Dessert Was My Favorite Meal

aimeelynnn
aimeelynnn Posts: 67 Member
in Food and Nutrition
When I cut the sugar out of my diet I eat like a normal person. I have found after so many attempts at losing weight that I only over eat sugary desserts. I eat normal portions of healthy foods. I do not gorge on a normal protein veggie dinner, but if I have a cake from Costco on my kitchen counter I will eat the entire cake like an alcoholic will finish an entire bottle of booze. I really have faith and believe in myself that if I do not take the first bite of sugary trigger foods I can be a healthy attractive weight. I never crave salty snacks it is just the sugar, but when I eliminate the sugar I do not crave it after about a week. I really have to treat sugar like an addictive harmful substance that has to be entirely removed from my life. Is there any of you that feel that way about sugar?

Replies

  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    What if I told you sugar is a carb?
  • smilesback
    smilesback Posts: 203 Member
    Thank you for posting this. How do you do with fruit, which is high in sugar? I look at my lack of control over eating sugary treats like you do. It is not healthy how I abandon all self-control and gorge. I can eat a whole loaf of french bread and not feel full??? I also buy iced oatmeal cookies with the intention of eating the whole bag in one sitting. There is no sense of moderation or portions when it comes to certain trigger foods. So I wonder if you choose to not buy those trigger foods? I usually start thinking about buying cookies, and time goes by, and I am thinking again that I ought to buy some cookies, and time goes by, and then I am thinking about where and when will I go buy some cookies, and times goes by, and then BAM! The moment has come when I say I AM GOING TO BUY COOKIES. And I do it. I just want to change that behavior. I can make brownies for my husband, and think Those are for Him, and not touch them. But if I have decided I want to buy cookies or chocolate I start this line of thinking and eventually I get my cookies. What do you think would be a way to interrupt and cancel out that thinking? I was thinking that I should find a substitute. I recently bought Chews, a ginger candy, that seems to curb my appetite. What have you found to satisfy your sweet tooth? Thanks again for posting, cuz I am struggling with sugar as well and will learn from you too.
  • smilesback
    smilesback Posts: 203 Member
    PS I know that a lot of food is broken down into sugars, potatoes, rice, fruit, crackers, breads. I read a book about Stopping Overeating and they talk about foods created to meet our cravings for sugar and fat, with layers upon layers making it irresistible for most of u. So you could have different trigger foods from me, and still have to deal with sugar addiction. Alcohol is broken down into sugar, so that is a really good analogy of relating sugar cravings to someone who is addicted to alcohol. I totally get that thinking that sugar addiction is my issue, and that this could help me consider using a 12 step program to deal with my addiction. I wonder if anyone has done that?
  • aimeelynnn
    aimeelynnn Posts: 67 Member
    Hi I think it almost has to be a strong abstinence from sugar for me or I will just not be able to stop eating it. I like cookies, cake, cupcakes, pastries, fancy desserts, ice cream. When in comes to complex carbs bran cereal I do not over eat it. A baked potato I will eat a normal portion, but the desserts get me. I know in the twelve steps the 1st step is admitting your powerless over ___________. Whatever it may be and admitting the powerless factor begins to give me a stronger sense of responsibility to myself, that if I'm powerless over it why do I want to mess with it? So anyways I think it takes sure willpower until the cravings subside. Well good luck to you and the path of no sugar. Take care! :-)
  • Nimnyn
    Nimnyn Posts: 69 Member
    I'm totally the same. I lose all control when there's baked sweets in the house or fresh baked bread. I'm finding that it's easier to just cut the carbs right out (the grain and sugar variety).
  • aimeelynnn
    aimeelynnn Posts: 67 Member
    Yea, I relate it's just easier to stay away from sugary baked stuff!
  • OhDD65
    OhDD65 Posts: 185 Member
    I can totally understand what you are saying. For me cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream and chocolate are my down falls. I must
    stay away from the bakery and candy isles and avoid chocolate also. I have found some fruits to be a good replacement for me. After about a wk I am content with just fruit. I have been on this journey for a couple of yrs now. Lost 12 lbs originally then put it back
    on because of thyroid issues. Have gotten serious about it again for 7 wks and have lost the 12 lbs again. Still have 20 to go. One
    thing I am doing different and it is working for me is to allow myself a WW ice cream bar once or twice a week (low in calories) and
    the other thing I might resort to is sugarfree ready made up jello cups. No cals and with a dab of lite cool whip (low cals) I feel I am
    getting my occasional treat. Other than this I eat quite healthy and record everything, which keeps me accountable. Only with these
    slight adjustments this time do I feel that I can be successful on this journey reaching the goals I have set for myself. And no cookies are allowed in my house LOL. You can do this also.....
  • aimeelynnn
    aimeelynnn Posts: 67 Member
    Yes, sugar free chocolate pudding is great for a treat I agree! So is sugar free hot coco and I also notice the sugar cravings are the most intense at night when the day's work and stresses have ended and it is me and the tv decompressing from the day. So if I can fulfill that time with a treat that isn't going to drive me to eat mindlessly then it all works out.
  • xtrasmall
    xtrasmall Posts: 66
    What if I told you sugar is a carb?

