Sugar addiction

I posted this in another thread in regards to binge eating. I'd like to share.

This is my story. I'm not trying to tell you to do anything other than to consider my path. Maybe some of this will speak to you.

I lack even a modicum of self control. I love(d) all things I could smoke, snort, pop, or rub on your belly.

I quit drugs and smokes a long time ago. I learned I can't control myself when did drugs. I can't do moderation. I'm so jealous of those who can.

So onto binge eating:

Because I lack self control I cannot eat one potato chip. I'm unable to have only one slice of pizza. I don't even understand the idea of just one doughnut. I want to be Supersized.

Hmm. Look at the foods I just listed. What do all of these foods have in common? What does a pizza and a glazed doughnut have in common? Pepperoni? Nope. Simple carbs. Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, refined bleach wheat flour, etc.

Funny, I never crave foods that lack simple carbs. I never crave an entire roast turkey. I never have a hankering' for thirds of grilled Brussels sprouts. I want my simple carbs! AND I WANT THEM NOW!

Wait a minute. This doesn't make sense. This may FEEL like hunger but it isn't. I remember this feeling. It's addiction! To me it sounded like the same addictions I beat decades ago. For me, an "Eating Binge" is just another word for a drug binge. Like a drinking binge, a smoking binge, a cocaine binge, whatever.

So what do (did) I do when I feel a food binge coming on?

1) If I feel a binge coming on I immediately drink one quart of water. I hate plain water so I add some flavor enhancer. Flavor enhancer is always in my house - in large quantities.

2) I vilify the binge. I ask myself: "How about a big pork chop instead of (a dozen doughnuts, large pizza, whatever)?" I lovelovelove grilled pork chops! So if my body says "NO! I want PIZZA!" then I realize this is my carb addiction talking, not real hunger.

3) So I Get Moving. If I can sit around and wait for a pizza, if I can walk to the fridge to eat, then I can go outside and take a damn walk. I get off my butt and MOVE. I do not have the right to binge if I can't walk for thirty minutes first.

4) If the binge is still there I eat. I eat a lot. I stuff myself silly. But I eat protein - steak, pork chops, whatever. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT. Like 16oz of steak. It's a lot of calories but nothing compared to the binge of an entire large pizza, wings and huge cookie I used to do.

It took a while - over a year of effort - to get unhooked. I failed about 100 times. I can't tell you the number of times I shoveled pizza in my mouth, crying like a baby, filled with shame, realizing I had no control.

But over time time my binges began to space out. Instead of one a day it was one every three days. Then once a week, then once a month. I haven't binged in two months.

Thanks for reading.

desweds wrote: »

I posted this in another thread in regards to binge eating. I'd like to share.

This is my story. I'm not trying to tell you to do anything other than to consider my path. Maybe some of this will speak to you.

I lack even a modicum of self control. I love(d) all things I could smoke, snort, pop, or rub on your belly.

I quit drugs and smokes a long time ago. I learned I can't control myself when did drugs. I can't do moderation. I'm so jealous of those who can.

So onto binge eating:

Because I lack self control I cannot eat one potato chip. I'm unable to have only one slice of pizza. I don't even understand the idea of just one doughnut. I want to be Supersized.

Hmm. Look at the foods I just listed. What do all of these foods have in common? What does a pizza and a glazed doughnut have in common? Pepperoni? Nope. Simple carbs. Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, refined bleach wheat flour, etc.

Funny, I never crave foods that lack simple carbs. I never crave an entire roast turkey. I never have a hankering' for thirds of grilled Brussels sprouts. I want my simple carbs! AND I WANT THEM NOW!

Wait a minute. This doesn't make sense. This may FEEL like hunger but it isn't. I remember this feeling. It's addiction! To me it sounded like the same addictions I beat decades ago. For me, an "Eating Binge" is just another word for a drug binge. Like a drinking binge, a smoking binge, a cocaine binge, whatever.

So what do (did) I do when I feel a food binge coming on?

1) If I feel a binge coming on I immediately drink one quart of water. I hate plain water so I add some flavor enhancer. Flavor enhancer is always in my house - in large quantities.

