I'm an addict...

What do you all do about sugar cravings? I am a serious sugar addict. I can do without the fried, greasy food, the soda, and the chips... but crave sugar something fierce. I meant it REALLY calls my name. I can't handle eating sugar or desserts in moderation... I've tried limiting myself to 3 Hershey Kisses or only eating a dessert once a week--but it seems that just triggers sugar binges. What have you all done to end/stop sugar cravings?
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Replies

  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    In the afternoon, when I used to reach for mini candy bars, now I do a south beach diet protein bar. They come in chocolate and peanut butter flavors and taste pretty darn good. At night, instead of dessert-type sweets, I'll do a cereal with unsweetened soy milk and maybe some blueberries. It really helps to have some sort of protein with your sugar. My sister loves chocolate flavored soy milk with cereal, you could try that:)
  • junco1971
    junco1971 Posts: 26 Member
    I have no sugar added ice cream bars for a snack at night or I have a bowl of raisin bran or frosted mini wheat. I know they aren't the best choices but to me they are better then having a whole tray of cookies or 5 scoops of regular ice cream
  • Matt82007
    Matt82007 Posts: 23 Member
    I don't have any experience with trying to deny myself sugary foods (I'm much more of a sugary drinks kind of guy) but I understand you can go a long way by replacing all the candy and pastries with fruit. Not quite the same, but it should diminish the cravings.
  • I found that not having it at all for a short period of time broke the addiction, and now I can have a small treat and stop. I used to be able to 3 ice cream sandwiches without a second thought. Now I eat one 90 calorie mini cone and I'm happy. You'll get there, its a process.
  • SCtolulu
    SCtolulu Posts: 154 Member
    Have a sweet treat you love every day. At the beginning for me mini mayfield ice cream sandwiches got me through my cravings. 90 calories. And when I would flip out with an intense craving and eat two it was still under 200 :)
  • paigemulroe
    paigemulroe Posts: 144 Member
    I find that gum sometimes helps, I personally have sugar free gum. I don't know how much better it is for you, but you save tons of calories!:happy:
  • KristiCastro27
    KristiCastro27 Posts: 31 Member
    Those are all great ideas! Thank you! :)
  • Becky_Smith72
    Becky_Smith72 Posts: 161 Member
    I love Quaker's mini rice cakes.. they have a chocolate flavor that is REALLY good, I think, and helps my sweet tooth.
  • MomOfTex
    MomOfTex Posts: 2
    Strawberries with fat-free Cool Whip help my sweet tooth and are really low in calories. Easy and yummy.
  • alliemarie77
    alliemarie77 Posts: 378 Member
    I was addicted to! I don't keep sweets in the house. If the craving gets out of control I get a small bag of plain M&M's. I take out 5, and give the rest away. I suck on those 5 one at a time till they are gone. I go brush my teeth, and drink lots of water.

    I have been really good lately.... No sweets.

    If you can't handle having a little of something you may have to do without it at all until you can handle it. Good luck!
  • I'm new to MFP and a sugar and carb addict too. If not tracking, I'll eat two desserts in one day, double and triple the serving size of said desserts and far too much bread choices. From my food tracking, it shows up with me over the daily allotment in the sugar category. Now seeing that breakdown and the empty calories spent will get my mind retooled. For my palette, some things I will have to avoid because they are triggers to binge, like plain M&Ms. In the past, I've bought bulk packs from BJs and told myself that I'd eat in moderation. Nope. I'd feed until sickness. So I won't bring them in the house. I'm also working to up my protein and vegetable intake to make me more full and plan any carbs I will have for the day.
  • lyttmab
    lyttmab Posts: 87 Member
    I found that not having it at all for a short period of time broke the addiction, and now I can have a small treat and stop. I used to be able to 3 ice cream sandwiches without a second thought. Now I eat one 90 calorie mini cone and I'm happy. You'll get there, its a process.

    This is so true. You literally go thru a withdrawal but you won't believe how easy it is, once you go thru it. I am like you. I always thought I could NEVER give up my sweets and my bread! 5 years ago I went on the South Beach diet and after the first week, I REALLY didn't miss it. But that means giving up most anything that has sugar in it for a few days then reintroducing the healthy carbs slowly after your body adjusts to it. I didn't eat fruit, bread, pasta, sweets ... I tried to keep my carbs below 25/day. The weight dropped off me and the sugar cravings stopped after 4 or 5 days. It was unbelievable. Then of course I gained it all back. Now I'm doing something similar, just not quite as strict. And, it's working. And of course, now I realize it has to be a life choice, not a "diet" then go back to eating like I was . . .

