Advice on quitting sugar?

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.

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!!!

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....



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.

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.

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.

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).

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.