Help from Sweet Tooths who have changed their ways?
Lish1234
Posts: 39 Member
His guys 
... I'm trying to keep the healthy eating going but I always fall off the wagon when it comes to sugar. The longest I've lasted is a week and then I'm back to the sugary binge. It's not helpful that I live with people who bring piles of tasty things into the house. Chocolate, cupcakes, cookies, soda stream. Have any of you guys been in a similar situation? How'd you get out of the cycle permanently?
... I'm trying to keep the healthy eating going but I always fall off the wagon when it comes to sugar. The longest I've lasted is a week and then I'm back to the sugary binge. It's not helpful that I live with people who bring piles of tasty things into the house. Chocolate, cupcakes, cookies, soda stream. Have any of you guys been in a similar situation? How'd you get out of the cycle permanently? 0
Replies
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It didn't work for me to give up sugar, I eat it but in moderation and using portion control. Before I would sit with a pint of ice cream and eat the whole pint. Now I actually measure out a serving size and incorporate it into my daily calorie intake. If I really want something I have it but then I know I have to sacrifice somewhere else that day.0
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It's hard when people bring it in the house. See if they are at least willing to put it away out of sight so you don't have to walk past it on counters and the table.
Other than that, cut it out completely is the only advice I have. A little never was enough for me so I finally gave it up entirely. And be sure to get enough calories every day (in other words don't make your deficit unreasonably large) and get enough protein and fat.0 -
I so love sugar. I think I should try both of your suggestions because whenever I know I am going to stop eating sugar I go all out and binge and then when I fall off the wagon (which is generally fairly quickly after I've sworn off sugar) I overdo it with the sugar because I haven't had it in a while. I heard that you can detox your body from sugar and then you don't like the taste of it anymore. Has that happened for any of you?0
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I have such a sweet tooth! It has always been a struggle for me. I've found a couple of things that work for me and are a reasonable number of calories. Skinny Cow ice cream treats are good and only around 150cal. A couple of times recently I have sliced a banana and put a 2 tablespoons of melted chocolate chips over it. It's really good.
I'm not one for store bought sweets. I just don't like the way they taste so they don't satisfy my cravings for sweets. I love to bake but I've had to stop because I will easily take down a half a pan of brownies or 4 cookies that are as big as my face.0 -
I do the same thing that grnice39 does I still eat sugar but instead of 4 or 5 porions I eat 1 or half of one. Since being on here I don't crave sugar like I used to so I'm good with the smaller portions.0
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The change that got me past my latest plateau is cutting out dairy. I don't keep ice cream in the house (soy or coconut or otherwise) because I know it's killer for me. If somebody gives me a treat, I quietly pass it on to someone else, even if that means taking it in to work the next day. I'll specify to myself in my weird little brain that the treat is for X person and I can't eat the treat that's for X person. No dairy also really limits "trying" things, especially in potluck situations. It eliminates most chocolate and baked goods but also leaves a lot of really awesome options that are just a little harder to get (or you have to bake things yourself). This is just the latest change I've made - I've been "dieting" for fifteen years, but actually losing weight for the last few since I started counting calories, exercising and changing the content of my calories.0
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I so love sugar. I think I should try both of your suggestions because whenever I know I am going to stop eating sugar I go all out and binge and then when I fall off the wagon (which is generally fairly quickly after I've sworn off sugar) I overdo it with the sugar because I haven't had it in a while. I heard that you can detox your body from sugar and then you don't like the taste of it anymore. Has that happened for any of you?
The first time I ate a pastry after a few months without, it tasted nasty. All chemical-filled. However it is very possible to re-develop a taste for it, as I found out around Halloween (damn you Halloween candy!).0 -
I'm the same. We do a lot of baking in our house and it's so easy to wolf down half of what you made. So much easier than having a whole chocolate bar you bought in a supermarket to yourself. Thanks for the advice about the chocolate chips and the skinny cow. I think maybe going cold turkey has been my downfall because the idea of never having something again makes me feel I need to enjoy it as much as I can before I say goodbye to it.0
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I so love sugar. I think I should try both of your suggestions because whenever I know I am going to stop eating sugar I go all out and binge and then when I fall off the wagon (which is generally fairly quickly after I've sworn off sugar) I overdo it with the sugar because I haven't had it in a while. I heard that you can detox your body from sugar and then you don't like the taste of it anymore. Has that happened for any of you?
The first time I ate a pastry after a few months without, it tasted nasty. All chemical-filled. However it is very possible to re-develop a taste for it, as I found out around Halloween (damn you Halloween candy!).
That's reassuring. I've read in a few places that it's best to detox yourself for two weeks and then allow a little bit of sugar back into your diet. Apparently after the two weeks you loose a taste for it. Hmm ... maybe I should just stick to a square of dark chocolate now and again and slowly wean myself off it it from there ...0 -
The change that got me past my latest plateau is cutting out dairy. I don't keep ice cream in the house (soy or coconut or otherwise) because I know it's killer for me. If somebody gives me a treat, I quietly pass it on to someone else, even if that means taking it in to work the next day. I'll specify to myself in my weird little brain that the treat is for X person and I can't eat the treat that's for X person. No dairy also really limits "trying" things, especially in potluck situations. It eliminates most chocolate and baked goods but also leaves a lot of really awesome options that are just a little harder to get (or you have to bake things yourself). This is just the latest change I've made - I've been "dieting" for fifteen years, but actually losing weight for the last few since I started counting calories, exercising and changing the content of my calories.