    Also, if you are really craving something, Dr. Oz said to mix all natural peanut butter with dark chocolate. He said to melt the chocolate and then add it to the peanut butter but I just added sugar-free choco chips to it. Then you put it in a container and store it in the fridge. When you get a craving - take a spoon full of it and it will satisfy the craving. So far it has worked for me. Good luck!!! ♡❣♡
  • KristiCastro27
    KristiCastro27 Posts: 31 Member
    Thank you SO much for all your advice and kind words of encouragement. It's nice to know I'm not alone with this issue.
  • macyfit
    macyfit Posts: 3
    SUGAR CANDY ICE CREAM
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    I feed that addiction before it consumes me. Just keeping the sugar bear beast at bay.
    oranges, apples, grapes, berries, ice cream, yogurt.

    I do tend to notice a correlation at least for me between my sodium intake and my cravings. As I reduce salt intake, I crave sugar less.
  • SkinnyMsFitness
    SkinnyMsFitness Posts: 389 Member
    Okay, I've been eating a Fiber One bar or some type of granola bar or cereal for breakfast that contains CHOCOLATE and I think it helps me to get my fix. My sister on the other hand always has chocolate around and only allows herself a handful a day...keep in mind this takes serious willpower, but she's skinny; she's been skinny for yrs!! Do what works for you. Try maybe avoiding it altogether for a week or so...you'd be amazed how much less you like something when you don't regularly consume it! Just beware of the possibility to binge...
  • ADaffner
    ADaffner Posts: 2
    Try eating dill pickles. Your body reacts to the dill like it would something sweet and will help satisfy the cravings, plus they're generally no calories!
  • MsStang02
    MsStang02 Posts: 147 Member
    I am a huge sugar addict as well. In the beginning it was tough. Instead of reaching for some kind of candy or cake, I would reach for a sweet fruit. Yes, some fruit has a lot of sugar in it, but it is the better alternative to candy or cake. After a few weeks, my craving for sweets started to go away. Now I am able to balance out my meals and not really crave sugar at all. I do allow myself a treat once a day, and I do budget it in. I'll have a some chocolate during lunch, or ice cream after dinner. But it is always in moderation, and even just a little bit satisfies me. It takes work, but you'll get there :bigsmile:
  • Hi all,

    I was a addict to anything sweet, I went cold turkey stopped eating it, having it in the house. I don't have desserts anymore. I've done it since April. I have also done low carbs and I don't have bread, I feel this has helped me. Plus I workout everyday and I find it so rewarding that I don't want to ruin the hard work by eating chocolate or a slice of cake.
  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
    I found that not having it at all for a short period of time broke the addiction, and now I can have a small treat and stop. I used to be able to 3 ice cream sandwiches without a second thought. Now I eat one 90 calorie mini cone and I'm happy. You'll get there, its a process.
    this. absolutely. I used to "have to" have something sweet after a meal. now i don't. sometimes i'll have a fruit or sometimes i'll have nothing.

    PERSONALLY (and this is me, YMMV), i find that the fake sweet just makes things worse for me - doesn't stop the cravings. the only thing that worked is acutally stopping all sweet. and believe it or not -you'll learn to appreciate *a* square of dark (80%) chocolate...
  • trasista4
    trasista4 Posts: 36 Member
    chewing extra gym really helps.
  • silmarilliane
    silmarilliane Posts: 133 Member
    chewing sugarfree gum or sucking a boiled sweet (only around 15 cals) - anything that lasts a long time!
  • HollisGrant
    HollisGrant Posts: 2,022 Member
    I'm a Junk Food Queen of the first magnitude. Name a sugary treat and I've eaten it in 5 flavors.

    April 1st I stopped eating all junk food, fast food, candy, etc., and my cravings disappeared. I can't eat in moderation, so I cut it out of my life. The only sweet I eat is an apple for a snack (and once in while other fruit, like a restaurant fresh fruit cup).

