Sweets...

tkirkes

I am having major issues cutting out sweets. I dont want to kid myself and say I'll never have sweets again, but I really need to learn to say no! Do any of you have these issues and how have your learn to deal with or fix this problem??? Thanks!

SergeantSunshine_reused

I just save room in my calorie limit for them if I want them
I still eat sweets often

hiker282

I couldn't live without sugar! that and I couldn't live without giving out some sugar. I am the sugar factory, so to cut it out is to cut me out. Do you really want to do that?

beautifulbeast11

I hear ya 100%. I've been told the problem is cutting it out cold turkey. I shouldn't cut out sweets 100%, because then I'll set myself up for failure. Some sweets can be okay...

darkmouzy

I have a ridiculous sweet tooth, but I find If i eat protien in the morning and through out the day I don't crave it as much.
Also frozen grapes (the purple kind) Are an amazing fix!
Tryng to get sweet fruits that is what I'm doing and it is doing the trick!

SoDamnHungry

I'd suggest just leaving room for a small amount in your daily calorie limit. Also eat fruit to help your taste buds get what they need, even if it isn't the refined sugar your body is used to.

amymrls

I am having major issues cutting out sweets. I dont want to kid myself and say I'll never have sweets again, but I really need to learn to say no! Do any of you have these issues and how have your learn to deal with or fix this problem??? Thanks!

I love sweets I will never cut them. They make me happy.

invisibubble

I get me a mean sugar craving sometimes too, and sometimes the natural sugars just don't cut it.
I buy individually wrapped chocolates or tiny 10g bags of sweets and eat one at a time. I figure it's better, plus I get to feel like a giant.
A lot of people find themselves miserable and one day end up bingeing when they completely cut out a food. I'd say try swaps for some of the time and just have sweets others. Yogurt sweetened with honey or fruit is a good one if you can swap it on occasion because it's sweet and all proteiny and filling.

Edited - typos and didn't explain myself well.

shine_

I just got back from holiday in Denmark this morning and they had these amazing sweets with 0.6g of sugar/100g and 50g fiber/100g! They were sooo nice and so guilt free! I love stuff like that (when they're nice and actually taste good). I really wish we had them over here in the UK where I can't really seem to find sugar free sweets at all, and if I do find some they've got weird sweeteners in them.

HauteP1nk

I still allow myself treats. Of course, I myself will always take the bag of chips over the box of cookies...salty over sweet any day!
That being said, I have learnt that everything must be eaten in moderation. Try to aim to eat 80% well, and leave 20% room for 'error'!

Or you could try to satisfy that sweet tooth in healthier ways such as
Fruit Salads (with a little bit of low calorie whipped cream on top - YUM!)
Sugar Free pudding/jello
Smoothies!
Popsicles/freezies (you can get sugar free ones as well - or make your own using real fruit & fruit juices)
yogurt parfaits
chocolate dipped fruit
baked apples/peaches

Im_NotPerfect

I have Girl Scout cookies and/or an ice cream cone every day. I just make sure I save my calories or exercise enough to earn them!

TKHappy

I'm the worst when it comes to sweets....I struggle sooo much with it! I know I can never just cut them out, that would leave for a major binge! So I allow myself a little treat almost every day...I know that sounds extreme but its usually 1 small york peppermint patty or 2 tootsie rolls or 1/2 serving of jelly beans! I have tried just eating more fruit....yea, that didn't last long.

djtessatessa

At one time I would keep a chocolate bar in the fridge door and if I was really craving something sweet i would have one piece. I don't really have much cravings for sweet things anymore though.

lucyford22

Honestly, if I'm having a major sweets craving, I'll take a cinnamon capsule. For me, they really work.

Missi3601

Try the 100 calorie packs if it's something you really want! Alot of those help, also Smart Ones make turtle sundaes and such for around 140 calories- they seem small but they tend to "hit the spot"

NU2U

Sometimes, when I want something sweet...I'll just have coffee with Splenda. However, for a real treat...I'll have some dark chocolate covered almonds...I LOVE dark chocolate..and refuse to give it up!!

jching29

Oh, don't try to go without it! I think as long as it fits into your calorie limit, you're fine. I've always been a sweet-lover, and I've lost a bit of weight so far without cutting it out you just end up needing less of the sweet....for instance, I stopped eating three brownies, but I still enjoy one, on occasion.

