How do you cut your craving for sugar??
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I stopped placing sweets in a bad/unhealthy category and placed all food including sugary stuff in the same category..."food".
Once I stopped seeing it as something "bad" or "forbidden" I stopped craving it. Bowl of cookies is on my counter. It bothers me about as much as the milk in the fridge.
Try to see it in the same light as you would any snack between meals. It's helped me a lot with eating it in moderation.
I don't understand this at all. Just giving something a label made you crave it? You felt you had to eat it just because you weren't supposed to? Like a small child told not touch the hot stove? Fascinating.0 -
herrspoons wrote: »I do it by keeping my hand out of the cookie jar.
Sugar isn't addictive in humans. Sorry, no strong evidence to support that theory exists.
Humans who are prone to addictive behaviors can become addicted to almost anything that brings pleasure. Sex is not addictive and yet there are sex addicts. Dangerous behavior is not addictive and yet an adrenaline junkie will risk their lives for the fun of it. Endorphins are addictive and humans are prone to repeat behaviors that easily give us those endorphins even if those behaviors are counter productive. Not all people react to an endorphin producing substance the same. Not everyone will become addicted to alcohol or even drugs by incorporating it into their routine but many do. Not everyone becomes addicted to the comfort brought by sugar but some do. Diets that encourage them to eat sugar are like AA encouraging a few drinks a week. Everyone is different but a great number of people who are very overweight are there because they have developed an addiction to food endorphins and to the rituals around eating. Most diet plans do not work for these people long term because they don't aim at changing the base behavior of depending on food for pleasure.
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herrspoons wrote: »I do it by keeping my hand out of the cookie jar.
Sugar isn't addictive in humans. Sorry, no strong evidence to support that theory exists.
Humans who are prone to addictive behaviors can become addicted to almost anything that brings pleasure. Sex is not addictive and yet there are sex addicts. Dangerous behavior is not addictive and yet an adrenaline junkie will risk their lives for the fun of it. Endorphins are addictive and humans are prone to repeat behaviors that easily give us those endorphins even if those behaviors are counter productive. Not all people react to an endorphin producing substance the same. Not everyone will become addicted to alcohol or even drugs by incorporating it into their routine but many do. Not everyone becomes addicted to the comfort brought by sugar but some do. Diets that encourage them to eat sugar are like AA encouraging a few drinks a week. Everyone is different but a great number of people who are very overweight are there because they have developed an addiction to food endorphins and to the rituals around eating. Most diet plans do not work for these people long term because they don't aim at changing the base behavior of depending on food for pleasure.
Good example. I guess sex addicts are never allowed to have sex again. Poor sods.0 -
Ugh, I'm so sick of people trying to defend this addiction nonsense with "sugar causes dopamine release." You know what else causes dopamine release? Scary movies, that thing where you almost stumble then don't, nipple clamps, being around large animals, getting a birdie when playing disk golf, rock climbing, shopping for rock climbing gear, looking at porn, reading a political op-ed, and scrolling through forums where people constantly claim to be addicted to things that aren't addictive substances.0
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arditarose wrote: »970Mikaela1 wrote: »lgramberg15 wrote: »Everytime I crave it?? ^
Peanut butter is an excellent dessert. So is cookie butter.
I've never tried cookie butter. It sounds so appealing to me. What's it like?
mmm mmm good. the biscof cookie butter I think is a little less sweet than the speculoos cookie butter from trader joes. You can get the speculoos in a ben and jerrys flavor which is fabulous.
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herrspoons wrote: »herrspoons wrote: »I do it by keeping my hand out of the cookie jar.
Sugar isn't addictive in humans. Sorry, no strong evidence to support that theory exists.
Humans who are prone to addictive behaviors can become addicted to almost anything that brings pleasure. Sex is not addictive and yet there are sex addicts. Dangerous behavior is not addictive and yet an adrenaline junkie will risk their lives for the fun of it. Endorphins are addictive and humans are prone to repeat behaviors that easily give us those endorphins even if those behaviors are counter productive. Not all people react to an endorphin producing substance the same. Not everyone will become addicted to alcohol or even drugs by incorporating it into their routine but many do. Not everyone becomes addicted to the comfort brought by sugar but some do. Diets that encourage them to eat sugar are like AA encouraging a few drinks a week. Everyone is different but a great number of people who are very overweight are there because they have developed an addiction to food endorphins and to the rituals around eating. Most diet plans do not work for these people long term because they don't aim at changing the base behavior of depending on food for pleasure.
Nope. Again, look at the definitions in DSM 5.
A lot of people use pseudo addiction as an excuse and form of external validation though.
So, before DSM V was released and we had only DMS IV, was Autism Spectrum Disorder not a real thing?0 -
Alright this is like arguing with flat Earthers. Let's just ignore the people trying to convince us that food cannot be addictive and focus on the advice. OP have sugar cravings. They are real. How does she prevent them? that is the only thing we need to talk about here.
As I said before, my advice is to abstain for a short time, and then when you no longer feel strong physical or mental urges for it, if you feel like you can handle it, reintroduce your favourite things in moderation.0 -
In order to curtail one's cravings for sugar and stop the tailspin into addiction, one needs to follow this very lengthy process of detox and cleanse. Please write down this one weird tick... this is the secret that the sugar addiction industry doesn't want you to know!
1) Don't eat it.0 -
arditarose wrote: »No advice. I just ate a whole chocolate peanut butter bar. It fit into my day. I could have had half if it wouldn't. No reason to be so worried about sugar.
How exactly does eating a whole chocolate peanut butter bar that fits into your day cut down on cravings?
to cut my sugar craving down I just ate a box of Girl scout cookies. Not craving sugar anymore. and i believe it will fit into my day. maybe. lol now Im out of girl scout cookies.
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Good grief... from sugar cravings to the DSM 5??? I buy a container of Betty Crocker frosting in the can and take one or two tablespoonful to satisfy my cravings. The sugar is so intense it's sickening. I don't believe I've ever "curbed" my cravings but had to learn how to get a bit of satisfaction without having to eat a dozen donuts in the process. I don't keep sweet stuff in the house (obviously) but when I want a sweet ... I don't want to feel deprived either.0
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herrspoons wrote: »herrspoons wrote: »I do it by keeping my hand out of the cookie jar.
Sugar isn't addictive in humans. Sorry, no strong evidence to support that theory exists.
How exactly does keeping your hand out of the cookie jar reduce cravings?
Hmm... were there any other points you missed or was it just this one?
OP asked how to reduce cravings and you said to keep your hand out of the cookie jar. I'm thrilled to find out that placing my hand in some specific configuration will reduce or remove cravings.
Link to any studies, also, since this is a fascinating finding and I'd love to learn more about it.0 -
herrspoons wrote: »herrspoons wrote: »I do it by keeping my hand out of the cookie jar.
Sugar isn't addictive in humans. Sorry, no strong evidence to support that theory exists.
How exactly does keeping your hand out of the cookie jar reduce cravings?
Hmm... were there any other points you missed or was it just this one?
OP asked how to reduce cravings and you said to keep your hand out of the cookie jar. I'm thrilled to find out that placing my hand in some specific configuration will reduce or remove cravings.
Link to any studies, also, since this is a fascinating finding and I'd love to learn more about it.
No, no!! You must NOT place your hand in the jar. If you do, you will immediately crave sugar. For the love of God, do NOT put your hand in the evil cookie jar. Even if it's empty.0 -
970Mikaela1 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »No advice. I just ate a whole chocolate peanut butter bar. It fit into my day. I could have had half if it wouldn't. No reason to be so worried about sugar.
How exactly does eating a whole chocolate peanut butter bar that fits into your day cut down on cravings?
to cut my sugar craving down I just ate a box of Girl scout cookies. Not craving sugar anymore. and i believe it will fit into my day. maybe. lol now Im out of girl scout cookies.
Let's sit down at the same table. We both have a sugar craving, so we eat all the Girl Scout cookies (and seriously? No milk? Didn't you get super dry throat?).
When we get up from the table, you still get to eat 980 more calories for the rest of the day, while I only get to eat 200 more.
Now, in addition to my cravings, I am also going to be super hungry for the rest of the day.
