Sugar cravings - how do you cope?

I try not keeping it in my home, which is tricky with an 8 year old. In the past, he would ask for cookies and milk and I'd have to tell him we were out - talk about an evil glare! "But mom, I only had 4 cookies from the new bag and that was days ago. Did you eat them ALL?!?!?" Cookies and cakes are my downfall. But since I've been tracking calories, I find them easier to skip since even one really tasty cookie is crazy high in calories. If I do end up eating something that puts my numbers over, I make an effort to increase what I burn that day. No guilt if you work it off same day!

What helps keep the craving to a minimum for me is giving in with a glass of low-fat chocolate milk once in a while.

I cope like a heavy smoker deals with quitting cigarettes- I don't even think about moderation. I get sugar from fruit, including some dried fruit, and vegetables and such, but that's it. Not everyone has to go that far, though. You might be able to work some sweets in now and then.

One thing that has helped me during the day are "Ice Breakers Sours" candies - They are zero calories, but give me enough of an immediate "tang" that I can savour so I am not craving sweets. They have been a lifesaver! I have a container of them on my desk, in my car, and at home! lol

FYI - getting over your habit is a process that can take time so be ready to slowly get better at it.

These are also helpful ideas:

1. I don't keep trigger foods in the house but enjoy a serving when I feel like it (at gatherings or out and about).
2. If I feel like I'm slipping up, I take a moment to analyze what happened and think of ways I can avoid this pitfall in the future.
3. I eat very satisfying foods all over and fruit too so I am not too hungry. The sugar in the fruit helps a lot to reduce sugar cravings (for me, personally)
4. When you feel stronger near foods you love, slowly bring them back in to your house, and eat them responsibly. I am a cookie monster but we started buying expensive artisan brands with like 8 cookies that are each around 100 cals so I never wolf them down because I want them to last the whole week, and I take my sweet time with each cookie.

I have the same problem with sugar, usually crave it at night. However, I just found out I have type II diabetes so I need to watch my sugar intake.

I have cut out all processed sugar, and eat only natural sugar (ie fruits-not tropical fruits). Cravings have now gone away after a week, and no more nighttime snacking.

Hope this helps!!

I saw this quote on another post the day i signed up. I copied it and it does seems to help me fight the cravings:
"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want now." Zig Ziglar

I struggle with sugar cravings quite a bit, too. I just started coming to this site again because I've been having health issues which are likely exacerbated by my diet.

I have tried (unsuccessfully) to limit my sugar intake in the past, but I'm determined to actually do it this time. Like you, I tend to eat when I am bored. I also am in the habit of wanting dessert after dinner every night. The meal just doesn't feel complete without something sweet at the end. One thing that has helped me a lot this time around has been sugar free gum. I buy this peppermint flavored xylitol* gum that tastes just like a peppermint candy. I chew a piece after dinner and whenever I feel like having a snack out of boredom, and it seems to be helping so far. I even passed up free cookies at work yesterday.


Good luck!
(*Just a note, xylitol is apparently toxic to cats and dogs)

Someone else mentioned the Sugar Smart Diet and I just wanted to second that. It's not about going on a "diet", by the way. It explains why so many of us are addicted to sugar and does give you a 4 week eating plan to retrain your brain if you want to go that route. There is SO MUCH sugar in processed foods now, even ones that aren't sweet. Every hit of processed sugar spikes your insulin and leaves you craving more.

I also just finished reading a great book that my boss gave all of the supervisors- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. It explains how our habits are formed in the first place and how to find the best way to change your bad habits. I learned a lot from it.

I think others have already given you some great advice as far as binge & emotional eating. Good luck to you! It will be hard work but it will be totally worth it!

This is great advice will defianently try this out. Never would have thought of analyzing my day to see what could have triggered the craving.

I have been low carb for like maybe 2 months.. before that i was just low fat, low calorie and always with so many cravings and STARVING.. got TIRED OF IT and in looking for ways to curb appetite i found LOW CARB and some Healthy FAT.... I mainly changed because i heard it will make you LESS HUNGRY and it worked...

I have ZERO sugar cravings.. they went away... it seems as though this sugar thing is completely unnecessary . if i do eat carbs ITS like raspberries or blueberries... maybe some dark chocolate .. or green veggies... anything colorfull fresh and with actual nutrients.. read more about PALEO....

i dont MISS sugar in the slightest.. and i am never hungry and i eat more now then i use to.. i am allready close to goal weight.. so i was just looking for a WAY to eat a little more healthy and NOT HAVE CRAVINGS or be HUNGRY anymore..

I could not be happier... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Then one day last week I just HAD to have these double-chocolate cookies from Safeway. They tasted like heaven. Now every day since then it's been something. York peppermint patties, Skittles, Starbucks pastries, and last night, the killer: an entire box of those original amazing cookies. I didn't eat all of them (I think that would have killed me), but I wanted to. I ate three (900 calories!) and felt physically sick to my stomach. This morning I was snacking on yet another one (yes, after I felt so horrible last night!) before I stepped on the scale and there it was… "


this is why i've quit sugar. Once your start back on it , you just tend to keep going.

Actually i haven't quit entirely. I created some rules that allow me to eat it in low risk situations. Nevertheless, its about commitment and knowing how much of a problem sugar is for you and deciding that you don't want to be a victim to it anymore.

I quit sugar because i can't control my intake when i try to do moderation or anything else like that. And when i eat sugar, i tend not to eat other healthy foods at all. I quit sugar in January.

Since then i've had it about 6 times now. My rule is that i can have it when i am at someone's else's house or an out of my house sitatuiosn when it is offered to me. Then it is quite a spontaneous occasion. Also in that situation, i can only one have one serve. And i cannot ask for it.

These rules have helped me let go of sugar.

The other day we had a party at work where there were three desserts. This has been the hardest event since i quit because i wanted at least two of them. However i know for me that its essential i stick to rules because once i break them, i tend to keep breaking them. so i stuck to it that day even though it was a bit painful. And then you feel good and strong and i know there will be another time when i will get to have that other missing dessert. Meanwile the main thing was that i wasn't hungry. I had already eaten enough of the healthy filling foods by the time dessert came out.

Its a mental thing. You have to work on your commitment and resolve a lot.

I like being sugar free. It is hard sometimes but most of the time it is not. But its something that you have to commit to every day. I think it will take longer to be really free of sugar than it took me to be free of cigarettes because cigs at least are rather horrid and antisocial which is the not the same for sweet things. Nevertheless, i like being slim and having quit sugar has enabled me to get slim this time. And i intend to stay this way.

I love my food. I make sure i eat a varied and delicious diet with many savoury treats. My diet is a lot better now than when i started out earlier in the year. I am really enjoying cooking and shopping and so on. I am eating all sorts of things, just not refined sugars. I get enough sweetness from fresh fruit and some dried fruits. I have to be careful with the latter also. But they are really delicious Figs and fresh dates are my favourites.

I agree, sounds like it's a problem binging on sugar. I have food issues, and prefer sweets, so what I've found is I can't buy it and have a bag sitting around and luckily I can do that right now. But I do believe it's useless to try to go cold-turkey so I had a trainer tell me that when I have a craving for say a Snickers bar, go and buy one at 7-11, eat it and that's my treat for the week, and I try to make sure it fits into my calorie count for the day.

I'm using water ice to indulge my sweet tooth.
They are 40 ml (1.3 oz) and have only 16 kcal (4g sugar, rest is water).
Especially now in the summer i eat them daily. Sometimes even 3 per day, which are still under 50 kcal total.