That's awesome that you've made such a great change in lifestyle. Encouraging and informative stuff! Thank you!0 -
When I have dessert, I measure it out and then put it out of sight. I also avoid the foods I know are big triggers. I've had some hazelnut and caramel truffles in my cupboard for two weeks and haven't had many. If I bought my favorite salted peanut milk chocolate bark, I'd eat it one sitting. So I don't buy it.
A lot of not over-indulging is, ultimately, will power. I've heard of people putting photos that inspire them to lose weight on ice cream, on the fridge, etc, to remind them of their goals. Or put sticky notes on food with inspring quotes.
Oh, and if you're getting a strong craving and you know you don't need food, go brush your teeth. The taste of toothpaste will kill the cravings. Seriously.0 -
I can't give up sugar completely. I binge a whole lot worse and go off track when I do. So, I try to keep a really close eye on how much sugar I'm consuming. I try to eat a lot more fruit. Honeycrisp apples are the most amazing thing to me and I love when they are in season. I've found that a really sweet navel orange or clementine will help too. At the end of the day I allow myself one sweet thing. Sometimes that's just a tablespoon of chocolate chips, a 100 cal chocolate pudding cup, or a cascadian farms organic chocolate chip granola bar. It seems to keep me on track and I stay well within my defined calories.0
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Yup. Been there, so I know the feeling. I started to wean myself off of the heavy sugar products (chocolate bars, cookies, cakes and such) and switched to pudding and yogurt or granola bars. The calories are a little lower than the previously mentioned foods. i also bought a liquid water enhancer that makes water taste like juice. A little change makes a big difference.0
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When I have dessert, I measure it out and then put it out of sight. I also avoid the foods I know are big triggers. I've had some hazelnut and caramel truffles in my cupboard for two weeks and haven't had many. If I bought my favorite salted peanut milk chocolate bark, I'd eat it one sitting. So I don't buy it.
A lot of not over-indulging is, ultimately, will power. I've heard of people putting photos that inspire them to lose weight on ice cream, on the fridge, etc, to remind them of their goals. Or put sticky notes on food with inspring quotes.
Oh, and if you're getting a strong craving and you know you don't need food, go brush your teeth. The taste of toothpaste will kill the cravings. Seriously.
Wow that toothpaste trick sounds epic! Thank you! Yes if I buy less of the things I love and more of the things that I feel indifferent about it may be a easier road. Thanks so much for the advice 0 -
You can give it up completely, and that may be the best option for you in the long run. However, I found, that I can't do this. It makes me miserable and makes it much more likely for me to let things slide. By allowing myself, and making room for it in my diary, I am happier about my "food lifestyle change" (not diet because it's for the rest of my life). However, word of warning. It is easy to over do it and keep going. The only good answer is what works for you so that you lose weight and then are able to keep it off in a manageable way. I will say this, I do go down the grocery isles and ignore most sugars and snacks. However, if it is around me, then I have a much harder time not eating it. Much much harder....
So I guess, don't have it around you, and if you do, find something that you can snack on instead that is better for you so you are eating something but that something isn't high in calories. Also, treat yourself, once a day or once a week or whatever works, but make sure you can't keep eating the stuff (this is where my "diet" is failing, but I will get on track and do better)0 -
Dark Chocolate works for me0
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I gave up giving up sugar. I just make it work. Who the hell wakes up one day and decides to never eat sugar again?
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Thanks for all the help guys! I have some great ideas of how to get on track now and stay on track. It's nice to know other people have been down or are going down the same road.0
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What I did was whenever I got the urge for sweets was eat a dill pickle. I make them from my own garden so have tons and they don't have the yellow dye that some of the store bought ones do. It made my cravings pass and now as some others have said, store bought treats don't hold the same appeal for me. They taste fake. Yesterday I made a big batch of yummy cinnamon buns and I didn't eat a single one. that's what has worked for me! Good luck 0
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The first time I ate a pastry after a few months without, it tasted nasty. All chemical-filled. However it is very possible to re-develop a taste for it, as I found out around Halloween (damn you Halloween candy!).
Same here! I managed to cut way down on sugar when I first started on MFP to the point where it got out of my system so I didn't crave it and it tasted really fake and cloying when I did have it. If you fall off the wagon, though, you do re-develop a taste for it, unfortunately. I think I managed by treating myself about once a week to a set size, and only when I was out. If I have sugary things in the house I WILL devour them!0 -
I can't do without it completely or I am prone to suddenly overindulge, so I keep some treat stuff handy: hard lemon drops (70 calories for 4, I have 2 or 3 a day); 75%+ cocoa dark chocolate (it doesn't go down as easy as milk chocolate, but it's still chocolate... and has antioxidants!), and Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew KIND bars--my real saviors. I keep room to have one just about every day. Reacquiring a taste for fruit helped too, especially oranges.0
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I have a huge sweet tooth, and even in my healthy eating I lean towards fruits, sweeter veggies and granola bars/ protein bars with sweet flavors. Sugar is something I am not willing to part with (yes I may have a slight addiction). What I have found that works for me:
1) I crave sweets directly following a meal so I try to distract myself for the 20 mins following a meal whether it's doing the dishes, cleaning the house, paying bills, checking e-mail or facebook etc. something that helps distract me from the thought of dessert.