Your solution works for you, but it doesn't work for me.
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lgramberg15 wrote: »I'm most definitely addicted to sugar..most of the time the sugar I eat in the day comes from fruit (some from added sugar like chocolate or vitamin water), but I find myself craving sweets every night and I need to learn how to cut the craving! Any ideas/advice?
OP, I had a serious control issue around sweet foods, dessert foods in particular. The only way I could control my binge eating was through elimination -- I cut out all my trigger foods completely and did just fine for nearly 10 years.
In the past few months, I've reintroduced added sugar foods to my diet. The cravings are back. I have a perfectly good lunch waiting for me, but I want to go to the bakery next door and buy some macaroons. I could go eat two macaroons and not eat my lunch, but then I'd be over my carbs and under my protein and my fat, and I'd be hungry for the rest of the afternoon, and I'd still be craving more sugar-added food.
So, I have to sit here and continually tell myself "No." It sucks, but if I want to eat any added sugar food, constant vigilance is the price I have to pay.
For me, it boils down to two options:
Option A: eat sugar-added foods, have cravings, exert willpower that sometimes fails
Option B: eliminate sugar-added foods, have no cravings
Best of luck to you.0 -
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zachbonner wrote: »lgramberg15 wrote: »herrspoons wrote: »I do it by keeping my hand out of the cookie jar.
Sugar isn't addictive in humans. Sorry, no strong evidence to support that theory exists.
Actually there's been studies suggesting that sugar releases dopamine in the brain, and that when you have too much of it, you have a need for the dopamine release more often
pretty sure those were rodent studies..
It's the same in humans
please post a sugar addiction study on humans ....0 -
eatingforspawn wrote: »wait so sugar addicts should restrict sugar for a month and then re-introduce to cure addiction?
so a crack head can eliminate crack for a month and then start smoking it again on a limited basis and they are cured???
Yes (about the sugar, not the crack). Not everyone can handle it, as I mentioned, but people can break the habit of over-consumption and then train themselves to consume reasonably. Once an addict, always an addict is not true. It is possible to become addicted again though if you let it get out of hand. It takes a certain amount of self control. The thing about sugar addicts is, they like sugary foods. For most people, if you tell them they can NEVER have what they love most ever again, then they will never stick to it. And keep in mind we are talking about food here, not crack. Sugar is fine in certain amounts. Crack is not fine in any amount. Physical addiction to sugar is a real thing. It comes from over-consumption. It starts a chain of event that make a person crave it and feel like crap if they do not have it. There is also the mental component which often comes with a physical addiction but can also be independent of one.
But if you want to talk about drugs and other well known addictive things, and perhaps argue that an addict is always an addict, I can at least offer my anecdotal experience of quitting smoking. I smoked for 10 years and was utterly addicted. I guess you can choose not to believe me about that but that would just be argumentative, really. Anyway, I quite 8 years ago and can tell you right now, that I am no longer addicted. Not smoking is not an effort for me whatsoever. I find it disgusting and the smell makes me feel sick. I won't do it because it is vile, but I could smoke a cigarette right now and never want another one. Ever.
And if you are arguing that sugar is not addictive because you have never become addicted, then I can offer my factoid that I have never been addicted to alcohol. I have consumed it, sometimes a few times a week for months at a time. But not drinking is not an issue for me, whereas other people are prone to become addicted after much less consumption than I had.
Everyone's brain reacts to chemicals differently. Everyone has a different spectrum of emotions and addictability. that is why I stressed the importance of finding her own way to deal with it.
thank your for the long reply.
my point is that you want to say sugar is addictive but then you treat said addiction by re-introducing the addictive substance. If that was the case then you could do the same with cocaine, heroin, alcohol, etc...but I have never once heard someone say "after 30 days of rehab I re-introduced cocaine, and I am now not addicted"..
What you are saying with sugar is that is an issue with will power and self control. Lack of those two things does not equal addiction.
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eatingforspawn wrote: »wait so sugar addicts should restrict sugar for a month and then re-introduce to cure addiction?
so a crack head can eliminate crack for a month and then start smoking it again on a limited basis and they are cured???
