Need advise-sugar addict here

Bump...because this is a problem for me too.

Get a nutritionist/dietician. I really think that most people should have one that they meet with regularly.
Also diet soda is your friend.

I was a self confessed sugar addict also - chocolate was my major downfall. I could sit down in one night and eat chocolate, biscuits, cake - you name it!

I guess my advice is figure out what drives that craving. Is it physiological or emotional?

In my case it was a bit of both (or a lot of both). Instead of beating myself up everytime i tried to quit cold turkey and would end up failing i introduced small changes at a time. I know the idea of introducing small changes doesn't always appeal; when people want to change something they generally want to do it right now and see results straight away. But the truth of it is, small changes result in long lasting changes.

So what did I do? I looked at what i was eating from a physiological point of view and when i was eating. Was i eating enough low GI foods? Was i eating often enough. I try not to go much longer then 3-4 hours without eating. I introduced bran or museli at breakfast, nuts and fruit for snacks, rye bread or wholemeal bread at lunch and sweet potato or brown rice with dinner. This didn't happen straight away of course. I first introduced the habit of a small low GI snack in between meals and then looked at changing the structure of my main meals once i'd become comfortable with that change.

I noticed a big difference almost immediately. When i used to crave sugar i could feel the tightness in the back of my throat and anxiety about getting something sugary into me straight away. Once i worked on trying to stabilise my sugar levels and controlling my insulin levels those feelings disappeared almost immediately for me. Low GI food is key to this. If you feel full and you maintain your sugar and insulin levels you will not crave sugary foods.

I also looked at emotional issues and habits. For one - stress has a big impact for me. If I felt stressed at work sugary snacks would relieve that, if someone had upset me then sugary snacks would always be there. It's about identifying what are your triggers to make you want to reach for high sugar foods and learning to deal with those triggers in other ways. Now i remove myself from the situation. If I'm at work i'll go for a quick walk around the office floor or go and grab a cup of water. Often that 'break' from the stress is enough to kill the craving.

I also cut back on habits and associations with sugar. I no longer eat anything on the sofa in front of the television. That is a no eating zone for me. So much damage can be done sitting in front of a television eating mindlessly. I also don't eat anything sugary until i know that i've eaten a solid meal or snack that is low GI which helps me determine whether i'm eating something for pure enjoyment or whether i'm reaching for sugary snacks for other reasons.

I also understand the feeling of 'I deserve this' after hard workouts or stressful days. If you get an uncontrollable craving try and eat a sweet piece of fruit - strawberries work quite well for me or even dry fruit like apricots (in limited amounts) or dark chocolate. Some chocolates on the market (even non-dark or dairy milk varieties) contain over 40% cocoa solids which are far better from a sugar intake level and won't wreak havoc with your cravings but give you the satisifaction of tasting and eating chocolate.

And today - I'm happy to say that my chocolate binges are very few and far between. If i fall off the wagon i don't beat myself up over it, i think to myself 'i haven't done that in over 6 weeks!' In most cases i can eat just one or two biscuits or one row of a chocolate bar and really enjoy it.

Goodluck!

I was never that bad, but I use to eat at least a chocolate bar a day, I LOVE chocolate. HOWEVER, I thought to myself "IF I give this up for a little while, it will benefit me" I have a ridiculous amount of self control and haven't had any 'sweets' for over a month. I did no sugar for lent last year.

What has helped me A LOT is my protein shakes are chocolate. It satisfies that craving. I put honey in my coffee instead of sugar. You do get use to it. I'm also addicted to grapes - natural sugar! Try more fruit.

If you're going to have some chocolate, you limit yourself to 1 candy bar to start, if you're itching for it, make sure it's taken away. Only keep what you WANT to consume close. If you can't control it, don't have it in the house at all. that's what I do.

I'm not as bad as you, but I do have a problem with sweets too. Ice cream is my worst one. And Christmas and Halloween! Ugh! And yes, once I've had one, all the days getting rid of the craving are done, and I want more! One thing I found in the evenings, which are my worst time, since I don't take sweets to work and can't get out, was to drink a sweeter herbal tea with a touch of sugar. (I don't like it without the sugar.) The sweetness of the tea helped the craving, and the time it took to drink a hot tea took care of the rest. I tried having fruit, or veggies, or even my favourite yogurt, but I would gobble it up and still want sweets. With the tea I pretty much am good once it's done. Or I have a second cup! (I use a giant mug so it lasts really long). I imagine you are making sure you don't have those things in the house and have to physically go out and get them? I simply cannot refuse to eat a treat that is already in the house. And I have to finish the whole container. I will often eat even after I am stuffed and moderately nauseous. And make sure you NEVER go shopping hungry. That's when I come home with snacks. The rest of the time my buggy only has fruit and meat in it!
Also, if at all possible fill your evenings (or free time) with something besides sitting. Do a project, exercise, go to the pool, anything that keeps you unable to eat while you do it. That worked for me too, I would exercise every evening right after supper, and by the time I finished it would be almost bedtime. That helped make it easier to stay away from the treats.

Good luck to you, I know that this is a tough one.