2) I vilify the binge. I ask myself: "How about a big pork chop instead of (a dozen doughnuts, large pizza, whatever)?" I lovelovelove grilled pork chops! So if my body says "NO! I want PIZZA!" then I realize this is my carb addiction talking, not real hunger.

3) So I Get Moving. If I can sit around and wait for a pizza, if I can walk to the fridge to eat, then I can go outside and take a damn walk. I get off my butt and MOVE. I do not have the right to binge if I can't walk for thirty minutes first.

4) If the binge is still there I eat. I eat a lot. I stuff myself silly. But I eat protein - steak, pork chops, whatever. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT. Like 16oz of steak. It's a lot of calories but nothing compared to the binge of an entire large pizza, wings and huge cookie I used to do.

It took a while - over a year of effort - to get unhooked. I failed about 100 times. I can't tell you the number of times I shoveled pizza in my mouth, crying like a baby, filled with shame, realizing I had no control.

But over time time my binges began to space out. Instead of one a day it was one every three days. Then once a week, then once a month. I haven't binged in two months.

Thanks for reading.

Amen!!!!! Lol

I've been addicted to sugar all my life. It cost me my marriage, my house and my job. I feel you.

senecarr wrote: »

desweds wrote: »

I posted this in another thread in regards to binge eating. I'd like to share.

This is my story. I'm not trying to tell you to do anything other than to consider my path. Maybe some of this will speak to you.

I lack even a modicum of self control. I love(d) all things I could smoke, snort, pop, or rub on your belly.

I quit drugs and smokes a long time ago. I learned I can't control myself when did drugs. I can't do moderation. I'm so jealous of those who can.

So onto binge eating:

Because I lack self control I cannot eat one potato chip. I'm unable to have only one slice of pizza. I don't even understand the idea of just one doughnut. I want to be Supersized.

Hmm. Look at the foods I just listed. What do all of these foods have in common? What does a pizza and a glazed doughnut have in common? Pepperoni? Nope. Simple carbs. Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, refined bleach wheat flour, etc.

Funny, I never crave foods that lack simple carbs. I never crave an entire roast turkey. I never have a hankering' for thirds of grilled Brussels sprouts. I want my simple carbs! AND I WANT THEM NOW!

Wait a minute. This doesn't make sense. This may FEEL like hunger but it isn't. I remember this feeling. It's addiction! To me it sounded like the same addictions I beat decades ago. For me, an "Eating Binge" is just another word for a drug binge. Like a drinking binge, a smoking binge, a cocaine binge, whatever.

So what do (did) I do when I feel a food binge coming on?

1) If I feel a binge coming on I immediately drink one quart of water. I hate plain water so I add some flavor enhancer. Flavor enhancer is always in my house - in large quantities.

2) I vilify the binge. I ask myself: "How about a big pork chop instead of (a dozen doughnuts, large pizza, whatever)?" I lovelovelove grilled pork chops! So if my body says "NO! I want PIZZA!" then I realize this is my carb addiction talking, not real hunger.

3) So I Get Moving. If I can sit around and wait for a pizza, if I can walk to the fridge to eat, then I can go outside and take a damn walk. I get off my butt and MOVE. I do not have the right to binge if I can't walk for thirty minutes first.

4) If the binge is still there I eat. I eat a lot. I stuff myself silly. But I eat protein - steak, pork chops, whatever. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT. Like 16oz of steak. It's a lot of calories but nothing compared to the binge of an entire large pizza, wings and huge cookie I used to do.

It took a while - over a year of effort - to get unhooked. I failed about 100 times. I can't tell you the number of times I shoveled pizza in my mouth, crying like a baby, filled with shame, realizing I had no control.

But over time time my binges began to space out. Instead of one a day it was one every three days. Then once a week, then once a month. I haven't binged in two months.

Thanks for reading.

Those foods also all contain fats. Why are the carbs unique? Does something pure sugar like a pixie stick have the same effect for you? I don't think normal pizza, potato chips, or all donuts have much, if any, high fructose corn syrup.

Interestingly, all of those could be linked by saying they're social foods - most of those are commonly eaten around other people at social events.

Or if nothing else, they're hyperpalatable.

senecarr wrote: »

desweds wrote: »

I posted this in another thread in regards to binge eating. I'd like to share.

This is my story. I'm not trying to tell you to do anything other than to consider my path. Maybe some of this will speak to you.

