How do you deal with sugar?

jjenks3
jjenks3 Posts: 45
in Food and Nutrition
I've just started this program, but already I'm seeing a huge issue, sugar. Even when trying to eat healthier I still seem to easily exceed my sugar limit for the day. Apparently I can't even drink juice ><

What are your strategies for eating less sugar? What do you do?
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Replies

  • victoriavoodoo
    victoriavoodoo Posts: 343 Member
    The sugar presets are very low, alot of people go over.
    If it bothers you, you can customize the macros and raise the sugar limit so it isn't red and angry all the time haha. My policy is its ok to go over if the majority of it is from fruit and not refined sugar. I guess I look at it as a refined sugar limit.
  • angelams1019
    angelams1019 Posts: 1,102 Member
    I just stay away from it as much as possible. Sugar is in EVERYTHING! Read labels.
  • Athena125
    Athena125 Posts: 102 Member
    I barely eat out anymore and I barely eat anything that is processed. I upped my veggies and lowered my grains.
  • Amber1070
    Amber1070 Posts: 106 Member
    I buy things marked no sugar added. Watch what fruits I eat and how much. Ditched any beverage but water. I keep my right around my limit unless I add a dessert. Feel free to add me if you'd like to see some ideas.
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,262 Member
    I agree it can be frustrating. I have bottles of juice I haven't touched because the carb and sugar would send my blood sugar into orbit. I try to buy sugar free things. But if you don't have diabetes, you don't have to be quite as vigilant. Just try to keep track...if you go over a little I don't think it will be a big problem.
  • ericlm
    ericlm Posts: 8 Member
    The sugar limit is for "added sugar". So it shouldn't count fruits and vegetables (or any other foods) that naturally have sugar. That's why nearly everyone is over the myfitnesspal limit. Unfortunately, foods are not labeled for added sugar... just sugar. So it makes it more difficult to track.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    I make sure I stay under my calorie limits on days I haven't scheduled to go over. And enjoy it.


    Sundae.jpg
  • MumOfADuo
    MumOfADuo Posts: 294 Member
    I struggle with sugar too....I am a HUGE sugar addict and it is something I need to work on....maybe just not ready yet I guess because I keep eating it......sigh....baby steps.....
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Juice is a HUGE waste of calories to me - especially processed juices from the factory. You might as well be drinking soda. I do what I can to avoid excess refined sugar, but I still struggle to keep that number under the goal. Don't freak out over natural sugars in fruit and veg - they come with fiber to help your body process the sugars more efficiently. I also use stevia to sweeten things instead of sugar.
  • faithchange
    faithchange Posts: 311 Member
    Well...#1 don't drink your calories...I think that is most important. Juice is out! I don't miss juice, milk, pop, ect. My downfall is chocolate and ice cream.

    When starting out, I didn't have the sweets including the ones that are my downfall. You want to get your body used to "not eating" all the sugar as it has already done for so long. In time, you can allow yourself a treat, or as they say "eat it in moderation".

    Drink water...water...WATER. That in itself will help a lot. Do small little things each week...not just quit cold turkey. You'll start noticing how your body reacts to sugar and how it feels without it (if that makes sense).

    Hope this helps! Most importantly everything in moderation and don't take the ALL or NOTHING approach..in time allow yourself some chocolate or something...but meaning a serving size or something :)
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    Hmmm. Well, personally, I eat it and don't worry too much about that macro. There are different types of sugars... sucros, fructose ... complex and simple sugars... Breads, pastas... all sugar laden. I really worry mostly about protein (I try to go over on that one) and calories. Otherwise, I limit fats but realize there are good and bad fats. In the end, some of these macros will drive you crazy ... and unless you honestly have a medical issue requiring the reduction of sugars, I would not worry too much about it.
  • bpmartyr
    bpmartyr Posts: 141
    Lol at all the sugar fear. Just stay within calories and reasonable macro goals. Sugar is not bad. Anybody that tells you different is probably selling something. :)
  • ericlm
    ericlm Posts: 8 Member
    Too much sugar is bad. And I'm not selling anything. But the guidelines for sugar are confusing and the labeling inadequate. There are different kinds of sugar that your body processes differently, but it all gets lumped into "sugar" on the label. Just avoid it when you can and don't worry too much unless you're going over 100g a day or have a medical condition.
  • MissyMouse2323
    MissyMouse2323 Posts: 20
    I noticed that if I eat just one piece of fruit a day I still go over on sugar... but I try to avoid 'real' sugar and sweets like the plague... I just can't do them in moderation so I stay away... Another rule of mine is never to drink sugar!!! For one my lack of a gallbladder calls for this but also it's really unnecessary when there are so many other options (water, diet soda, etc.) So if the sugar is coming from fruits and veggies then I say Amen but try to kill the refined sugar!!!
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I make sure I stay under my calorie limits on days I haven't scheduled to go over. And enjoy it.
    ^ This. Sugar isn't even one of the things I track, not a concern to me at all.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    In the past I did a diet where sugar was banned completely. takes appx 3 days to wean off of it, but once I'm clean of it, no more cravings. They are a rough 3 days though.

    NOw i just don't let myself have too much. no magic numbers but i just know when i've had too much because i start craving sweets and bread with butter.
  • bpmartyr
    bpmartyr Posts: 141
    Too much sugar is bad. And I'm not selling anything. But the guidelines for sugar are confusing and the labeling inadequate. There are different kinds of sugar that your body processes differently, but it all gets lumped into "sugar" on the label. Just avoid it when you can and don't worry too much unless you're going over 100g a day or have a medical condition.

    Too much water is bad.
  • LilMissDB
    LilMissDB Posts: 133
    I don't worry at all about sugar, as long as I am eating fairly healthily, I mostly only think about calories.

    I would consider juice a junk food though - very concentrated in sugar. Juice has about the same sugar and calories as non-diet fizzy drink. We (dietitians) recommend limiting to juice to no more than 1/2 a small glass per day.
  • sweetchildomine
    sweetchildomine Posts: 872 Member
    Honestly, I go over in sugar every single day and look at my pics, I'm still losing weight just fine. I don't really even pay attention to how much sugar I eat.

    HOWEVER, that doesn't mean go have a sugar party with pink sugar confetti! lol Just use your common sense as far as portion sizes and quality of the food. For instance, you'd probably go over just from eating a banana and an orange and obviously, that's not bad. :D
  • allsturns
    allsturns Posts: 36 Member
    I go over on sugar every day too, but mine is mostly from fruit so I' not bothered by it. You can always up your level in the settings if it bothers you.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    How do I deal with sugar? My small intestine and liver usually take care of it...
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    Bad sugar and good sugar.

    Good sugar (in moderation) comes from fresh fruits and veggies.
    Bad Sugar comes from snickers.

    A pro on here told me that I would be going over in other areas (calories, sat fats, carbs) if i was filling my sugar with snickers, ice cream, fruit punch. But you wont go over in the other areas from eating fruits and veggies. Therefor, if you arent eating the bad unhealthy stuff, then dont worry about sugar. Now I dont even monitor it. I just cut out as much fake sweet as possible (unless having a treat) and the only sugars i want in my diary are from fruits.

    Unless you have a blood sugar issue like ketoacidosis or diabetes then nothing to worry about when it comes to fruits.


    PS. Most juice is full of fake sugars and bad stuff. Either juice it yourself or make sure it is raw juice matter not consyrup and coloring if you can avoid it.
  • ericlm
    ericlm Posts: 8 Member
    Too much sugar is bad. And I'm not selling anything. But the guidelines for sugar are confusing and the labeling inadequate. There are different kinds of sugar that your body processes differently, but it all gets lumped into "sugar" on the label. Just avoid it when you can and don't worry too much unless you're going over 100g a day or have a medical condition.

    Too much water is bad.

    Fortunately, there is not a nationwide tendency for people to drink too much water. That's where your analogy fall apart.
  • LittleMissDover
    LittleMissDover Posts: 820 Member
    I hide the thing that tracks sugar...
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    I don't track sugar..no real need too..
  • lesliemk
    lesliemk Posts: 382 Member
    I tend to not worry about sugar from fruit or dairy, but everything else is OUT. And seriously, don't do sugar-free. You are doing your body no favors!
  • CharRicho
    CharRicho Posts: 389 Member
    I've just started this program, but already I'm seeing a huge issue, sugar. Even when trying to eat healthier I still seem to easily exceed my sugar limit for the day. Apparently I can't even drink juice ><

    What are your strategies for eating less sugar? What do you do?

    What everyone else said already.

    BUT you really shouldn't drink juice. So much added sugar and totally empty calories, essentially no nutritional value. You might as well be drinking coke or 7up. Drink water.

    (I like juice a lot so it's my "once in awhile but not very often" treat)
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    I've just started this program, but already I'm seeing a huge issue, sugar. Even when trying to eat healthier I still seem to easily exceed my sugar limit for the day. Apparently I can't even drink juice ><

    What are your strategies for eating less sugar? What do you do?
    I eat whole foods as much as possible and limit my fruit and I'm usually under my limit following a LCHF diet: http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

    But honestly? If you're just starting out I wouldn't worry about it yet -- work on exceeding your fat and protein macros and being under on your carbs. Keep your calories in line and try to eat as much whole food as possible and get a little exercise in each day and you'll do great. Get a few months of that under your belt and then reevaluate to see what you can tweak. Best wishes.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    I make sure I stay under my calorie limits on days I haven't scheduled to go over. And enjoy it.
    ^ This. Sugar isn't even one of the things I track, not a concern to me at all.

    Same here. Sugar is a carb. If your carbs are in line, why worry about sugar?
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    I don't worry about it.

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