The sugar habit

I have recently switched to a dehydrated sugar cane. It contains a natural molasses as well as the natural sweetness. There are no chemicals used in the processing that I am sensitive to and I find it just as satisfying. You may try it. I do not find the cravings as strong yet still satisfying.

lol @ count to five and don't eat it. Is that a tried and true solution?

I could have written your post. I am a lover of sweet food and I have learned that I can't have it as much as I like, nor can I not have it at all in any form. I have found that if I will myself to stay away from refined/added sugar for a week, the cravings start to subside, and naturally occuring sugar in fruit becomes satisfyingly sweet enough for me. I also buy the darkest chocolate I can find (74-80% cocoa which is really low in sugar, and this helps for when I want something for dessert). I still allow myself the occasional macaroon or pastry, but not more often than once every few weeks. This of course all goes to **** if I give in to sugary stuff as it starts the whole cylce again. You just really have to keep a tight grip on it. Sugar IS similar to a drug for me, it provides instant satisfaction, and the more you have, the more you want.

I also notice I crave sugar less when I eat less simple carbohydrates like bread and crackers and white rice.

Praying helps me sometimes when I get the urge to binge. There are a couple of anti-deppressants that help control binges too.....Prozac is one of them, the other one starts with a T. Can't remember the name of it. I have had serious binge eating problems all my life, and I took Prozac once for about 4 months and hardly ever had the urge(and normally it was an every day thing).

Oh if I could have fruit, I wouldn't have my need for chocolate. I have fructose malabsorption, so that makes things difficult.

Wow, this is me exactly! : (

Hello love,

I can completely relate to the sugar addiction thing -- unbeknownst to me, I was eating loads of fruit and breads (hidden sugar) -- I craved them all the time. I learned from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition that we often crave what we are allergic too. When I gave up the sugar, my cravings immediately dissipated and my cycling bouts of depression and anxiety immediately lifted. I think that for us sugar lovers -- we are seeking pleasure in one place. We think that food is the only source of pleasure when, in fact, it is just a cheap version. We think we love sugar too much, but in fact, it's not love at all. If it was love, we would want to make it last and savor every last bite. But chances are, if you are anything like me, you eat them really fast because there is a heavy amount of guilt served with the sugar. My suggestion to you would be to find alternate sources of pleasure -- long walks, massages, talks with friends. I wrote a great piece on what we are really seeking when we grab for sugar/food here: http://katestefans.com/outwardly-independent-inwardly-insane/. Would love to hear from you if you had any questions or just wanted to chat

Lots of love and you are way stronger than you think you are!
xoxo
-Kate

Hi there, so sorry to hear about your struggles. I definitely can relate, my sweet tooth is enormous! Methods to combat giving in to sweets vary from person to person. Some may work for you, others may not. It may take some time to figure out what works best for you. But don't feel guilty about being attracted to sugar, it's a struggle MANY deal with. And it is a real problem for many people, not something "all in your head you can just say no to and be done with it" as some may believe. Here is an article from Psych Central...



When we eat sweet and high-fat foods, including chocolate, serotonin is released, making us feel happier. This partly explains the cravings common in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and pre-menstrual syndrome.

In many women, the craving occurs on a monthly cycle, which suggests a hormonal basis. A recent report in the New Scientist magazine suggests people can become overly dependent on the sugar and fat in fast food. Princeton University researcher Dr. John Hoebel found that rats fed on sugar became anxious when the sugar was removed. Their symptoms included chattering teeth and the shakes – similar to those seen in people withdrawing from nicotine or morphine. Dr. Hoebel believes high-fat foods stimulate opioids or “pleasure chemicals” in the brain. This theory is backed up by many other studies.

Chocolate contains several biologically active ingredients, all of which can cause abnormal behaviors and psychological sensations like those of other addictive substances. Researchers at the University of Tampere in Finland found that self-proclaimed chocolate “addicts” salivated more in the presence of chocolate, and showed a more negative mood and higher anxiety. The researchers state that chocolate addicts show traits of regular addiction, because they exhibit craving for chocolate, irregular eating behavior, and abnormal moods.




So don't feel like something is wrong with you for being attracted to sugar, it can be a real problem. But you can find ways to overcome it!

Like I said my sweet tooth is huge! To prevent myself from overdoing the sugar this is what I like to do...

- Track sugar here on MFP
- Drink a chocolate flavored protein shake (Shakeology) every morning for breakfast. (It's not the same as real chocolate, but it creates the illusion while still being healthy)
- Rid my house as best I can of all temptations
- Always stay hydrated
- Eat plenty of berries, helps prevent the sweet cravings
- Only ever eat dessert out at restaurants (i NEVER induldge at home) and only on special occasions. Since you mentioned you're a binger this may really help. You're more likely to eat more in the privacy of your own home than in public. Yes restaurant portions tend to be larger but you get what I'm saying, at least out to eat you are limited to one serving.
- If I'm going to give in to something sweet, i make it worth it! Don't eat Oreos or tasty cakes. No cheap sugary foods. If you're going to eat it. Eat something good. Well prepared and worth the calories.

These are the things that work for me, but they may not work for everyone. You just have to play around with it until you find a set of tactics that work for you. Good luck!!!

I love sugar, too. If I didn't eat 2 pieces of german chocolate cake yesterday, I would have been ok. With me, there are certain trigger foods. Cake is one of them. Hard to turn it down, or if I have a little, I want more, so I try to avoid it. I can eat a small piece of dark chocolate or a couple of ginger snaps, and I'm fine. Find something sweet that's not too bad. Have a bite or two, and then move on. Good luck.