I lack even a modicum of self control. I love(d) all things I could smoke, snort, pop, or rub on your belly.

I quit drugs and smokes a long time ago. I learned I can't control myself when did drugs. I can't do moderation. I'm so jealous of those who can.

So onto binge eating:

Because I lack self control I cannot eat one potato chip. I'm unable to have only one slice of pizza. I don't even understand the idea of just one doughnut. I want to be Supersized.

Hmm. Look at the foods I just listed. What do all of these foods have in common? What does a pizza and a glazed doughnut have in common? Pepperoni? Nope. Simple carbs. Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, refined bleach wheat flour, etc.

Funny, I never crave foods that lack simple carbs. I never crave an entire roast turkey. I never have a hankering' for thirds of grilled Brussels sprouts. I want my simple carbs! AND I WANT THEM NOW!

Wait a minute. This doesn't make sense. This may FEEL like hunger but it isn't. I remember this feeling. It's addiction! To me it sounded like the same addictions I beat decades ago. For me, an "Eating Binge" is just another word for a drug binge. Like a drinking binge, a smoking binge, a cocaine binge, whatever.

So what do (did) I do when I feel a food binge coming on?

1) If I feel a binge coming on I immediately drink one quart of water. I hate plain water so I add some flavor enhancer. Flavor enhancer is always in my house - in large quantities.

2) I vilify the binge. I ask myself: "How about a big pork chop instead of (a dozen doughnuts, large pizza, whatever)?" I lovelovelove grilled pork chops! So if my body says "NO! I want PIZZA!" then I realize this is my carb addiction talking, not real hunger.

3) So I Get Moving. If I can sit around and wait for a pizza, if I can walk to the fridge to eat, then I can go outside and take a damn walk. I get off my butt and MOVE. I do not have the right to binge if I can't walk for thirty minutes first.

4) If the binge is still there I eat. I eat a lot. I stuff myself silly. But I eat protein - steak, pork chops, whatever. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT. Like 16oz of steak. It's a lot of calories but nothing compared to the binge of an entire large pizza, wings and huge cookie I used to do.

It took a while - over a year of effort - to get unhooked. I failed about 100 times. I can't tell you the number of times I shoveled pizza in my mouth, crying like a baby, filled with shame, realizing I had no control.

But over time time my binges began to space out. Instead of one a day it was one every three days. Then once a week, then once a month. I haven't binged in two months.

Thanks for reading.

Those foods also all contain fats. Why are the carbs unique? Does something pure sugar like a pixie stick have the same effect for you? I don't think normal pizza, potato chips, or all donuts have much, if any, high fructose corn syrup.

Interestingly, all of those could be linked by saying they're social foods - most of those are commonly eaten around other people at social events.

Interesting point about the social foods. Another thing that foods that are commonly overeaten accidently have in common -- in addition to often being mixes of sugar and fat or salt and fat -- is that they tend not to have an automatic stop. For example, give me a serving of some foods on my place and I might eat more than I should (in terms of finishing the plate), but I'm not then going to wander around eating food off others places or order a second meal. But let me get a pizza--especially if it's on the table in front of me--and there's no natural stopping place unless you have a firm idea (2 pieces) and go in with strong discipline. It's made to encourage people to overeat.

Same with habits like eating chips from a refillable bowl on the table or out of a bag, cookies out of a bag, etc. I think a huge amount of overeating relates to stuff like this more than the specific food (beyond it being highly palatable, of course).

And I'm another for whom HFCS made no difference. I've tended to avoid HFCS for ages--not because I thought it was worse, but because I dislike the way that corn is subsidized and has affected the food market and, besides have just always been really picky about the sweets I like (and I have never eaten any bread with HFCS). That doesn't mean I haven't overeaten some sweet stuff or indulged in eating habits that resulted in me getting fat. IMO, if quitting HFCS works, it's because it narrows the availability of foods that people might overeat and makes them more thoughtful -- not a bad thing, but not about addiction.

auddii wrote: »

senecarr wrote: »

desweds wrote: »

I posted this in another thread in regards to binge eating. I'd like to share.

This is my story. I'm not trying to tell you to do anything other than to consider my path. Maybe some of this will speak to you.

