How am I "supposed to" feel after eating sugar?
kommodevaran
Posts: 17,889 Member
In another thread in here, the OP stated they crave sugar, ingest soda/sweets, and feel better. It sounded strange at first, but it made me wonder as I have had others tell me the same thing - they feel fatigued and need to have something sweet/starchy to get more energy, and it seems to work (maybe just temporarily, but anyway). I don't have the same reaction. I crave sweets too, but I don't eat it to perform better, only because I like the taste and mouthfeel. If anything, it leaves me feeling lethargic and crave even more, and I may be annoyed at myself for straying off my plan.
Should either of these reactions cause concern? I'm thinking diabetes here, but I'm not sure which one would be the abnormal one. I've always reacted the same way and my blood sugar has always been fine, but this is intriguing.
Should either of these reactions cause concern? I'm thinking diabetes here, but I'm not sure which one would be the abnormal one. I've always reacted the same way and my blood sugar has always been fine, but this is intriguing.
0
Replies
-
Glucose is a nice simple energy source, it's common to have a quick boost when eating foods containing sugar.
But if in doubt, see a doctor, only they can offer a further diagnosis really.0 -
I don't think there's any reason to feel concern.
I've never had IR or BG issues, but back before I started this I had a pattern going where I'd be habitually sleep deprived and would occasionally use a high cal/carby/sugary food as a quick pick-me-up, to wake up or provide energy. It would wear off and I'd need more or coffee, of course. It's not really that I felt better or was craving, though. Anyway, I think it's pretty normal but not necessarily weird not to have those desires.
I still know it's a way to pick myself up if I need fast energy, but I'm out of the habit of snacking and more mindful about it so generally ignore the desire, if any, now. It is related to why I find eating well harder when I've been sleeping badly for a while. Lots of times I think people who struggle with cravings should look at sleep, as well as overall diet (enough calories and protein, especially).0 -
I don't know about "energy". My energy is pretty stable throughout the day so I don't really know how it feels to have less/more energy. I know a great dessert gives me satisfaction. It doesn't make me crave more, I get the exact opposite reaction. Imagine going to a concert of your favorite band followed by a dinner with your favorite people then going home and feeling like your belly is full, all of your emotional needs are met, and life is amazing you don't need anything else at that moment. Now miniaturize that feeling. That's the effect good desserts have on me. I actually find myself eating less food overall.0
-
My energy is stable too
I have no direct 'feels' from sugars or caffeine
just the mouth feels and temporary enjoyment0 -
Glucose is a nice simple energy source, it's common to have a quick boost when eating foods containing sugar.
But if in doubt, see a doctor, only they can offer a further diagnosis really.
That's what I've always been told, yes, so it took a while to realise that it didn't really work that way for me.
I think I'll ask my doctor on my next visit if I remember it. I'm happy to see all these answers, calming, thank you.0 -
hyper and fake.0
-
lemurcat12 wrote: »I don't think there's any reason to feel concern.
I've never had IR or BG issues, but back before I started this I had a pattern going where I'd be habitually sleep deprived and would occasionally use a high cal/carby/sugary food as a quick pick-me-up, to wake up or provide energy. It would wear off and I'd need more or coffee, of course. It's not really that I felt better or was craving, though. Anyway, I think it's pretty normal but not necessarily weird not to have those desires.
I still know it's a way to pick myself up if I need fast energy, but I'm out of the habit of snacking and more mindful about it so generally ignore the desire, if any, now. It is related to why I find eating well harder when I've been sleeping badly for a while. Lots of times I think people who struggle with cravings should look at sleep, as well as overall diet (enough calories and protein, especially).
I have noticed that I can resist the cravings more easily when I've slept well and eaten well. It also helps to be dedicated to following my meal plan and not sneak in stuff, it's a mindfulness thing for me too.0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »I don't know about "energy". My energy is pretty stable throughout the day so I don't really know how it feels to have less/more energy. I know a great dessert gives me satisfaction. It doesn't make me crave more, I get the exact opposite reaction. Imagine going to a concert of your favorite band followed by a dinner with your favorite people then going home and feeling like your belly is full, all of your emotional needs are met, and life is amazing you don't need anything else at that moment. Now miniaturize that feeling. That's the effect good desserts have on me. I actually find myself eating less food overall.
I used to constantly graze/overeat anything/anytime, but by using MFP and listening to my needs, I discovered that I prefer quality over quantity, well, at least most of the time
When I eat real food I like, and balanced meals, I get less cravings, but they haven't totally disappeared. And for sweet stuff, it still feels like unlimited quantity is what I really want. (I have a greater desire to be healthy, so I don't overeat anymore, or, I haven't done it consistently since fall 2013. Yay.) 0 -
-
amusedmonkey wrote: »I don't know about "energy". My energy is pretty stable throughout the day so I don't really know how it feels to have less/more energy. I know a great dessert gives me satisfaction. It doesn't make me crave more, I get the exact opposite reaction. Imagine going to a concert of your favorite band followed by a dinner with your favorite people then going home and feeling like your belly is full, all of your emotional needs are met, and life is amazing you don't need anything else at that moment. Now miniaturize that feeling. That's the effect good desserts have on me. I actually find myself eating less food overall.
Yes, that's the effect they normally have on me too. Even when I would eat something to make up for inadequate sleep it's not like I'd crave afterwards. But sugar for energy is a real thing -- think of how it's used by people doing endurance activities.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »I don't know about "energy". My energy is pretty stable throughout the day so I don't really know how it feels to have less/more energy. I know a great dessert gives me satisfaction. It doesn't make me crave more, I get the exact opposite reaction. Imagine going to a concert of your favorite band followed by a dinner with your favorite people then going home and feeling like your belly is full, all of your emotional needs are met, and life is amazing you don't need anything else at that moment. Now miniaturize that feeling. That's the effect good desserts have on me. I actually find myself eating less food overall.
