Advice on quitting sugar?

LRH94
LRH94 Posts: 20 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I think sugar makes me into a crazy lady that wants to do nothing but eat, even when I'm not hungry.
So I've decided to really cut down on it. Should I just go cold turkey, and then reintroduce it as a treat now and then? And what about sugar in fruit? Should I quit that for now, then after a week or so, be able to have fruit in moderation?
About a year ago, I ate hardly any sugar, and I didn't crave it. You could wave a chocolate bar in front of my face and I didn't care. But now I think I'm addicted and all I want is cake, ice cream, sugary coffee, etc

Replies

  • Beautifulbridgittlee7
    Beautifulbridgittlee7 Posts: 352 Member
    You sound like me. I remember going cold turkey on it for a while, and then I reintroduced it and I started bingeing again. I think if you can handle it as a treat now and then, go for it, but if its too much stay away from it. Sugar addiction/food addiction is a real disorder.
  • dancingmamashakes
    dancingmamashakes Posts: 1
    Its really true that sugar is addictive. Sugar CANE that is. Ya know, the white stuff that looks like some of the other awful addictive stuff people tell you to stay away from, but this stuff is sitting on every shelf across America? I suggest cutting half of your intake right away and then slowly decreasing that until you no longer need it. You will have cravings for it until it is out of your system. Why? Because sugar makes your insulin levels rise, and after a while its so used to being on a sugar high that it starts to desire or want more of it to keep you going. Fruit is not the same thing. Its only a fraction of an effect on your body that sugar cane does. Read this article, it may help!
    http://www.womentowomen.com/insulin-resistance/insulin-resistance-our-love-affair-with-sugar/

    Best Wishes!!!
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Don't worry about sugar in fruit. As far as white, delicious sugar, you can either go cold turkey or just reduce the amount you eat. I've done both.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Its really true that sugar is addictive. Sugar CANE that is. Ya know, the white stuff that looks like some of the other awful addictive stuff people tell you to stay away from, but this stuff is sitting on every shelf across America? I suggest cutting half of your intake right away and then slowly decreasing that until you no longer need it. You will have cravings for it until it is out of your system. Why? Because sugar makes your insulin levels rise, and after a while its so used to being on a sugar high that it starts to desire or want more of it to keep you going. Fruit is not the same thing. Its only a fraction of an effect on your body that sugar cane does. Read this article, it may help!
    http://www.womentowomen.com/insulin-resistance/insulin-resistance-our-love-affair-with-sugar/

    Best Wishes!!!

    Interesting....

    2FbzUf4.gif

    and while I do believe that those following the SAD could stand to reduce their sugar intake...some substantially so...I do not believe for one second that sugar CANE = crack coCAINE...that's friggin' ludicrous.
  • maizerage66
    maizerage66 Posts: 367 Member
    I wouldn't go cold turkey because odds are that it won't last long. But it also depends on how you can handle situations like these. If you believe that you can completely quit sugar and just add it here and there without going insane then by all means do it that way. If you think that you can gradually reduce your sugar intake over time without going insane and binging every time then by all means do it that way. Only you know how you will react to this. As far as the sugar in fruits, well, there's no way around that. You need the other nutrients they provide so I guess you should try to gradually reduce your PROCESSED sugar intake and over time you'll be satisfied with just the natural sugar from the fruits whenever you get a sugar craving. Best of luck to you!!
  • mamasmaltz3
    mamasmaltz3 Posts: 1,111 Member
    Sugar is not addictive. Binge Eating Disorder is a real thing however. If you are having trouble with impulse control you may want to contact an Eating disorder specialist.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I think sugar makes me into a crazy lady that wants to do nothing but eat, even when I'm not hungry.
    So I've decided to really cut down on it. Should I just go cold turkey, and then reintroduce it as a treat now and then? And what about sugar in fruit? Should I quit that for now, then after a week or so, be able to have fruit in moderation?
    About a year ago, I ate hardly any sugar, and I didn't crave it. You could wave a chocolate bar in front of my face and I didn't care. But now I think I'm addicted and all I want is cake, ice cream, sugary coffee, etc

    If you're serious, go zero carb and take some multi vitamins for micros you'll be missing out on
  • kingscrown
    kingscrown Posts: 615 Member
    I thought I was addicted to sugar. I found with me all the artificial sugars I was ingesting really drove my craving for sweets. When I stopped them just on a whim. I stopped drinking diet soda for just a month. After 3 weeks I couldn't believe how much lower my sugar craving was. So, for me I don't ingest any artificial sweeteners any more. That's not to say I don't crave sweets or simple carbs now and then. I think that craving is hormone driven. I just white knuckle it through those days and keep the damage low. I do have honey in my hot or ice tea. I do have raw sugar on the rare occasions I have coffee. I keep my cookie, cake, candy consumption super low. Many once a month, but only if something yummy comes up and I feel it's worth it. I used to have candy nearly every day. I just don't crave it any more. I wouldn't think you'd need to go cold turkey. Just be more thoughtful about how much and when and where.
  • justcat206
    justcat206 Posts: 716 Member
    I found that switching from sugar cane to baking paleo treats that use only small amounts of maple syrup or dates for sweetness has helped me a lot. They tend to be "darker" than the super sugary boxed treats I used to eat, so I could eat a couple forkfulls and then stop instead of half a pan of brownies and still crave more. My body doesn't feel "sick" the way it does after processed sugar either. Check google or pinterest for things like paleo chocolate mouse or paleo chocolate cake - they're really good but I notice they don't make me crazy or bingey the way other things do. (dark chocolate dipped apple slices also work for me).
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    Eat more fruit!
    Eat only natural sugars, no calorie-free sweeteners.

    Try snacking on dates (medjool are my favorite) when you are craving candies.
  • rachelrb85
    rachelrb85 Posts: 579 Member
    I really don't think you need to quit sugar altogether. If you want to quit the sugary snacks such as cookies, cake, candy bars, soda that's a different story. I would definitely still eat fruit since its healthy for you and maybe find a treat to keep you satisfied. Maybe some mini dark chocolate bites with a handful of almonds? Chocolate protein shake? I managed to limit my sugary binges by just eating more lean meats, veggies, fruit and chocolate snack every once in a while (usually every day lol). And I still use sugar in my coffee since it fits my macros.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    Try cutting out all the junk food (or at least your particular trigger foods) for about a month and then reintroduce them and see if you can get to a point of eating them in moderation.

    I would still eat fruit and veg - it's a bit of a strawman argument that all foods containing sugar are an issue.

    That being the case anyone quitting smoking wouldn't be able to eat cauliflower crust pizza.:smile:

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