2) Keep any dessert items out of sight in the kitchen, if it's tucked away there is a chance I will forget it is even there.
3) Allow for a small sweet treat each day, if I can have 2-3 (1 oz.) pieces of chocolate or one scoop of ice cream once a day I will not often overindulge because I do not feel deprived
4) If I am making a dessert I look up a recipe on cookinglight.com, they have a ton of lightened up recipes, if you are in a potluck situation at least you know you can have the dessert and how to record it.0 -
They laugh at work, but I have 2pm dessert time during the week. That is about the point in the day where I am ready to scream, so I take a break and have a small cookie, or some chocolate and some tea. Usually around 150 calories. Right now it is a serving of GS cookies. I don't keep sweets in my house, as that has lead to binges in the past. So I keep them at work, plan them into my day, and knowing I have that in the plan helps keep my sugar cravings from being crazy.
I was raised in a dessert after dinner family, so giving it up entirely wasn't going to happen. I also learned that having it after dinner tended to lead to second and sometimes third desserts. Keeping it at work helps me portion control.0 -
i buy dark chocolate bars from trader joes, they are near the checkout counter and come in packs of three. a whole bar has 290 calories, but it is broken up into 12 pieces so if you just have one piece it's less than 25 calories. it's great for a little sweet fix and even if you go back a few times for a few more pieces you won't break your diet. also dark chocolate has the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food so you are still being healthy if you incorporate it into your diet in moderation. plus it feels very chic to indulge on such a decadent thing rather than just eating some overprocessed dessert, so i think mentally it makes you feel better about what you are putting in your body.0
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Maybe try replacing Ice Cream with Jello (sugar free tastes about the same). One desert I had made for myself was:
Jello
Mixed Berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
Cool Whip Free
Crumble a graham cracker over it.
If they have pre-sliced Angel Food Cake you can crumble up 1 slice into it too. But I find that if it's not already sliced I will eat the whole thing.
Another Ice Cream alternative is Arctic Zero. You can find it in pint sizes at Whole Foods and King Soopers/Krogers. It is not made from cream, it is made from Whey Protein, has 150 calories for the whole pint. You want it to be soft when you eat it, I suggest microwave a frozen pint for about 28 seconds - just tastes better. Honestly it really does taste good and just like ice cream - I like the Mint Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chocolate flavors.
www.myarcticzero.com0 -
I didn't give up sugar completely. Fiber one bars are great but if I still want some dessert I just have some but make sure I don't over do it and that I'm still under for calories0
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Portion control!!!! I also have a sickness/weakness when it comes to sweets. I love candy, cookies and cake!! I do not deprive myself of it. I have learned to take a bite or chunk compared to the whole thing or even half. I just want to taste it at this point. Where I work they always have cookies and cupcakes from vendors. I take a bite. It keeps me from wanting to binge on my "free days" and so far it's working!!! portion control!!
Another practical tip- I use flavoring for my water. When i'm craving sweets I add extra. It helps too!0 -
simple., just do not put it in your mouth.0
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Well, I ended up curbing my sugar cravings inadvertently when I gave up soda. I had given up sugared soda in college and switched to diet. I continued to drink diet soda by and can-ful daily into my late 30's. I probably averaged 3-6 cans per day. Then one day in May of 2012 I just stopped drinking it. Mainly because I kept wondering what it was really doing to my body and what the long-term health effects of diet soda would be. The first couple weeks were really hard. I started drinking more water and tea. Then, when I hit somwhere around the 5 month mark, I happened to realize that I wasn't craving sweets like I always had in the past.
When I was drinking soda, a day could not have went by without some sort of afternoon treat around that 2:30 pm mark. I also had terrible sweet cravings after dinner each night. Both of those cravings...gone. Now, don't get me wrong, I still occasionally get a cookie after dinner or a couple Hershey kisses, but I can stop after one or two and be satisfied...not the normal feeling of "I must continue to put this into my mouth until there is nothing left" mentality that I used to have with sweets. I'm guessing there is some correlation there because I didn't set out to give up sweets, it just happened....and I am completely OK with that.0 -
40 calorie fudgesicles were a huge help to me. When I wanted something terrible, I'd have one and usually had no interest in the sugary food after that. With that said, I have my weak moments and my wayyyy too much sugar moments. But I try to be awesome the rest of the time so that those times don't kill me. I managed to reach my goal weight and have been maintaining since late summer 2012 so it's definitely possible to still indulge. You just have to know your weakness and make up for it elsewhere.
Fruit is another option...I love fresh fruit so I quarter and core a pear and an apple each day. Snacking on those gets my sugar fix in the morning when I'm prone to hit the donut box that someone brings in.0
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