Horrified by my sugar intake

zhanaolivia

I've always been going over my sugar intake, but I always just attributed that to "oh, that was just a treat, it doesn't happen everyday". But, guess what, it does happen everyday! And I scorned my best friend after she started a super low sugar diet.

But I read this article today, http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/11/why-our-food-is-making-us-fat and I'm suddenly determined to cut down my daily sugar. I won't quote the article here, but honestly, have a look; it's a real eye-opener.

Any tips on killing my sweet tooth? I'm not keen on sugar substitutes either, not matter how "natural" they are - I just want to cut out daily sweets.

jppd47

I love sweets. but my bust guess would be to try to keep your self full with better foods for ya. celery, carrots. maybe something you can have with you and snack on when you want to go for that cannoli

musicalshadow00

I don't usually watch the sugar count on MPF. Some foods (like fruit) are high in sugars that aren't that bad for you! I just watch the sugar count on processed foods (i.e. with a food label) and that usually keeps me in check

I find that nuts are a good alternative when I'm craving something sweet though

amzelrulz8786

My suagar is always over even when all I eat all day is salads and natural sugars such as fruit! I've been trying to cut down for ages for example I used to always have soft drink and cordial but now I only have it on weekends as a treat.

cyberskirt

I kill my sugar intake with fruit. but I refuse to 'count' it towards my sugar because damnit, it's FRUIT! but even so I absolutely understand, if I eat fruit AND have a 'treat' I'm so far over it's ridiculous.

Derpina7

Bump for interest too! I have a major sweet tooth, and struggle quiet a bit with my sugar intake even though I know it's not good for you (MOST sugars). I stopped buying sugary snacks, for a while I'd buy individual Reese peanut butter cups thinking it'd be better than all out splurging on a chocolate bar, but still found it too easy to give in to temptation :P. If I don't have it around me, I can't indulge in it.

Christine1110

I stopped eating sugar months ago...I do have a swet tooth, so I eat apples & strawberries to help it.

MissC787

I am fighting the same battle. I have the biggest sweet tooth you could imagine.
I have recently started tracking my sugar intake, and to stay under goal I do what one of the above posters suggested.
I eat the better stuff first. Tonight I had a treat, but it fit into all of my goals.
You can certainly do this.

JazyVale

Sweet is my biggest issues praying for help in that
Cuz is a no joke no more. Is like u say "oh is my treat
But you don't realize that everyday your sugar is high
Then Why we" don't lose or way we gain"
Girl I think you look fab know!! Keep roking your journey!
I have a challenge to my self to cut bad sugar
Eat more fruit and less diary or sugared things.
Fingers cross I do my challenge this Monday to Friday!
Good Luck

marathon2012

Sugar free gum helps a lot!!

belinus

The number can be intimidating I will agree. Look at what you're eating and see the big sources of your sugar intake and maybe trim some off. I agree with others that fruit is not bad and may push you over, but keep that within reason.

I remember I freaked out because I drank a bottle of Lifeway Pomegranate Kefir for lunch one day. That had 80g sugars in it. It freaked me out but then I realized that back in the day at that time I would be downing Peanut M&Ms and Mt Dew. So if I compare the empty calories of the candy and pop versus the yogurt smoothie (not to mention the Kefir is probiotic and 100 calories less) I still come out on top.

Sidesteal

I have an opinion on this.

While I'm certainly not going to suggest that you go hog-wild on a bag of sugar, I wouldn't be too concerned. I did check out the article you linked, but I think it's flawed. The study they reference about activity levels was only done on children and the full text of the study wasn't even attached. Additionally, EVEN IF (and this is a very, very big if) activity hasn't decreased (which I believe it has, substantially), intake certainly may have increased, and it doesn't matter whether or not this intake comes from sugar. Surplus eating will cause fat gain, period.

Additionally, since lustig was mentioned as a solid reference in that article, you should take a look at this counterpoint to Lustig, as Lustig seems convinced that HFCS are the cause of obesity:

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/01/29/the-bitter-truth-about-fructose-alarmism/

The rise in obesity is due to overconsumption of calories. Every few years someone will come along and blame something else on obesity, and every time (so far) they've been readily debunked. First it was dietary fat, and then carbs, and then HFCS.

We've had Taubes, then Lustig, and who knows what will be next. Maybe Dr Oz will blame sunflowers.

I would suggest checking this out as a side note:
http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319


In closing -- I'm not telling you any of this to say you're wrong. I'm telling you this so that you don't panic and become alarmed from alarmist media. If you're not diabetic, just use some common sense with food selection (fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, nuts and even have the occasional treat like ice cream every now and then), get some exercise, and eat in a calorie deficit with macronutrient sufficiency and beyond that you'll be just fine. No need to freak out over a banana.


That's my opinion, and good luck.

gatecityradio

I'm over on sugar and salt every day....still losing weight. The main thing is to stay under your calories.

Marmitegeoff

I watched the TV program and was shocked by the fact that "even though corn syrup is 20% sweeter than sucrose (suger) the quantity was kept the same as research has shown that the sweeter something is the more of it we eat" =s extra sales.

I am now traking suger

Gretchi

Hi I found when up the vegetables in my diet I was not looking for sweet foods. It was only a old habit if I did. New sweet is fresh dates. But got to be careful.

belinus

I watched the TV program and was shocked by the fact that "even though corn syrup is 20% sweeter than sucrose (suger) the quantity was kept the same as research has shown that the sweeter something is the more of it we eat" =s extra sales.

I am now traking suger

The crap is vicious as it calls to its own. That's also the danger of "fat free" as the fat was replaced by sugar so the net effect is nothing.

jenbusick

If you want to do it in stages, do it first by cutting "added" sugars. Frex, switch from regular applesauce to unsweetened applesauce, or regular peanut butter to all-natural peanut butter.

If you want to ease your way into it, you can tell yourself you're doing something besides cutting sugar. Tell yourself you WOULD get the soda at lunch, but it's cheaper to drink water, so really, you're just being frugal. Tell yourself that you're concerned about high fructose corn syrup, so you're not going to buy or eat anything that contains it.

Honestly, I think the problem is not so much "sugar" as "added sugars," so if you cut those, you're a long way toward success.

zhanaolivia

Thanks for your responses, everyone! I agree that fruits don't count as a bad sugar intake - surely a banana and an apple a day can't be bad for you! So, yes, I really meant I would cut out *ADDED SUGARS*.

RuthSweetTooth

Can't help you unless you make your diary public, but I would imagine that the easiest way to cut out sugar would be to switch to diet soda or water. Try to get sugar from fruit (not fruit juice). There can also be alot of sugar in some yogurts and granola bars. Try to eat good carbs. If you don't know what a good carb is, google it . . . it can make a huge difference in your health and prevent diabetes to eat the right carbs. You're smart to be worried about it.

Ruth

I've always been going over my sugar intake, but I always just attributed that to "oh, that was just a treat, it doesn't happen everyday". But, guess what, it does happen everyday! And I scorned my best friend after she started a super low sugar diet.

But I read this article today, http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/11/why-our-food-is-making-us-fat and I'm suddenly determined to cut down my daily sugar. I won't quote the article here, but honestly, have a look; it's a real eye-opener.

Any tips on killing my sweet tooth? I'm not keen on sugar substitutes either, not matter how "natural" they are - I just want to cut out daily sweets.

jenbridges

i have a MASSIVE sweet tooth. i have found that the only way for me not to eat it is to not have it around. otherwise, there's no holding me back!

tsh0ck

I have no pre-existing medical conditions that prohibit me from sugar. (or sodium, for that matter.) so I don't track what doesn't really matter.