Help! How do u say no to sweets?

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Replies

  • AvsFreak
    AvsFreak Posts: 152 Member
    I was informed by a nutritionnist that carving sweets often means you are lacking some protein... if you have protein, you surprisingly won't crave as much sugar. From personal experience, having a higher protein diet won't make me crave the sweets... I also have a chocolate flavored protein shake that's flavored & sweetened with stevia.

    There is a lot of the amino acid glutamine in meats. Glutamine helps lower sugar/carb cravings while dieting and the protein will also help keep you full longer. Can't go wrong with eating more protein.
  • Melsy7
    Melsy7 Posts: 30
    I don't buy the stuff. If I don't have it around, I don't crave it. I'm not going to lie and say I'm good 100% of the time because I do cave once in a while, but it's not near as often, and I figure deprivation isn't doing me any favors, either.

    I will say that once I was able to severely limit the sweets, when I eat anything now, like a cupcake or a piece of candy, I find that one is enough, or a half a cupcake is good, otherwise, I get to feeling icky.
  • armychickmlg
    armychickmlg Posts: 8 Member
    I love sweets too and I am allergic to almost all of the artificial sweeteners (except Stevia), so I have had to learn that moderation is key. Also, I try to stay away from refined white and brown sugar. I sweeten my coffee with 1 teaspoon of honey, I make my oatmeal from scratch using dried fruit and honey to sweeten it, and when I have a craving I allow myself a square of high quality dark chocolate.
  • Liatush
    Liatush Posts: 627 Member
    I looked at your diary... looks like you had 1 piece of cake last week, but aside from that, nothing sweet....

    I usually go for something sweet, but make it a light version (i.e. skinny cow ice cream instead of reg ice cream)... I dont think you need to cut it out completely, but even if you have a regular version of something, eat, enjoy and move on... dont need to feel guilty about it..
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I don't say no, I moderate.
  • Ramberta
    Ramberta Posts: 1,312 Member
    Hi, I`m writting `cause I started MFP a month ago and after checking everything I eat I noticed I eat a lot of sugar! How do I do to stop doing that?

    It`s horrible because I feel like an urge to eat and, if I do so, then I feel guilty and ashamed :(

    Every comment is welcome!

    Thanks!

    Sweets are my downfall too, it really really REALLY sucks because there's lots of sugar in so many things you don't think about-- things you think of as "normal" foods. Since I've started logging my food every day, I've gone way over on sugar even on days where I avoided cookies, candy, ice cream, etc. It can be frustrating! And while sugar-free alternatives do exist, most of the time they're unappetizing and unsatisfying. You just end up eating way more, which overloads on cals anyway.

    If I have it in the house, I'm doomed. I can't just eat 1 chocolate out of the box and leave the rest to sit in the cupboard-- it will haunt me until I've eaten them all. So for now, I avoid buying it. If I want sweets on a particular day, I plan it into my daily calories and plan healthy stuff around it, and try to make sure I work out on that day. Then I make a separate trip to the store JUST to get my sweet thing. (And I try to get small things, which is why I love those tiny little ice cream cups or individually wrapped sweets.) That gives it importance and makes it feel special. Then I take it home, and try to wait as long as possible before actually eating it. Take time to smell and look at the food, and during that time ask yourself, "is this really worth all this sugar? Do I really, *really* want this?" If the answer is yes, eat it slowly and savor it. If the answer is no-- if you feel like you'll just get guilty afterwards-- then try working out first and THEN indulging.