    Several big things that really helped me:
    (1) I eat regular meals so I'm never hungry. When I get hungry, my willpower disappears.
    (2) I drink water with lemon slices all day.
    (3) I meal plan and always have nutritious food at home that I can make into a meal in 5 minutes or less.
    (4) Right now I eat before social occasions so I'm not hungry, then have something small and eat it as slowly as possible so there's something on my plate and other people don't feel uncomfortable.
  • I'm a sugar freak and seem to crave it all the time, I found the skinny cow choc sundaes are the best for giving my that chocolate kick or when I'm really desperate I make a cup of tea with loads of sugarine (not good I know) but it really does keep my sugar cravings in check!
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    What worked for me was changing the whole way I thought about food, not just trying to cut out sweets. Make hitting your macros a game, if you will. If you hit your protein goal within your calorie limit, you've earned a sweet.

    You need to make sure you're eating a high protein meal when you eat your first meal of the day. Add in the healthy fats as well.

    Then for your second meal, do the same, make sure you're hitting your protein targets first. Then fats, then carbs.

    Let's say you are aiming for 100 grams of protein a day. Try to get in 40-60 of that before 3pm if you know you're going to be having a decent protein dinner. More if you're going to have a carb dinner.

    Then, when you've hit that protein goal, have a good amount of fats, check the fiber to make sure you're good on that, too. If you are, then have some sweets up to your calorie limit for the day.

    I have a sweet almost every night. Usually ice cream or dark chocolate. Sometimes I indulge in some ungodly dessert at a restaurant that I split with my kids and husband. But I always hit my protein macro goal before I give in.

    If I start the day with carbs or something sweet, my whole day is ruined. I crave sugar or carbs all day long, don't feel full ever, and I will gain a lot of weight. If I reward myself with carbs at night, I go to bed satisfied and don't generally wake up craving them.
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    I so agree with the protein suggestion. 100 grams of protein per day should be your minimum. When I changed my diet to high protein, my wild cravings for empty carbs went away.
  • At least you get there's such thing as being addicted to sugar. What's worked best for me is trying to keep most of that stuff out of my home because once I have one then I have to have another. Nuts, yogurt, eggs, meat, pork skins, WATER, apples, cheese all help me from thinking much about sugar! Oh and exercise can take my mind off that candy bar. Crank up the tunes while you're working out and before you know it you'll be so lost into the song you'll probably have forgotten all about that sugar rush!!! :laugh:
  • Supern0va81
    Supern0va81 Posts: 168 Member
    I try to eat it in moderation, as opposed to replacing what I like or going without. Goal setting helps with this - keep your eye on the prize! I'll have a Freddo (small chocolate bar as a treat) and don't expect to ever truly go 'without'.

    That said, my nutrition is so much 'cleaner than it was this time last year. I joined MFP in January this year and my diary is open if you would like to look. Stay focused :)
  • aconner114
    aconner114 Posts: 13
    This is where I need to be. If there was a "sugar addict" group I could be a charter member. I too don't have the problems with other stuff in moderation but with sugar I want it all until it's gone - out of the hose. And it's too easy to stop in the dolloar store on the way home from work for cookies and milk for my dinner. I must get a handle on this and today is another first day for me to eut the sugar out. I am new and would love some replies.
  • Supern0va81
    Supern0va81 Posts: 168 Member
    This is where I need to be. If there was a "sugar addict" group I could be a charter member. I too don't have the problems with other stuff in moderation but with sugar I want it all until it's gone - out of the hose. And it's too easy to stop in the dolloar store on the way home from work for cookies and milk for my dinner. I must get a handle on this and today is another first day for me to eut the sugar out. I am new and would love some replies.

    First thought - I've been there - Hi :) - get rid of those treats - either eat them in moderation (planned and incorporated gradually), or bin them/give them to charity, and don't replace them.

    Second thought - if you want it that badly, then work out for it. Find out what the nutritional content of what you are planning on eating is, get exercising (walk to the sweet shop?) and (HRM / Fitbit / other) work out (walking / other) until you have burnt off that amount of energy and are ready to replace it with whatever you want to eat.

    The choices you have to make are yours - just make sure that they are good ones and be proud of each one!

    Good luck and have fun :smile: