STRONG sugar cravings on paleo diet

starcatcher248

I've started a paleo eating plan, been on it for about 2 months now. I look and feel good and it supports my workouts well. I am staying at my goal calorie levels. In the beginning, the carb cravings were strong but they're past now. However, they seem to be replaced by some VERY strong sugar cravings. Fruit does nothing to help out. This never happened to me before I started this eating change. Has anybody else had this experience? How did you deal with it?

hpsnickers1

My guess might me to increase the calories or fat some. You might not be eating enough. I went Primal at the end of April - dropped second 10lbs in four months. By the beginning of September I had hit 110.6. I realized that I wasn't eating much because I was never hungry (like way under 1000 calories a day). The sugar cravings hit HARD (and judging by my BodyMedia Fit Armband my metabolism took a nose dive). I couldn't stop. Well, here is is December and I am finally getting them back under control. I had to do it by cutting ALL sugar (I even cut back on veggies for a bit - and fruit will make it worse). Chugging a can of coconut milk wasn't the greatest but that seemed to kick the sugar cravings to the curb. I don't know if it was the coconut or the saturated fat (or the fat at all). I just know that the addiction was very, very intense at night and when I started drinking a can of coconut milk for breakfast or lunch the evening cravings never showed up.

And if you are doing some really intensive exercising (like chronic cardio) that could be causing the cravings, too.

Check out the forums over at Mark's Daily Apple and see if you can't find anything. Or you can even post the question. You might even be able to read through the articles by Mark and see if you can find anything that might help.

Grokette

I've started a paleo eating plan, been on it for about 2 months now. I look and feel good and it supports my workouts well. I am staying at my goal calorie levels. In the beginning, the carb cravings were strong but they're past now. However, they seem to be replaced by some VERY strong sugar cravings. Fruit does nothing to help out. This never happened to me before I started this eating change. Has anybody else had this experience? How did you deal with it?

Fruit contains a lot of sugar and therefore when you eat fruit you are merely feeding those sugar cravings which is keeping your insulin unbalanced.

I would suggest increasing your fat intake and maybe upping protein intake a bit. Another suggestion is to stick to dark leafy green and non-starchy veggies and as far as fruit is concerned stick with berries.

The whole point is to rid yourself of the cravings, not feed into them.

Gee45

Can you not just enjoy something sweet now and again so that the diet doesn't feel so restrictive and therefore you don't feel deprived?
What about protein shakes with fruit.
Or dark chocolate and dates?
You may find that if you have something like this occasionally, the super strong cravings go away.

mjbrenner

I am on a "slow-carb"diet which is very similar to Paleo. I have found that when a sugar craving becomes unbearable, just a half cup of juice is all I need to beat it back, usually for several days.

Grokette

Can you not just enjoy something sweet now and again so that the diet doesn't feel so restrictive and therefore you don't feel deprived?
What about protein shakes with fruit.
Or dark chocolate and dates?
You may find that if you have something like this occasionally, the super strong cravings go away.

That is not how addiction works............

That is like telling someone addicted to alcohol or cocaine that it is ok to partake in those things every once in a while.

Sugar is just as addicting if not more addicting than nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.

The only way to rid the addiction is to not partake in it.

And I don't understand how people say that Paleo or low carb is so restrictive or depriving............?!?!?!?!

I really don't get it. In the produce section of the store there is a whole array of beautiful fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds.........then in the fresh meat department, more of the same variety from chicken, pork or beef, fresh fish, seafood, lamb, bison, etc.

hpsnickers1

Can you not just enjoy something sweet now and again so that the diet doesn't feel so restrictive and therefore you don't feel deprived?
What about protein shakes with fruit.
Or dark chocolate and dates?
You may find that if you have something like this occasionally, the super strong cravings go away.

That is not how addiction works............

That is like telling someone addicted to alcohol or cocaine that it is ok to partake in those things every once in a while.

Sugar is just as addicting if not more addicting than nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.

The only way to rid the addiction is to not partake in it.

And I don't understand how people say that Paleo or low carb is so restrictive or depriving............?!?!?!?!

I really don't get it. In the produce section of the store there is a whole array of beautiful fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds.........then in the fresh meat department, more of the same variety from chicken, pork or beef, fresh fish, seafood, lamb, bison, etc.

Oh gosh, for me it isn't at all. IT'S FREEING!!! After 6 months of counting calories, weighing and logging foods I was SICK OF IT!!! And I was confused with all the information I had gained from research. Primal came along and everything made sense. A light bulb clicked on above my head (I had a V-8 moment). It also makes shopping much, much quicker and easier.

And yes, sugar (i.e. what all arbs are - except fiber carbs) travels the same pathways and hits the same receptors in the brain as heroin and other opiate drugs. That would make sugar and carbs drugs and very, very addictive drugs.

UponThisRock

I deal with sugar cravings by eating sugar. Weird, I know.

busywaterbending

I used to get sugar cravings, but after a solid month of no sugar and on a vlc diet I eliminated that demon. Seriously, sugar cravings can be eliminated with will power and a vlc diet for a few weeks.

Now, if I have a taste of sugar I actually am adverse to eating it. Too sweet.

Gee45

So you guys actually cut out all fruits? And vegetables that have natural sugars in them? Hmm.

Grokette

So you guys actually cut out all fruits? And vegetables that have natural sugars in them? Hmm.

I have small amounts of fruit. If it causes me to crave sugar or starch, then I cut that fruit out. All one is doing is feeding the addiction and I am breaking the addiction once and for all.

Effief21

Hey, I don't know anything about this diet... but what I do when I have a sugar craving is have a cup of tea (PG Tips) with 3 sugars, it's really sweet and lovely and only 41 calories, also lasts longer than a chocolate bar

Grokette

Hey, I don't know anything about this diet... but what I do when I have a sugar craving is have a cup of tea (PG Tips) with 3 sugars, it's really sweet and lovely and only 41 calories, also lasts longer than a chocolate bar

And totally feeds your sugar addiction.