Sugar Addiction

ekeatz
ekeatz Posts: 6
in Food and Nutrition
Ok so my issues has always been sugar, I just love ice cream and chocolate, other than I try to eat healthy. Does anyone have suggestions on how to break the sugar cravings? My last attempt at not eating any sugar (except fruit ) lasted 9 days (Feb 2014) and then I gave in. Anyone else in the same boat? I am overweight but not to the extreme, I just want to be fit and trim and not be addicted to sugar anymore. I use sugar like most people use coffee.

Replies

  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    I use sugar like most people use coffee.


    Too easy to misinterpret. Can you just reduce your portion size?
  • mrsgoodwine
    mrsgoodwine Posts: 468 Member
    You will probably always have an affinity for sugar. You can quit cold turkey or you can cut down. I have a substitution that works well for me. Raisins. They are sweet and chewy - natures candy. Just don't go overboard :)
  • ekeatz
    ekeatz Posts: 6
    hmm.. I should try that! thank you!
  • ekeatz
    ekeatz Posts: 6
    The problem I just don't have a shut off switch for when I eat sugar.
  • techgal128
    techgal128 Posts: 719 Member
    I feel you there. You don't want to go cold turkey since you will be absolutely miserable and more likely to fail (I speak from experience). Why don't you start with eating ice cream that has less sugar in it? Or ones with Splenda? That way you can start to taper off and you still have that "sweet treat" to keep you from raiding the pantry at night.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    The problem I just don't have a shut off switch for when I eat sugar.

    can you pre-portion your treats out? put in small baggies the amount that you find acceptable and then when you want a sweet snack grab one of them. I have found anytime I try to give up something I truly want i am setting myself up for failure in the long run.
  • PennyVonDread
    PennyVonDread Posts: 432 Member
    The problem I just don't have a shut off switch for when I eat sugar.

    Well, then try to only eat treats that are already portioned for you. Maybe only buy a little at a time? Get a single choco taco from the ice cream truck, or a single candy bar for the evening from 7-eleven.
  • techgal128
    techgal128 Posts: 719 Member
    The problem I just don't have a shut off switch for when I eat sugar.

    can you pre-portion your treats out? put in small baggies the amount that you find acceptable and then when you want a sweet snack grab one of them. I have found anytime I try to give up something I truly want i am setting myself up for failure in the long run.

    This is a tough one because if she's like me, she would just keep grabbing more and more baggies. :p
  • leahraskie
    leahraskie Posts: 260 Member
    I love sugar too, my boyfriend tells me no or takes it away if I eat too much. If you have someone who could do that it's easier then you just get into the habit of not eating as much over time.

    I don't cut it out myself, really sugar and candy don't have that many more calories than compared to like chips. Per gram, they actually have less calories. If I really want something I'll just set aside extra calories for that day.
  • Cerakoala
    Cerakoala Posts: 2,547 Member
    I switched to no sugar added products to help with the calories from sweets. I use no sugar added icecreams, baking mixes, frosting etc :)
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    The problem I just don't have a shut off switch for when I eat sugar.

    Can you try to switch your thinking from "I will eat until I am satisfied" to "I will eat this amount"? That's what works for me. That plus knowing I can have a serving any day I want and can make it fit my calories, so there's not that tendency to eat and eat, on the theory that it may be ages until you get it again.
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    There are some sugary things I can control myself around. I drink one Dr. Pepper every day around 10am. I look forward to it and it helps me not feel so deprived.

    But there are others that I just don't buy because they set me off - sugar cookies, 100 calorie packs, yeast rolls, shortbread, oreos. I just don't have them around the house.

    I would say to try to keep some sugar in moderation so that you don't eventually fall off of the wagon. But, experiment to see what you can handle in small amounts. Steer clear of the triggers.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Chocolate and ice cream are not unhealthy, unless they lead to overeating and obesity. Overweight folks eat too much of everything. Find a way to incorporate your favorites and you will be fine. Also, sugar is not addicting anymore than any food or pleasurable activity is.
  • mrsgoodwine
    mrsgoodwine Posts: 468 Member
    Another thing that works for me is not keeping it in the house. If I want a treat - like let's say ice cream. then I go out and get a single scoop - once it's gone - it's gone.
  • flowerbob
    flowerbob Posts: 11 Member
    I feel your pain - complete abstinence is the only thing that works for me. If you got through 9 days, I would have expected you to be over the worst, so perhaps there was more sugar left in your diet than you thought. Did you drink diet drinks? I have to drop the sweeteners too, as they seem to have the same effect on my brain as actual sugar.
    For me, the first five days are the worst bit, and then I stop craving it so badly, and after a week I'm OK. If I can stay away from sugar for a month, I find I'm able to have small amounts (such as a glass of wine with a meal) without going overboard and stuffing every cake in a radius of 100 yards into my face.
    It means getting through those first few days without biscuits, cake, wine, sweet sauces, squash and fruit juice, most breakfast cerials, jam and honey, chocolate or white bread....... but it's worth it. And once I've done it once, the prospect of having to do it again usually keeps me away from sugar for a while!
    I feel sleepy initially but that goes away, and as a bonus my skin gets much better too.
    However you manage yours, good luck
    x

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