Sugar Addiction Help

I didn't. I worked it into my macros where I could and ate other things when I couldn't.

I don't eat it unless it's from fruit/veggies.

Go cold turkey. Once you get past the first 3 days it gets alot easier and the cravings will gradually stop.

I could never just have a little bit of chocolate, it is all or nothing for me.

I used to have a huge addiction to anything sweet. Any kind of candy, chocolate, sugary creamer...I binged on hardcore. When I first started losing weight I HAD to stay away from all that for about two weeks. I tried to do the whole moderation thing to start off but I craved sugar so badly to the point where I couldnt control myself. So I didn't eat candy, didn't use flavored creamer, etc for about two weeks. After that I slowly started introducing it back into my life. Staying under my cals of course, but I had to train myself to eat less. I keep a jar of a combo of hershey kisses with almonds, sugarfree mini reese cups, and sugarfree werther originals. Whoever looks at my diary sees I eat at least one of those everyday because frankly I love sweet things, just gotta use control and moderation.

Fact: the more sugar you eat, the more you will crave it.

Fact: the less sugar you eat, the less you will crave it.

Cut down on sugar and your cravings will eventually go down, BIG TIME. I used to have a huge sweet tooth and it's pretty much gone because I decided to dramatically cut down. A little while after I cut down, I noticed I didn't have cravings anymore. Don't get me wrong, I definitely still need to have something sweet every day. That is natural. But the irrational and destructive cravings are gone, and I don't binge on sweets anymore. Ever.

Sometimes what you really need is a reason to cut down on sugar. Something other than your desire to lose weight. Check out this lecture on the hidden dangers of sugar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

I am currently really struggling with this as well, the problem with me is work, my coworkers are constantly bringing in bags of chocolate and candy and I end up snacking on them throughout the day not realizing how much it's adding up!

I've always compared it to any other addiction in that I will try to enjoy sugar in moderation, but always end up overeating. The same way a person might try to reduce their alcohol intake but still become intoxicated every time regardless.

I don't keep any sugar/juice/syrup/dried fruit/sweets/chemical sweeteners in my apartment because I know it will trigger a binge and make my cravings skyrocket. When I do get treats, I go out to eat them.

I also read the labels of everything I buy, so many products have hidden sugars in them, I have memorized the list of words companies use instead of sugar in the nutrition information. Added sugar has no business in canned fruit/vegetables, savory dressings, breads, soup, savory condiments, or meats! In fact, I make most of my condiments, marinades, and dressings myself to avoid this exact issue!

All I keep in my kitchen is a bottle of organic stevia drops and plenty of fresh fruit, mostly bananas and blueberries.

I used to feel this way about sugar too... one of the most helpful posts I've read on this was this lady said- I didn't learn to eat in moderation over night, it took practice. I used to think I "couldn't" eat sugar in moderation because every time I tried I'd mess up (eat too much) and then I'd think oh no, maybe I can't eat sugar at all because it makes me binge... anyway, something about that post clicked for me. I just kept trying to eat it in moderation. Taking a break from desserts for awhile can help and making rules for desserts might be necessary but maybe you can eat sugar in moderation too. I can now go a day without sugar and I can eat healthful balanced meals with a 1/2 cup of ice cream after dinner and then stop. Good luck. :flowerforyou:

What's a macro- just the formula of food + exercise = net calories ?

Thanks for the advice, and congratulations on the weight loss.

my goal is 100 pounds in 12 months- I know I can do it if I can stop eating ice cream and chocolate chip cookies!!

Macro = macronutrient. The macronutrients are carbs/ fat/ protein. (And I guess some people include fiber...)
Some people focus on getting their macros "right" or balanced. Like aiming for 40% of calories from carbs, 30% from fat and 30% from protein. (just an example)

I found that when I lowered my carbs drastically, basically bread and pasta is gone for me (DIABETES! DOWN ANTI LOW CARB PEOPLE!) my urge for sugar just seemed to balance itself.

For me white bread was like a gateway drug I literally would butter a piece of wonder bread and coat it in white sugar. Ok, I know that sounds repulsive, and it probably was, but I loved it.

Go cold turkey. Once you get past the first 3 days it gets alot easier and the cravings will gradually stop.

I could never just have a little bit of chocolate, it is all or nothing for me.

Same here. 2 months cold turkey and the only time I have cravings is around my TOM.

For me white bread was like a gateway drug I literally would butter a piece of wonder bread and coat it in white sugar. Ok, I know that sounds repulsive, and it probably was, but I loved it.

Nope, sounds good to me. Toast that sugar with a little blow torch and you've got a Wonder Bread Brulee

Not crazy. I used to add cinnamon to mine.

Read "The Sugar Diet". Published by Rodale (?) books. Check "Prevention.com"-the Prevention magazine puts it out.

If you mean processed, white refined sugars or HFCS then here's some advice...

At my office, there's a big bowl of chocolates and random candies (free!) and I used to grab from that thing every single day because I felt like I needed the energy and was craving it really bad. Now, I don't even think about the bowl at all and I rarely crave the sugars and I feel normal again. How did I do it? I cut down and eventually eliminated added sugars (ie. cookies, cakes, chocolates, white refined sugars, almost all flavored yogurts and breakfast cereals and granola bars if they are over 6 g of sugar, plus only use honey/maple syrup/coconut sugar sparingly in cooking) and I started eating whole fruits--bananas, mangoes, apples, etc. Did this for 6 months and now I'm sugar-crave free. Have all the energy I need from sleep and enough calories from food. Every once in a while, I'll buy a treat for myself (ie. nutrition bars as a dessert!) or eat something offered at work and a small portion is fine. No cravings whatsoever.

The trick is to start slow with cutting down while increasing fruit intake and then eventually eliminate the added refined sugars. Do not buy it or keep it in sight. Keep yourself busy. Eat enough and eat regularly for your body. You'll be fine.

I eat it by the truckload. As you can see by my ticker it hasn't posed much of a weight loss problem.

Besides trying to kick the heavy stuff, pay attention to what sparks your sugar cravings. I notice that if I have a carb heavy day I start craving more carbs AND sugar. Going child turkey seems to help the most.