Tonika44137

Funny I was just talking to my dad about this earlier today because I think its hereditary...my dad and grandfather have the same terrible sweet tooth..we have a family history of diabetes and my grandfather used to have dessert with every meal..I used to tell myself it was pms and let it have its way but I'm realizing its not pms because the sweet craving is coming more often..I've tried going COLD turkey for 30days+ and AS SOON AS I got a hold of a piece of sugar I went crazy and couldnt stop I would want everything sweet in site..I've tried 100 calorie snacks, granola bars, rice cakes, everything in small portions but they dont work because I'll just eat a bunch of them which defeats the purpose..I've been reading alot about it in the forums so my last resort is to work something sweet into my calorie goal EVERYDAY in order to avoid bingeing..so we'll see how that works..Good Luck to you

fmbomzo

Invest in fresh, good quality fruit. Sweet cantaloupe is like candy to me. Grapes too. Also, pick wisely. If you're going to eat something sweet, make sure it's something you really like and either control the portion or plan exercise to balance out the extra calories.

To get a handle on it though, you may want to fast from sugar for at least about 3 or 4 days. You'll feel like you're losing it on day 2 and 3, but once your "sugar withdrawal" subsides, your craving should decrease.

ck1416

I definitely have a sugar addiction. I am slowly trying to eat less sugar, and so I do feel like I am finally craving sugar less. I learned from my daily food diary here on MFP that I was not eating enough protein. Once I ate at least the recommended protein, my cravings started subsiding. Another thing I noticed from my daily food diary on MFP was that the more sodium that was in my diet, the more I wanted sweets after a meal. In summary, try lowering your sodium intake and increasing your protein. I hope some of this helps you too. I need all the help I can get.

My1985Freckles

I personally am dead set against the "as long as it fits in your calories eat it." But I wasn't always.

I lost some weight prior to joining MFP in August 2011 counting calories and such. It went really well. Joining MFP was great because it makes it so much easier to count calories. I ate healthy. Never deprived myself, but I did cut out most sugary things. I typically had baby carrots and hummus as a snack each day. My weight loss started slowing and I hit a plateau for FIVE months!

That FIVE months could have been almost completely 100% avoided had I realized that when my weight started "slowing" (well, it came to an almost instantaneous dead stop) I had discovered Nutella and switched my carrots and hummus to a banana and nutella.... Um, can you say sugar overload?

In January, I was getting really depressed over my plateau because I had tried everything, when my hubby said "How's your sugar intake?" I looked at my diary and OMG! It was embarrassing. I was always under my calories but my sugar was typically 3 times (or more) the RDA for a woman.

January 19th, I started tracking sugar and the weight started coming off. I had a minor setback resulting from a b-day party and surprise surprise no weight loss until I got back on track with the sugar.

I didn't do any extreme stuff like no sugar at all. The first week I aimed to not go over by more than 100, then 50, etc... Last week I was under sugar by 6grams! AND I had cake and ice cream last night.

I'm not going to lie, the first couple of days of really tracking your sugar totally sucks. You are cranky and irritable because you are essentially going through withdrawal. You are an addict that NEEDS a sugar fix. But after day three that completely goes away. I control those withdrawal symptoms with sugar free gum and crytal light. :-)

I am sooo happy to be off my plateau and I won't be going on one again!

Cgrnlaw

Are truly my weakness. I have tried Vitatops and other items to help with the wants.

fmbomzo

I'm not going to lie, the first couple of days of really tracking your sugar totally sucks. You are cranky and irritable because you are essentially going through withdrawal. You are an addict that NEEDS a sugar fix. But after day three that completely goes away. I control those withdrawal symptoms with sugar free gum and crytal light. :-)

I am sooo happy to be off my plateau and I won't be going on one again!

So true. The withdrawal symptoms can be reduced. Also, if you have headaches the first day or two of cutting back, treat it the same way you would any other headache. Don't suffer. If you can't get past the first 2 days, you'll be good to go.

Also, eat foods to slow the release of sugar into your bloodstream. Avoiding spikes and plunges help reduce irritability.

brighteyedbelle

I've been eating two Dove dark chocolate promises per day after lunch.. It's really helping to moderate my sugar cravings! :] Maybe if you gave yourself a small treat every day, it would help.

MissNations

Dark chocolate.