I lack even a modicum of self control. I love(d) all things I could smoke, snort, pop, or rub on your belly.

I quit drugs and smokes a long time ago. I learned I can't control myself when did drugs. I can't do moderation. I'm so jealous of those who can.

So onto binge eating:

Because I lack self control I cannot eat one potato chip. I'm unable to have only one slice of pizza. I don't even understand the idea of just one doughnut. I want to be Supersized.

Hmm. Look at the foods I just listed. What do all of these foods have in common? What does a pizza and a glazed doughnut have in common? Pepperoni? Nope. Simple carbs. Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, refined bleach wheat flour, etc.

Funny, I never crave foods that lack simple carbs. I never crave an entire roast turkey. I never have a hankering' for thirds of grilled Brussels sprouts. I want my simple carbs! AND I WANT THEM NOW!

Wait a minute. This doesn't make sense. This may FEEL like hunger but it isn't. I remember this feeling. It's addiction! To me it sounded like the same addictions I beat decades ago. For me, an "Eating Binge" is just another word for a drug binge. Like a drinking binge, a smoking binge, a cocaine binge, whatever.

So what do (did) I do when I feel a food binge coming on?

1) If I feel a binge coming on I immediately drink one quart of water. I hate plain water so I add some flavor enhancer. Flavor enhancer is always in my house - in large quantities.

2) I vilify the binge. I ask myself: "How about a big pork chop instead of (a dozen doughnuts, large pizza, whatever)?" I lovelovelove grilled pork chops! So if my body says "NO! I want PIZZA!" then I realize this is my carb addiction talking, not real hunger.

3) So I Get Moving. If I can sit around and wait for a pizza, if I can walk to the fridge to eat, then I can go outside and take a damn walk. I get off my butt and MOVE. I do not have the right to binge if I can't walk for thirty minutes first.

4) If the binge is still there I eat. I eat a lot. I stuff myself silly. But I eat protein - steak, pork chops, whatever. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT. Like 16oz of steak. It's a lot of calories but nothing compared to the binge of an entire large pizza, wings and huge cookie I used to do.

It took a while - over a year of effort - to get unhooked. I failed about 100 times. I can't tell you the number of times I shoveled pizza in my mouth, crying like a baby, filled with shame, realizing I had no control.

But over time time my binges began to space out. Instead of one a day it was one every three days. Then once a week, then once a month. I haven't binged in two months.

Thanks for reading.

Those foods also all contain fats. Why are the carbs unique? Does something pure sugar like a pixie stick have the same effect for you? I don't think normal pizza, potato chips, or all donuts have much, if any, high fructose corn syrup.

Interestingly, all of those could be linked by saying they're social foods - most of those are commonly eaten around other people at social events.

Or if nothing else, they're hyperpalatable.

This too, of course. And hyperpalatable foods really are nothing new, although the current low cost and availability is. I posted something in the other addiction thread about fat having the same effect as sugar which might be on point here.

formeonly wrote: »

How to give up sugar? Where do you get the will power? I know what I need to do. It sounds so simple but I haven't been successful yet. Help

Are you consuming a lot of soda?

I replaced soda with sparkling mineral water when I started counting calories. I still get the fizz and the zing.

Loads less sugar/calories now!

But I still eat chocolate or dessert of some sort every night.

You might not need to give up sugar completely. You could just cut back in some areas. Best wishes.

fascha wrote: »

I've been addicted to sugar all my life. It cost me my marriage, my house and my job. I feel you.

I can't tell if this is tongue in cheek, but I certainly hope it is.

mccindy72 wrote: »

fascha wrote: »

I've been addicted to sugar all my life. It cost me my marriage, my house and my job. I feel you.

That's pretty horrible, that you allowed your issues with food to affect the other areas of your life so strongly that you lost control over them and lost your spouse and your job. Yes, you allowed that to happen. The sugar didn't do it, you did it. Sugar doesn't have that kind of control over you, and doesn't affect you the same way that drugs or alcohol do. Whatever emotional or mental issue you were using the food to avoid is what destroyed your life, because you were afraid to face it and still are.

And, if you response is not tongue in cheek, I am sorry about your situation, but I agree with mccindy.

And where is my darn avatar.

Cold Turkey! The only way! And stock up on Stevia, the only safe alternative.