help! keep going on sugar binges cant stop myself

Whenever I find myself suspect to sugar binges, I go a week or so very low carb: basically only lean proteins and veggies. This usually breaks me of the cravings so that I can be satisfied with one serving once I go back to eating normally.

1. Try going low carb. Sometimes sugar cravings can be cause by carbs. More you ate more you want, kinda like drugs. This is biological. Also it can be mental cos sometimes if you start it's harder to stop. You might think one tiny candy will make no difference I've been good for many weeks. Then it might snowball in crazyness. it's even worse if you got to have a mental "snowballness" and biological "drugness". Try decreasing slowly. You need to treat is as a drug, if you try to stop completely you won't succeed, detox slowly.

2. If that's not the case for you then maybe it's a mental thing cos you exclude sugar from your diet completely. Adding small portions frequently might keep your mind satisfied so you don't binge. Ya know, IIFYM and stuff...

3. Closing eyes and focusing might help. Close eyes and think how bad eating that will make you feel, try really feeling it not just intellectually, focus on feelings of depression you have after you ate sugar. Do it for five minutes and then focus on feelings of pride and strength what you would have if you would not ate it. if you do it right you won't even want to ate it in first place, no self discipline necessary. If you do it on constant basis you might even program yourself so that you would not want to ate sweets ever again, unless you choose to, not because you crave and cant control yourself. It sounds simple but it works, I study psychology and this is very basic stuff. Now the key is to actually do it for 10 min before you about to ate that chocolate. If it does not works you can still ate it, don't be in hurry to ate it before you done the task, sugar won't run away. But if you stick the urge might.^^

Break up the carb chain. Eat something with protein (e.g. greek yogurt, jerky, etc) and perhaps drink some unsweetened tea or water.

You could try treating it like an addiction. (not saying it actually is, just that treating it like one may help you deal with the problem)

Cold turkey often fails pretty miserably. What tends to work better is a gradual reduction into cessation. How often are these binges happening? If they happen every week, then try allowing yourself a small & planned treat every 3-4 days. Slowly increase the time apart until you have a manageable schedule and/or can just quit the sugary stuff altogether.

For the last few months I have been going on sugar binges, now these arent like a few pieces of chocolate binges its like 4 cookies,2 donuts,cinnamon graham crackers,2 granola bars and whatever else I can find. After eating all this stuff I get really depressed and mad at myself and promise myself I wont do it again, but then those craving come again and I do it again, I cant help myself.I have lost 128lb so far and im so scared that im going to gain it back and then some please give me some tips on what to do when these cravings come,thanks

Stephanie, I'm going to tell you--if you keep eating over your calories like that, you will end up gaining weight.

It's not that you are eating sugary foods per se, but that you are not using portion control. If you've lost 128 pounds (that is FANTASTIC, by the way! :drinker: ), then you know what portion control is.

Just a thought- anything stressful or emotional come up that could be contributing to your binges?

How are you getting these foods? Are you buying them? Are they at work? If you're buying them - stop. If they're at work, you need to exercise self control. Try replacing sugary crap with a piece of fruit. (Yeah I know.. who wants fruit over cookies..) Just try. Or get some frozen berries and drizzle a little bit of chocolate syrup on them. Or if you gotta have it.. they used to sell these little Hostess 100 calorie packs of the chocolate muffins. Sooo good. Just have one 100 calorie pack. OR drink a ton of water and see if the urge goes away.

OR distract yourself. Get up and take a walk. Go clean the bathroom. Do some laundry. Do something active so you won't sit there and think about sugar.

I see some posters are on the "sugar is an addiction" path here, and I just want to say I used to think that too. Why? Because I convinced myself that once I started eating sugar I would not be able to stop, therefore I must be addicted to sugar.

Once I started practicing moderation in every single thing I eat, I was able to see that sugar was never the problem to my weight gain. The problem was that I allowed myself to eat enough of it that sugary foods put me at surplus calories, thus I regained 30 of the 70 pounds I'd initially lost.

At work I don't eat any of their sugar foods because I know why I used to reach for it- stress. I was stressed and sugar gave me a temporary reprieve, but then I crashed because I ate too much sugar. I didn't give up sugar, I gave up eating it at work because of the reason I was eating it.