    Every now and again I'll trash it and eat like, half my day's cals in sweets, but I usually get a headache because it throws off my nutrition intake. Sugar isn't something that makes you feel pleasant if you overindulge, and over time you'll begin to realize that you FEEL better when you choose the less sugary things. :)

    Best of luck! Feel free to add me so that we can motivate each other to cut out the bad sugary stuff together. :)
  • smh1067
    smh1067 Posts: 45 Member
    It's just about changing how you view sweets. You don't have to say no to all of them, just plan them in when you want them. If you're going somewhere you know will serve sweets you'll want, plan for that too. I'm not from the camp of eating healthy 100% of the time. It's just not realistic for me right now. I do know that I limit how many sweets I plan in because I always feel hungry if that's where I'm getting my calories from. And I know if I "have" to give something up completely, I'll just want it that much more. Try not to be so hard on yourself and just try and stay within your calorie goal and eat as healthy as you can that day. I go over sugar every day because I'm a fruit eater (I want to love veggies, but I just don't. At. All.) and I'm not giving up my one cup of coffee with flavored creamer in it. I know sugar is sugar, but I still argue that fruit is not on the same level as a cookie nutrition wise. Macros are important, but they're not the end all, be all. What's important is that you're working toward a healthier you, even if it involves a little sugar. That's just my two cents though, I'm sure there are others with a different opinion :smile:
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    easiest thing is to not have it in the house, do not buy it, and don't have sugar or flour on hand to bake anything...thats what I find is easiest
  • bella1604
    bella1604 Posts: 1
    I eat low-carb snacks from Diet Direct (and no, I don't work for them). They have GREAT biscotti's and milk chocolate bites. Awesome puddings too. I'm an all-around snacker and hae found that their snacks (sweet, chips, etc) help me out a LOT.
  • KimmieJorg
    KimmieJorg Posts: 1
    For me, the more I eat sugar the more I want it. Hang in there and it gets better. Low sugar hard candy helps too.
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    At first I think it just takes sheer willpower. You have to think about how many calories they have, and how that will fit into your plan. But honestly, after you don't eat them for a while, they lose a lot of their appeal. I do not crave sweets at all like i used to, and if I decide to eat some, they are never as good as I remember them being, so I usually have a small taste and then walk away. It is definitely a good idea to avoid having them in your house!
  • Admiral_Derp
    Admiral_Derp Posts: 866 Member
    First I look at the sweets, and then I'm all like...

    tumblr_m9rem83tjO1qhgmh9.gif

    ...and then I'm all like...

    tumblr_m012vbaVCt1r7saxoo1_500.gif

    ...and then sometimes it ends with...
    tumblr_loseywoKkq1qfnxvk.gif

    ...but mostly this happens...
    tumblr_lscyaaTO9T1qmha4qo1_250.gif
  • mforsis
    mforsis Posts: 41
    Manufacturers mess with our heads. They know how responsive our salt and sugar taste buds are so they pack sweets with salt and sugar to make us want more. I have just learned since I started myf that the less sugar I eat the less I want it. I started using equal as sugar substitute (I was down to 1/2 tsp sugar in coffee anyway) and have noticed I often forget putting in sugar or equal at all after 40 days.

    My husband always has a sugary treat after dinner. I have managed to make my snacks all have a bit of protein through the day so I am not 'peckish' after dinner and am able to turn down the offer of sugar. Last night he didn't have any treats in the house and I got him some cheese and crackers. I had a 1 oz slice of lovely cheese and an oatmeal biscuit (Nairn's - no sugar or salt) Oatmeal takes longer than wheat flour to digest. I was very pleased it was enough and my taste buds weren't screaming I want more.
    Good Luck
  • di1428
    di1428 Posts: 165 Member
    Hi, I`m writting `cause I started MFP a month ago and after checking everything I eat I noticed I eat a lot of sugar! How do I do to stop doing that?

    It`s horrible because I feel like an urge to eat and, if I do so, then I feel guilty and ashamed :(

    Every comment is welcome!

    Thanks!

    For me, it helped by telling myself just get thru 2 weeks of no sweets. that has helped kill alot of my sugar/sweet cravings.
  • himilayaneyes
    himilayaneyes Posts: 204 Member
    I don't say no. I simply eat less of it. I really enjoy the 100 cal snack packs. Eat one bag...satisfy the craving and move on.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    Baby steps work well, if you can't go cold turkey ........ downsize, portion control, substitute ...... whatever works :drinker:

    I have fruit each day ........ and a little bit of really dark chocolate ....... instead of jelly donuts, cake, candy bars, cookies (well, I still eat an occasional cookie LOL)

    And absolutely read labels ...... there's sugar in everything ...... sugar in fruit is normal, but the sugar (and sodium) in processed food is something altogether different ......

    Best of luck !
  • curejenn
    curejenn Posts: 70 Member
    I was informed by a nutritionnist that carving sweets often means you are lacking some protein... if you have protein, you surprisingly won't crave as much sugar. From personal experience, having a higher protein diet won't make me crave the sweets... I also have a chocolate flavored protein shake that's flavored & sweetened with stevia.

    This has been SO true for me. I got into a very bad habit of eating a ton of sweets while nursing my daughter. That sugar was GREAT for milk production. When I stopped nursing, those cravings stayed and it just got out of control. I started MFP on Jan 15th of this year and have been getting in 150g of protein or so a day. It is AMAZING how that sweet tooth has gone away. I havent had candy or cake since Jan 15th (and it was an everyday, multiple times a day type thing before) and havent even cared! In fact, I am in the process of potty training my daughter with M&Ms as a reward and I havent had even one. Try to get more protein in and I bet you will see a HUGE difference. I also mix 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder in 1/2 c of plain greek yogurt and it is really good! And very filling!! You can even melt 1 oz of dark chocolate or 1 TBSP of peanut butter to pour over it and it tastes as good as any dessert I was eating previously and without the insane amounts of sugar that will just make you want more!
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Not everyone is able to 'do moderation" If that's your case, then make yourself cut it out completely for a while....your cravings WILL subside if you don't have it for a while (even after a couple of days)

    Otherwise, you just have to keep reminding yourself that the temporary gratification from eating sugar is not worth feeling lousy about later!
  • ohnstadk
    ohnstadk Posts: 143 Member
    I noticed that you drink orange juice a lot - if you cut this from your diet the sugar will go down. If you like the orange taste pick up an orange instead - that has the same taste and has WAY less sugar :)
  • moveitmoveit
    moveitmoveit Posts: 20 Member
    After reading up on all the bad side effects of sugar and sugar replacements, I told myself I could quit cold turkey for 14 days. No soda, no sugar in my coffee- nada. But I upped my fruit intake. So instead of splenda sweetened yogurt, I had greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce and a dusting of cinnamon. Or I added a splash of lime juice to a big cup of water. A big glass of water with lime was key to resisiting my intermittent cravings.

    On the 15th day I had a homemade truffle- because my truffles are amazing! :) But I didn't want to eat all of them. I have added back one teaspoon of sugar to my coffee- but that's usually just about all my refined sugar for the day.

    I feel amazingly better without all that stuff. Less headaches, body aches, etc. I've even got most of my family to switch to unsweetened yogurt and cereals and whatnot. Any time I really want something sweet, I stop and think about how much better I feel, and if the momentary treat is really worth it.

    Sometimes I say yes, but most of the time it's no. You can do this!
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    sometimes i don't say no. and sometimes i do.

    if i eat too much sugar i get a headache, that's enough to deter me sometimes. but try to get me away from pumpkin bread or red velvet cupcakes and i'll sooner bite your hand off than not eat them.
  • JustBetty88
    JustBetty88 Posts: 10
    Just don't buy it. I really have a problem with bingeing on sweets, I've gone a whole week with very little and the littke I had made me fell really sluggish.
  • mariabraceyrobinson
    mariabraceyrobinson Posts: 94 Member
    Don't say no to sweets. If you deprive yourself, you'll want it more. Buy yourself a bag of hershey kisses. When you crave a sweet. Eat 1 or 2. don't eat the cake or ice cream or whatever your normal go to it. Buy the fiber bars with chocolate in them. That curbs my sweet tooth too. I've started cutting back on the sugar I add to stuff. Instead of my usually 4 teaspoons of sugar in my tea, i know use 3.

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