    i think we all know this on here jerome.. but wats ur point exactly? n ya just cut out all grains n meat besides fish n sugar besides skinnycow fudgebars or gum haha
  • rlamermayer1
    rlamermayer1 Posts: 2
    Me, me, me! I love my sugar! I've cut back to a point I never thought possible. I do, however, struggle with ending a meal (even breakfast!) without something sweet. It's totally a Pavlov thing for me. So after every meal, I have one skittle. I know it's crazy, but it gets the job done. :happy:
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    There is no such thing as "sugar addiction." It is a self-control, overeating and moderation issue, and sometimes a binge-eating issue. If moderation is a problem and eliminating and/or reducing the amount of dessert type foods on a temporary basis helps you learn moderation, self-control and new behaviors, go for it. There are other things going on and it is not sugar addiction.

    edit spacing
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I was the same way. Honestly for 2 months the only sweet I allowed myself to eat was protein shakes. Then I started reintroducing sweets and it's been fine since - I can eat them in moderation.
  • sixpacklady
    sixpacklady Posts: 582 Member
    I am also a sugarholic/chocaholic:happy:

    But a few things that seem to help me are:
    1. Including good fats and protein at every meal - increases the satiety factor, so I don;t get those cravings
    2. Having some organic 85% cocoa bars (Green & Black) everyday, so that i don;t feel deprived and binge later on.
    3. Have one splurge dessert (for me its more chocolate - Chocolate Therapy by Ben&Jerry with a warm brownie,oohhh) on weekend.
  • klaff411
    klaff411 Posts: 169 Member
    I am also a sugarholic/chocaholic :happy

    But a few things that seem to help me are:
    1. Including good fats and protein at every meal - increases the satiety factor, so I don;t get those cravings
    2. Having some organic 85% cocoa bars (Green & Black) everyday, so that i don;t feel deprived and binge later on.
    3. Have one splurge dessert (for me its more chocolate - Chocolate Therapy by Ben&Jerry with a warm brownie,oohhh) on weekend.

    Yeah, you can't deny yourself forever. sometimes before my shark week I need some sugar. I have a little bit of chocolate or I bake something and savor it.

    I love to bake my own bread. So I have a slice of fresh baked bread with a little apple butter & a corona!
  • april1445
    april1445 Posts: 334
    I definitely have this "addiction". I know that's a contentious word, but it sure feels like an addiction. It has more control over me than I have over it--isn't that addiction? I have to be very careful when I allow myself to have sweets, because it's very easy for me to binge on them. Still haven't figured it out to be honest, just know it's a problem. It seems to be easier for me to have none at all than to have them in moderation.
  • aimeelynnn
    aimeelynnn Posts: 67 Member
    Thanks everyone for your great posts! I feel good and happy to read your valuable advice and what works for each of you.
    Amylynn
  • aimeelynnn
    aimeelynnn Posts: 67 Member
    Another good idea is not having it in the house!
  • aimeelynnn
    aimeelynnn Posts: 67 Member
    I notice an immediate difference in the size of my stomach when I cut the sugar.
  • sugarfree123
    sugarfree123 Posts: 82 Member
    We can't see what sweets are doing to the insides of our bodies. Our bodies can only tolerate a small amount of sugar in the bloodstream. We have to burn the sugar or store it. We release insulin to actually save us from death. Insulin's job is to shove the sugar into storage. When those storage places are full, the rest is turned into TRIGLYCERIDES. Eventually the pancreas gets tired of releasing insulin and the storage places are full and you become insulin resistant. The blood glucose stays high. When the blood glucose is high, it is impossible to burn fat. The body has to try to burn the sugar first to get rid of it. Do your body a favor. Its the only body you have. Get your A1C tested. Don't wait till the doctor tells you that you are diabetic. Know your numbers. I recommend buying a glucometer from walmart and checking your glucose. It will open your eyes to the damage you are doing to your body when you eat sugar.
    Reformed Cookie Monster
  • smilesback
    smilesback Posts: 203 Member
    I started reading Lose Weight Without Discipline or Willpower by David Lieberman, PhD. He has found that the most effective anticraving strategies are those that focus on displacing or discarding the pleasurable memory that causes our subsequent surrender. His words not mine. He suggests mixing something nasty tasting into your treat as a way to reprogram your brain. The other options are quit cold turkey, infrequent indulgence, substitution. I don't bring home my favorites or I am a gone-er. I don't let myself have just one...yet because I don't stop. I do like sf jello with some whipped cream, and my ginger chews. A little bit of sugar. Still not quite rightful eating I think. Just need to go clean and not beat myself up for cravings.
  • claudiakendall98
    claudiakendall98 Posts: 242 Member
    My Mother in law also cuts sugar from her diet and house .She says that she is like an addict with sugar. I like my sugar and do not eliminate it from my day but I also have a build in aversion to too much sugar.It makes me sick if I consume too much .I do believe that some people just have a problem with having sugary items in house. Follow your hunch and just enjoy it at special occasions .Enjoy your journey.
  • RachelRuns9
    RachelRuns9 Posts: 585 Member
    google that - there are very recent news studies that are in the news within the past 6 months suggesting that sugar is in fact addictive. it's a little validating :)

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