I still eat sugar, though. Fruits, vegetables, a cookie once in awhile, Aunt's brownies and strawberry short cake, maybe desert at a party. The difference is that I am not stressed in these situations, therefore moderation is a cinch.

Sugar is not bad for you (unless you are diabetic or have other sugar issues and your doctor tells you to cut it out), it is just another food. Moderation is the key, not depriving yourself.

I have the same issue as you and in the last year have really realized I have an issue with sugar. I did something called the Virgin Diet (Author JJ Virgin) at the start of the year (second time doing it-lost 10 pounds each time and have kept it off). One of the items you give up for the 21 days is excessive sugar and artificial sweeteners. It has helped me quite a bit. It makes you more aware of what you are consuming and I noticed I had a lot of hidden sugars in my diet that made me keep craving more. It is possible you are consuming a ton of sugar and not even realizing it to begin with.

I have found hot flavored teas have helped with my sugar cravings. I have been using that to help, especially if I am extremely stressed. If you like tea give it a shot. Try a fruity flavor (lemon zinger by celestial is great). Try not to add any sugar or honey.

Congrats on your weight loss!!!!

I used to be like that all the time. It took some research to finally figure out that I was a 'binger'. Id def be willing to bet that you don't eat breakfast....or go hours and hours without eating because youre not hungry or too busy and then binge later on?? That's how I was at least. I wish I could help you, its definitely a very bad and tough habit to break. The way I changed my life around was by trying a product called Shakeology 3 years ago, and ive been drinking it ever since regareless of its price because it WORKS for me. It seems super expensive, but has a risk free 30 day offer and the benefits of getting my life in control is worth every penny for me! It completely controlled my binges because its so nutrient dense...its practically impossible to get the nutrition in an ENTIRE week as you would get with 1 shake. Id love to talk more with you about it, feel free to friend me....I know your struggle!!!!!!! good luck!!

-Shannon

I hope you aren't a distributer...solicitation is not allowed on MFP.

Sugar = yuck

Seriously. If I think I want overly processed or sugary foods I picture them. They aren't as pretty as fresh fruits and vegetables. Do I want to put them in my body instead of things that will actually make me a healthier, stronger person? Why would I want a donut when I could have a handful of blueberries instead? Why would I want hot chocolate when I could have a cup of delicious green tea, or white tea with lemon?

Another tip - work out. After a good workout, the last thing I want to eat is bad food.

You *can* stop yourself. I thought I loved sweets until I began eating healthier food and now I think candy bars are disgusting and I would so much rather have fresh produce than a cookie. You aren't "addicted" and you are totally in control of what you eat.

I'm on the Ketogenic Diet for Epilepsy. Ultra Low Carbs/Ultra High Fat. Now that I've gotten through the first few days and evened out in ketosis I feel great. I don't crave any sweets, and I have to worry about where to find more. One thing I know for sure if I start eating cookies or sweets I will always want more and my hunger will never be satisfied. Ketogenic, Modified Atkins Diet actually is what I'm aiming for gives me room for 5-10% carbs in my diet. The meals are very lasting, stick to your ribs.

I used to be like that all the time. It took some research to finally figure out that I was a 'binger'. Id def be willing to bet that you don't eat breakfast....or go hours and hours without eating because youre not hungry or too busy and then binge later on?? That's how I was at least. I wish I could help you, its definitely a very bad and tough habit to break. The way I changed my life around was by trying a product called Shakeology 3 years ago, and ive been drinking it ever since regareless of its price because it WORKS for me. It seems super expensive, but has a risk free 30 day offer and the benefits of getting my life in control is worth every penny for me! It completely controlled my binges because its so nutrient dense...its practically impossible to get the nutrition in an ENTIRE week as you would get with 1 shake. Id love to talk more with you about it, feel free to friend me....I know your struggle!!!!!!! good luck!!

-Shannon

I hope you aren't a distributer...solicitation is not allowed on MFP.

I am NOT distributing anything....did I ask her to buy something? No. I am fully allowed to discuss what has worked for me. Im not saying "hey, heres my website....buy it buy it!!!"
I am simply trying to help the woman that started this thread with her sugar binges. I had the same exact problem for years and shakeology is what got me to stop. There is no crime and sharing my struggle and what has been working for me. Thanks for your concern, miss.