Sugar

I love sugar. Sugar is one of my favorite substances in the world. But I don't track sugar anymore. It was bumming me out to constantly see that number go a little in the red. I don't eat candy like I used to though. I've found that most things with obscene amounts of sugar just are NOT worth it calorie-wise. I'm not going to waste over 200 calories on a candy bar. I'm not going to drink my calories in a soda or a glass of juice. It's not worth it. I'd prefer to eat natural forms of sugar and use as few calories as possible. I have no interest in going cold turkey, and I still enjoy sugar. I just look for "healthier" forms of sugar.

It all comes down to self control.

Yep, I am 100% addicted to sugar without any question in my mind. It has similar dopamine response when ingested the same type of response from doing narcotics.

A great documentary is Sugar: The Bitter Truth, one of the greatest 45 minutes you'll spend watching a video!

If I had an option between unlimited access to the Mcdonalds/Wendy's Menu or the 7-11 Candy aisle I'd take the candy aisle any day. :indifferent:

And we wonder why people leave this site... For the OP, don't feel like you just got beat up for asking a simple question. We all are here to learn. If I have a choice now between apiece of fruit and a candy bar, I will DEFINATELY eat the fruit. Yes, there is sugar in both, but I don't think we gained weight by eating too much fruit.

And we wonder why people leave this site... For the OP, don't feel like you just got beat up for asking a simple question. We all are here to learn. If I have a choice now between apiece of fruit and a candy bar, I will DEFINATELY eat the fruit. Yes, there is sugar in both, but I don't think we gained weight by eating too much fruit.

But if you're a self proclaimed addict as the OP was, then either choice could not be eaten in moderation, thus making both choices bad

Rocket science :explode:

I completely understand that was me too...what i did (it wasn't easy at first) was get rid of all my triggers like bread, pasta and even some fruits. It took a while but now I dont have those cravings very often. I also track my sugars here and allow myself only 30 grams per day (when I work out I allow myself more for energy) Make sure you are eating every few hours to keep your blood sugar in normal range otherwise your body will crave sugar for energy.

There are drug addicts out there and other addicts that get judged. BUt there are things out there that are just as addictive and dangerous to a persons body. through this journey I have come to realize one major thing. I have a huge huge addiction to sugar. Anyone else have this problem or had it and can give advice on how to fix it. I will admit I am addicted to it and as hard as i try i cannot seem to get over it.

A bit harsh to not want to offer the OP support or sympathy because of a tenuous statement.

My personal belief is a lot of non(hardcore)drugs and other things can be addictive.

For the person suffering that addiction, they may feel that comparison to be true. Rather than give the standard response.


Why don't we see if we can get to the cause and actually help the person. After all isn't that what we are on this forum for?

Just saying.

Its hard to help the OP unless she clearly defines her issue. If a person comes in saying they might have a binge disorder, we recommend getting professional help, not just forum help. If this OP is really addicted to sugar, it would be suggested to get professional help. If she realizes that she binges when there are cookies in the house, then we will tell her not to keep them in the house. Essentially, different diagnosis have different courses of action.

I have completely agreed with everything you have said in this thread, thank you! :flowerforyou:

For the most part, I have no issue with people claiming food addiction in general. I battle with binge issues, so I understand the cumpulsion to mindlessly consume mass amounts of food. This isn't anything that anyone on the forums can help me with, I need to work with a professional therapist to figure that out myself.

Where I start to have a problem is when people single out a single food item and call it an addiction. If someone were truly addicted to only sugar, they would be eating sugar out of a bag by the cupful, not eating an entire box of donuts or cookies. In my opinion, most people claiming sugar addiction are actually "addicted" to hyperpalatable foods, like stated above (or earlier in the thread, I can't remember). And as a recovered drug addict and someone who has an alcoholic ex, I get very upset when someone compares sugar addiction to drug or alcohol addiction, especially when claiming sugar damages the body the same way. Not. Even. Close.