Yes (about the sugar, not the crack). Not everyone can handle it, as I mentioned, but people can break the habit of over-consumption and then train themselves to consume reasonably. Once an addict, always an addict is not true. It is possible to become addicted again though if you let it get out of hand. It takes a certain amount of self control. The thing about sugar addicts is, they like sugary foods. For most people, if you tell them they can NEVER have what they love most ever again, then they will never stick to it. And keep in mind we are talking about food here, not crack. Sugar is fine in certain amounts. Crack is not fine in any amount. Physical addiction to sugar is a real thing. It comes from over-consumption. It starts a chain of event that make a person crave it and feel like crap if they do not have it. There is also the mental component which often comes with a physical addiction but can also be independent of one.
But if you want to talk about drugs and other well known addictive things, and perhaps argue that an addict is always an addict, I can at least offer my anecdotal experience of quitting smoking. I smoked for 10 years and was utterly addicted. I guess you can choose not to believe me about that but that would just be argumentative, really. Anyway, I quite 8 years ago and can tell you right now, that I am no longer addicted. Not smoking is not an effort for me whatsoever. I find it disgusting and the smell makes me feel sick. I won't do it because it is vile, but I could smoke a cigarette right now and never want another one. Ever.
And if you are arguing that sugar is not addictive because you have never become addicted, then I can offer my factoid that I have never been addicted to alcohol. I have consumed it, sometimes a few times a week for months at a time. But not drinking is not an issue for me, whereas other people are prone to become addicted after much less consumption than I had.
Everyone's brain reacts to chemicals differently. Everyone has a different spectrum of emotions and addictability. that is why I stressed the importance of finding her own way to deal with it.
thank your for the long reply.
my point is that you want to say sugar is addictive but then you treat said addiction by re-introducing the addictive substance. If that was the case then you could do the same with cocaine, heroin, alcohol, etc...but I have never once heard someone say "after 30 days of rehab I re-introduced cocaine, and I am now not addicted"..
What you are saying with sugar is that is an issue with will power and self control. Lack of those two things does not equal addiction.
Don't all addicts have issues with will power and self control? An alcoholic lacks the will power and self control not to take a drink. A heroin addict lacks the self control not to shoot up. There is nothing forcing them to partake any more than there is something forcing someone to eat another candy bar. Nothing but a craving.0 -
herrspoons wrote: »FoCoAlphaNerd wrote: »Ugh, I'm so sick of people trying to defend this addiction nonsense with "sugar causes dopamine release." You know what else causes dopamine release? Scary movies, that thing where you almost stumble then don't, nipple clamps, being around large animals, getting a birdie when playing disk golf, rock climbing, shopping for rock climbing gear, looking at porn, reading a political op-ed, and scrolling through forums where people constantly claim to be addicted to things that aren't addictive substances.
Pretty much. You can easily spot the ones who haven't s clue because theNeed2Exerc1se wrote: »herrspoons wrote: »herrspoons wrote: »I do it by keeping my hand out of the cookie jar.
Sugar isn't addictive in humans. Sorry, no strong evidence to support that theory exists.
Humans who are prone to addictive behaviors can become addicted to almost anything that brings pleasure. Sex is not addictive and yet there are sex addicts. Dangerous behavior is not addictive and yet an adrenaline junkie will risk their lives for the fun of it. Endorphins are addictive and humans are prone to repeat behaviors that easily give us those endorphins even if those behaviors are counter productive. Not all people react to an endorphin producing substance the same. Not everyone will become addicted to alcohol or even drugs by incorporating it into their routine but many do. Not everyone becomes addicted to the comfort brought by sugar but some do. Diets that encourage them to eat sugar are like AA encouraging a few drinks a week. Everyone is different but a great number of people who are very overweight are there because they have developed an addiction to food endorphins and to the rituals around eating. Most diet plans do not work for these people long term because they don't aim at changing the base behavior of depending on food for pleasure.
Nope. Again, look at the definitions in DSM 5.
A lot of people use pseudo addiction as an excuse and form of external validation though.
So, before DSM V was released and we had only DMS IV, was Autism Spectrum Disorder not a real thing?
This is an apple. That is an orange.
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