How to curb sugar cravings?

I 'think the detox advice, for me, is probably what's necessary. My cravings for sugary foods are strong. Today was my first day on MFP and it's been tough. I did have diet green tea, which is slightly sweetened with Splenda. :blushing:

Well I get chocolate cravings bad, so I like to drink a chocolate Shakeology as one of my meals. Another thing I do is make hot cocoa from scratch using dark choc cocoa powder, skim milk, and stevia. It's actually a much more strong chocolate flavor than any of the pre-fab stuff. Won't spike up your blood sugar like the real thing.

Just remember that if you do eat sugar, be prepared to want more sugar in an hour.

People scoff at this but I truly think sugar is an addictive substance. Not in the same sense as nocotine or heroin maybe, but the more you eat the more you want. And it takes some real guts and determination to "give it up". As others have said, if you can just stay away from sugar and sweeteners (yes, sweeteners too) for a few weeks you'll be surprised how much better you'll feel and how much easier it will be to refuse it.

Best wishes! :flowerforyou:

This, this, this x1000!

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I to have this problem. Anything chocolate comes within arms reach I snatch it up. Its a horrible habit I am ready to break. If you find a solution please feel free to add me and let me know. You are not alone.

Go cold turkey and force yourself to stop eating them for a day or a week, then nother day or week, then another and then another, etc.
I admit, these are extreme measure but theyre what help me when I become uncontrollable around sugar. (Just look at my diary yesterday!)

I came across a program called Rational Recovery yesterday when I was searching for ways to beat my nasty chocolate habit. It's set up for drug and alcohol addicts, but I'm thinking it could also be useful for those of us with intense sugar cravings. The gist of it seems to be that we need to distance ourselves from what the program calls our 'addictive voice'. So when that sugar craving hits, think in terms of "it wants sugar" not "you want sugar." This "it" is like a parasite inside your body (the program calls it a beast). It wants the sugar so badly, but can't get it without your help. Either you hand over your power to the parasite, eating that sugar, or you keep your power and deny the parasite what it wants.

I've haven't had a chance yet to really read up on this program, but so far it sounds like it could be a useful tool for conquering cravings.

. I agree on the addiction of sugar, for me that's been so true. If I get caught up in the cycle it's hard as hell to get back out of. I don't know if it's an addiction for everyone but I do believe it works that way for some of our bodies, the same as other addictive substances!

I came across a program called Rational Recovery yesterday when I was searching for ways to beat my nasty chocolate habit. It's set up for drug and alcohol addicts, but I'm thinking it could also be useful for those of us with intense sugar cravings. The gist of it seems to be that we need to distance ourselves from what the program calls our 'addictive voice'. So when that sugar craving hits, think in terms of "it wants sugar" not "you want sugar." This "it" is like a parasite inside your body (the program calls it a beast). It wants the sugar so badly, but can't get it without your help. Either you hand over your power to the parasite, eating that sugar, or you keep your power and deny the parasite what it wants.

I've haven't had a chance yet to really read up on this program, but so far it sounds like it could be a useful tool for conquering cravings.

Sounds interesting.. thanks!

I have a terrible sweet tooth, so buy caring candies at dischem. They contain isomalt (alcohol sugar) so you cant eat to much of them at a time. It curbs my sweet tooth and cravings. I also eat a maxilean protein bar with 3g carbs when I have a chocolate craving.

Wish I had this problem. Mine is fat and salt. Fries, burgers, chips, fast food...I need a rehab too.

People scoff at this but I truly think sugar is an addictive substance. Not in the same sense as nocotine or heroin maybe, but the more you eat the more you want. And it takes some real guts and determination to "give it up". As others have said, if you can just stay away from sugar and sweeteners (yes, sweeteners too) for a few weeks you'll be surprised how much better you'll feel and how much easier it will be to refuse it.

Best wishes! :flowerforyou:

^^^this^^^
Cold turkey all the way.

Increase your protein; decrease your carbs; "balance your carbs with your proteins" (i.e. strive to create a 1:1 (some can get away with 2:1) ratio of carbs to protein); eat smaller meals (50g of carbs per meal); get rid of artificial sweetners as they trigger an insulin release and causes cravings; get rid of MSG; All suggestions I have to follow with my disorder.

I agree with using the South Beach Phase 1. I did this and really went through withdrawal for several days, which opened my eyes to how addicted I was. I fell off the wagon on Valentine's Day with some incredible truffles and I was SICK the next day. I, for one, know that I cannot even have a taste, because it puts me right back to square one. I am unable to stop at one. I have to keep checking back on these boards, thank you all for being here!

I hear you, I am addicted to real sugar!! And I LOVE my Mtn Dew!!! My husband just shakes his head at me in disbelief when he saw me use sugar along with the International Delights French Vanilla coffee creamer. It is almost impossible for me to make my coffee to sweet.

Having said that, let me ask you this. Which form of Stevia have you used? I can use the Stevia Extract (liquid) by Kal. I buy it from the health food store or online at Amazon. I can only use it in my coffee (along with the creamer) and maybe in Kool-Aid. But that is about all I have managed to incorporate it into so far. I keep trying but I am having difficulty doing so.

I have managed to get my self down to 1 bottle (20 oz) of Mtn Dew a day and just one cup of coffee a day. I have gone from the 3.5 serving size Milk Duds to the smaller 1 serving size. I am just taking things one VERY small step at a time. I would love to hear of anything out there that helps to curb the cravings, cause at this point I just get incredible *****y when I am on a bad craving and don't have my sugar!!

I have to have at least a bit everyday or i binge so i get dark chocolate that usually helps