There are drug addicts out there and other addicts that get judged. BUt there are things out there that are just as addictive and dangerous to a persons body. through this journey I have come to realize one major thing. I have a huge huge addiction to sugar. Anyone else have this problem or had it and can give advice on how to fix it. I will admit I am addicted to it and as hard as i try i cannot seem to get over it.

A bit harsh to not want to offer the OP support or sympathy because of a tenuous statement.

My personal belief is a lot of non(hardcore)drugs and other things can be addictive.

For the person suffering that addiction, they may feel that comparison to be true. Rather than give the standard response.


Why don't we see if we can get to the cause and actually help the person. After all isn't that what we are on this forum for?

Just saying.

Its hard to help the OP unless she clearly defines her issue. If a person comes in saying they might have a binge disorder, we recommend getting professional help, not just forum help. If this OP is really addicted to sugar, it would be suggested to get professional help. If she realizes that she binges when there are cookies in the house, then we will tell her not to keep them in the house. Essentially, different diagnosis have different courses of action.

I have completely agreed with everything you have said in this thread, thank you! :flowerforyou:

For the most part, I have no issue with people claiming food addiction in general. I battle with binge issues, so I understand the cumpulsion to mindlessly consume mass amounts of food. This isn't anything that anyone on the forums can help me with, I need to work with a professional therapist to figure that out myself.

Where I start to have a problem is when people single out a single food item and call it an addiction. If someone were truly addicted to only sugar, they would be eating sugar out of a bag by the cupful, not eating an entire box of donuts or cookies. In my opinion, most people claiming sugar addiction are actually "addicted" to hyperpalatable foods, like stated above (or earlier in the thread, I can't remember). And as a recovered drug addict and someone who has an alcoholic ex, I get very upset when someone compares sugar addiction to drug or alcohol addiction, especially when claiming sugar damages the body the same way. Not. Even. Close.

This is my feeling as well. I love sugar. But I can let myself overeat on all types of foods - including sugary treats. Your words are what we needed to put this into perspective. An addiction is a crippling thing to those caught in it's grasp. To compare overeating of sugar to true addiction is quite a reach. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Yep, I am 100% addicted to sugar without any question in my mind. It has similar dopamine response when ingested the same type of response from doing narcotics.

A great documentary is Sugar: The Bitter Truth, one of the greatest 45 minutes you'll spend watching a video!

If I had an option between unlimited access to the Mcdonalds/Wendy's Menu or the 7-11 Candy aisle I'd take the candy aisle any day. :indifferent:

Actually, Sugar: The Bitter Truth has been thoroughly debunked as the junk science that it is.

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/01/29/the-bitter-truth-about-fructose-alarmism/

Where I start to have a problem is when people single out a single food item and call it an addiction. If someone were truly addicted to only sugar, they would be eating sugar out of a bag by the cupful, not eating an entire box of donuts or cookies. In my opinion, most people claiming sugar addiction are actually "addicted" to hyperpalatable foods, like stated above (or earlier in the thread, I can't remember).

I don't understand this train of thought. Isn't it a bit like saying "If they were really an alcoholic they'd be drinking bottle after bottle of grain alcohol, not whiskey or beer"? Or, "If they were really addicted to tobacco or nicotine, they'd be chewing nicotine gum non-stop, not smoking"?

All alcoholics don't drink constantly and many have drink preferences based on taste. Same with tobacco addiction.

Actually, many smokers end up getting just as addicted to the nicotine gum as they were to cigarettes.

It's simple, if someone was addicted to sugar, they would be equally likely to binge and lose control from eating an apple as they would a candy bar. In fact, the average apple has about the same amount of sugar as the average candy bar.

So saying you're addicted to sugar because you can't eat a cookie without eating the whole box, but eating an apple is just fine, is completely bogus and disingenuous.

An alcoholic may have a drink of choice, but that doesn't mean that they can suddenly control themselves when they drink something different. It doesn't work that way.