Yes, that's the effect they normally have on me too. Even when I would eat something to make up for inadequate sleep it's not like I'd crave afterwards. But sugar for energy is a real thing -- think of how it's used by people doing endurance activities.
Yes I know it's real. I'm just bad at detecting energy changes in myself unless they're obvious like when I have a really bad flu. Other than that I feel pretty stable even when I'm a little bit sick. Now I might notice an effect on performance, but I haven't done a long enough workout to know the difference.0 -
I don't notice anything special from sweets as far as energy goes. If I'm feeling sleepy, caffeine helps a little. If I'm feeling weak or shaky a small amount of any food will do.
Caveat: I'm doing marathon training and staying in a deficit. I've been having trouble gauging how much of a deficit is doable. It seems to vary constantly, so the weak and shaky thing is not at all 'normal' for me, but I'm getting it more frequently.0 -
Any time I am tired, I crave sweets. It's like my body thinks it will make me feel better or wake me up. Even though I KNOW it doesn't. And, of course, it sucks because I'm tired all the time. I'm crashing around 2-3 every afternoon. Yesterday that resulted in eating, like, four BIGGG cookies. Ah well, they were good.
0 -
I will crave sweets when I am sleep deprived, but they actually make me more tired. Sugar is not a good energy source for me. Taking a shower, moving around a bit, or caffeine works better for me.0
-
For sugar reactions, my daughters are polar opposites. For the older one, sugar doesn't phase her in the slightest. No energy bump, no good feelings, nothing. She could eat cardboard and get the same feeling... nothing. It's just a thing for her to eat. For the younger one, sugar is... for lack of an easier term... a drug. She gets an energy jolt like there's a 220 line shoved up her bum. She's jittery and can't stop moving. And when she comes down, she'll do just about anything to get more sugar.
The older one can eat sugar all day or not. She doesn't care and other than a pleasant accompanying taste, she can do without it too. The younger craves the taste and the jolt so much that it's dangerous for her, so she avoids sugar in most of its forms. I don't get an energy bump from sugar, but I do get the intense continual cravings, plus that whole diabetic-in-remission thing, so I avoid added sugars (and most carbs) like the plague.0 -
Interesting to hear those descriptions! So I'm not the only one who reacts to sugar that way after all. Good to know how things influence us. It makes it possible to take some precautions. I try to stay away as much as I can.0
-
I sometimes find now that on the rare occasion I've over indulged in sugar especially in the evening I feel brain fog, get a headache & just feel lethargic & "icky" the next day.0
-
when i eat a few donuts at a time or within a few hours time i definitely feel hyper, my energy levels skyrocket and my mind is very sharp. This is anywhere from 2-6 donuts though. One wont do it for me, i have to way overdue the sugar/carbs to feel this way.0
-
kommodevaran wrote: »In another thread in here, the OP stated they crave sugar, ingest soda/sweets, and feel better. It sounded strange at first, but it made me wonder as I have had others tell me the same thing - they feel fatigued and need to have something sweet/starchy to get more energy, and it seems to work (maybe just temporarily, but anyway). I don't have the same reaction. I crave sweets too, but I don't eat it to perform better, only because I like the taste and mouthfeel. If anything, it leaves me feeling lethargic and crave even more, and I may be annoyed at myself for straying off my plan.
Should either of these reactions cause concern? I'm thinking diabetes here, but I'm not sure which one would be the abnormal one. I've always reacted the same way and my blood sugar has always been fine, but this is intriguing.
I've known since my 20's that if I ate sugar alone in an empty stomach that I would feel very bad shortly thereafter so I always tried to pair sugar with fats and proteins which seemed to mitigate the sugar drag that sugar alone brought on. Fast forward 30 years and even pairing didn't help and discovered/realized that anything significantly carby had the same effect - even if paired with proteins and fats. Went very low carb 6 months ago, problem addressed.
Also, eating significant carbs brings on huge cravings and unending thoughts of more with me, it was not helpful for limiting weight!0 -
I don't feel any different after eating sugar. No better, no worse.0
-
I_Will_End_You wrote: »I don't feel any different after eating sugar. No better, no worse.
Same for me...0 -
I feel jittery and awake, my heart can beat faster. It passes quickly and I crash. I don't have cravings when I east healthy and get enough rest.0
-
I don't feel any different after eating something sugary.
I used to. I'd get jittery then crash. Or at least think I did. This is all retrospective. I'm not sure what the difference between now and then is.0 -
Improves cognitive performance.
http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar00/brainbox3.aspx
I'm not a sweets person but I am a T2 diabetic in remission, so I learned the signs when my blood sugar was too low or too high. Too low, I felt faint, even dizzy. Too high, I was sluggish and wanted a nap. Worse than sugar were pure carbohydrates like potatoes or rice. I know this because of the blood testing.
Taste and texture of sugar products don't do it for me. I find globs of icing to be disgusting. I crave specific foods like apple pie with a flaky crust.
So I'd say I don't crave the taste/texture/feels. But at times I need the sugar or equivalent to come out of a low.0 -
Like crap!0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 396K Introduce Yourself
- 44.1K Getting Started
- 260.8K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.3K Food and Nutrition
- 47.6K Recipes
- 232.8K Fitness and Exercise
- 448 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.3K Motivation and Support
- 8.2K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4.4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 18 MyFitnessPal Academy
- 1.4K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions