I had serious cravings but just fought through it and made it. Now I can't stand the thought of soda! I never would have believed that 17 years ago while I was going through withdrawls. More recently than that, I had a bet (with money behind it) going that I wouldn't eat any sort of sweets for a year. I am cheap and losing my money wasn't an option. My siblings would taunt me with their desserts by asking repeatedly if I wanted any while savoring theirs in front of me, occasionally helping the smell to penetrate my agonized soul. The withdrawl pains for chocolate were about 50 times worse than the soda was. It lasted for a couple of months! But I made it through them and ended up finishing the year with no sweets and didn't crave them at all so went on for another year. But then I met my DH and he convinced me to try a piece of chocolate cake. I don't know what I was thinking. I don't even like cake. I am back to eating sweets but I don't eat the quantity that I used to. If it'll help, you can make the same bet with me and I'll take your money if you mess up. ;o) lol

I would seriously make a bet with you. Keep in mind I'm a college student and my money's tight so I am SUPER cheap. hahaha! We should get some MFP people to make a group bet (does that even exist?) whoever messes up first has to pay a little to everyone in the group, and on and on. The person who lasted a year (or however long) would get soo much $$$!

cryslynn1980

Thank you all for the Replys. I would so do a bet with someone in my family but it would have to be a good bit of change....i would so eat some sweets over just 20 bucks...lol. I am going to the store today and gonna load up on fruits and veggies. I have done really good before and cut them out and lost 50 lbs and felt 100% better...this time just seems so much harder! when im tired or stressed about anything I go for the sweets. Congrats to all of you who have actually fought this battle and won. I will be there soon just HAVE to make myself do it. Is it really true that artifical sweetners make you crave it? that might be alot of my problem... ive been try to do all the sugar free stuff to get my sweet tooth fixed! Again THANKS to all of you!

ZeOphelia

Try fruit!
I'm trying to go off of sugar myself and munching away on fruit really helps me. At the end of the day, my consumed sugar is still beyond the MFP limit, but it's not processed sugar. The good sugar keeps me away from the bad.

wifeyplus6

I don't think artificial sweeteners make me crave things. But I will say that daily exercise helps me keep my cravings under control. When I first started this journey I found that cravings were *much* easier to control with exercise. also, keeping carbs to a minimum helps with the cravings too. good luck.

mlb929

A candida overgrowth, or yeast imbalance can cause sugar cravings. Maybe a good yeast cleanse herbal supplemental or detox would help. I like Unikey Y-C Cleanse, makes a world of difference, with a kick of probiotics helps promote weight loss as well.

rcatr

i am a self professed addict as well. and in this season of fresh baked goods, i am in tempted at every corner, even in my own kitchen. i am expected to bake this certain holiday bread every year and it took every last ounce of willpower not to cut a slice for myself. i did it but god only knows how i'll last tomorrow. i think keeping yourself satiated with complex carbs as well as protein rich snacks might help curb some of the cravings. and every now and then, if you need it, allow yourself a small bite. and that's it. and don't guilt yourself over it, because (at least for me) emotional eating is even worse than giving in to the inital sugar craving.

you can do it.

take care.

superwmn

I have the same problem and have to avoid these foods, too (except on special occasions when I indulge).

I've increased my dietary fat intake and have experienced FAR fewer cravings (bacon with breakfast, veggies roasted in olive oil).

I also try to get the bulk of my calories from protein, fat and fiber.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Charmagne

BoresEasily

Part of it will likely be psychological and by attempting to eliminate 100% of refined sugars and carbohydrates from your diet at once will seem like any slip is a massive failure. I suggest you cut down and work at eliminating them slowly. Carbohydrates, of course, are essential part of your nutrition, so I wouldn't recommend eliminating them from your diet. However, if you think you eat too many carbs or don't have the right balance, I suggest a slow change. The less the dramatic the change to your diet, the less your body will overwhelm you with cravings.

HEAR HEAR! Not enough people recommend slow changes it's a marathon not a sprint. It's a lifestyle change and it should be gradual.

hpsnickers1

A few days before Halloween was the last time I really gave in to my sugar cravings. I had to quit cold turkey. I've had a few things since - pumpkin pie on thanksgiving, a couple lattes, etc. It really depends on YOU if you can give it up all at once. I'd say it takes more will power to give it up slowly.

what has worked for me:
1. Try not to eat ANY processed carbs especially white flour and pasta.
2. artificial sweeteners cause cravings - don't have them at all
3. Fill up on fruits and sweet vegetables
4. Whey protein shakes!! They can taste like milkshakes if you put together milk, ice and the protein powder in a blender. If you like chocolate use unsweetened cocoa powder.
5. Read Nancy Appleton's book Suicide By Sugar
6. Protein, protein protein
7. Exercise at least once a day it will lessen cravings!

Sugar is the most common addiction in the US and people ignore it. It's a huge problem for a lot of people. I am worried I'll go back to my old ways - I always told myself before that it would be ok if I could just allot for calories for sugar, but then I'd be miserable and always be wanting more. I feel SO much better now that sugar is almost completely out of my life. I feel like I need a support group - sugaraholics anonymous or something!

I agree with the whey protein. I had my first mixed with skim milk yesterday (vanilla creme). It was soooo good (5g of sugar). And I'm a serious sugar addict. When I was a kid I would eat pure sugar by the spoonful or dip white bread in the sugar canister. I stayed away from soda for a couple of months and now when I taste I really don't like it that much.

hpsnickers1

Thank you all for the Replys. I would so do a bet with someone in my family but it would have to be a good bit of change....i would so eat some sweets over just 20 bucks...lol. I am going to the store today and gonna load up on fruits and veggies. I have done really good before and cut them out and lost 50 lbs and felt 100% better...this time just seems so much harder! when im tired or stressed about anything I go for the sweets. Congrats to all of you who have actually fought this battle and won. I will be there soon just HAVE to make myself do it. Is it really true that artifical sweetners make you crave it? that might be alot of my problem... ive been try to do all the sugar free stuff to get my sweet tooth fixed! Again THANKS to all of you!

Like all addictions: it gets harder to quit each time. I'm having that problem with smoking. But after the new year - no more!