Sugar addicts?
Replies
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Hey everyone! I'm new to the app, I installed to track my food intake and exercise. I realise that my biggest problem is sugar cravings and sugary food consumption. Does anyone has the same problem? How do you deal with it?
I re-watched supersize me over the weekend and he talked about having massive cravings after eating all the Mc Donalds, so yeah sugar/carb cravings are real and a big deal for any naysayers out there. I am a pre-diabetic and sugar has a huge impact on me. If others don't have these cravings it doesn't mean yours aren't real or aren't legitimate cravings and they shouldn't be minimizing your question or issue.
Anyway to answer your question - I had to restrict all sugars for a few weeks to sort of get my body to slow down sugar/carb cravings. if I have a sugar craving now I drink water with a little crystal light/sugar free sweetener or eat one sugar free candy. If you're not doing low carb you can eat fruit/berries with something like oatmeal or cottage cheese to satisfy your craving. I used to also freeze grapes and snack on them, like little mini popsicles.
I mainly stick to water, really dark chocolate (90%), celery sticks with peanut butter and sugar free candy. I hope this helps
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I didn't say it always feels trying to quit smoking or doing drugs. I eat way too much sugar but I know I'm not addicted and I know my cravings are really craving for nutrition. But I'm now going to tell someone that it's completely inconceivable that they were addicted to sugar. Like I said everyone's body is different and instead of everyone beating her down everyone could be telling her how great she's doing.
No one is beating down OP or anyone else who posted claims in this thread that sugar is an addictive substance. I commend anyone for wanting to make changes that lead to a healthier lifestyle, however, that doesn't change the fact that sugar itself is not an addictive substance. That said, many people have a lot of strong emotional connections to certain foods which can make the cravings for those foods feel as strong as a physical addiction. But for many people, understanding a bit of the science behind this, that regardless of the source of sugar, our body processes it the same, so it is impossible to be addicted to sugar in cookies or M&Ms and not in fruit, can empower them to address the emotional connection they have to those trigger foods. Many people do find success in cutting out certain foods, either temporarily or permanently, in order to achieve their goals. For some people that change is sustainable, but for others, it gives the food power and makes them feel helpless to control their urges, often setting off binges or giving up because it feels too difficult to moderate these foods. That's why for many of us, learning to identify the emotional triggers and address why we felt compelled to eat a certain sweet food at a certain time, has enabled us to learn to moderate all foods.
If you are interested in a deeper dive into this discussion, I suggest reading this thread which includes a lot of links to the scientific studies about sugar and food addiction, as well as great suggestions regarding strategies for addressing the type of question that the OP is initially asking, how to deal with cravings for sugary foods.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10226257/food-addiction-a-different-perspective/p10 -
Yall are all ganging up on her. That's not being supportive... our bodies process natural sugars and processed sugars differently. Yes sugar is sugar but they do not do the exact same thing in our bodies. Cocaine comes from a flower the flower itself is not addictive or harmful what makes it so is the man processing done to it. We do the same thing with sugar. We take raw sugar from a plant and process it and process it. It changes it and it can be addictive. Not everyone reacts the same way. Some may actually be physically addicted some just emotionally and some never become addicted. It's just like cigarettes. Most people are emotionally addicted and just go through mood swings and maybe put on some weight. The there are a small number that get physically ill when they try to stop smoking. If our bodies were all the exact same and did the exact same thing then we wouldn't have diseases that are different for everyone like most autoimmune diseases are.
Who was ganing up on the OP?0 -
Yay! A Mean People thread on a Monday!0
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Hey everyone! I'm new to the app, I installed to track my food intake and exercise. I realise that my biggest problem is sugar cravings and sugary food consumption. Does anyone has the same problem? How do you deal with it?
I re-watched supersize me over the weekend and he talked about having massive cravings after eating all the Mc Donalds, so yeah sugar/carb cravings are real and a big deal for any naysayers out there. I am a pre-diabetic and sugar has a huge impact on me. If others don't have these cravings it doesn't mean yours aren't real or aren't legitimate cravings and they shouldn't be minimizing your question or issue.
Anyway to answer your question - I had to restrict all sugars for a few weeks to sort of get my body to slow down sugar/carb cravings. if I have a sugar craving now I drink water with a little crystal light/sugar free sweetener or eat one sugar free candy. If you're not doing low carb you can eat fruit/berries with something like oatmeal or cottage cheese to satisfy your craving. I used to also freeze grapes and snack on them, like little mini popsicles.
I mainly stick to water, really dark chocolate (90%), celery sticks with peanut butter and sugar free candy. I hope this helps
Matt was carving fat and salt too but those always seem to slide by. He was craving hamburgers and fries so that's not the same thing and what he was craving was likely related to serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter that makes us feel good and reenforces behaviours that trigger it's release. It has been shown that a cheeseburger releases almost as much serotonin as sex btw. Everytime I post that it gets a response lol.0 -
Yall are all ganging up on her. That's not being supportive... our bodies process natural sugars and processed sugars differently. Yes sugar is sugar but they do not do the exact same thing in our bodies. Cocaine comes from a flower the flower itself is not addictive or harmful what makes it so is the man processing done to it. We do the same thing with sugar. We take raw sugar from a plant and process it and process it. It changes it and it can be addictive. Not everyone reacts the same way. Some may actually be physically addicted some just emotionally and some never become addicted. It's just like cigarettes. Most people are emotionally addicted and just go through mood swings and maybe put on some weight. The there are a small number that get physically ill when they try to stop smoking. If our bodies were all the exact same and did the exact same thing then we wouldn't have diseases that are different for everyone like most autoimmune diseases are.
Our body processing the same chemical differently (outside of some kind of temperature or pressure difference) based on origin would fly in the face of all that is known of chemistry.
Cocaine inside of the coca leaf is bound and does not survive the stomach acid, and thus isn't really digested as is. If one were to snort enough coca leaf, eventually the same effects would happen, it is matter of refinement and concentration. Both inherent and added sugar survive digestion - that's the only way they are usable by the body for energy. There are plenty of whole foods that will provide more sugar in a serving than a processed food will.0 -
I have an issue with sugar and have cut out processed foods and sweets. This helps. I also have increased my fat intake which makes me feel more satisfied. Best of luck to you as you try to get this issue in check.0
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snickerscharlie wrote: »Yay! A Mean People thread on a Monday!
Yes but it's Leap Day. Maybe we can get only one every four years, I'd be down with that!0 -
Yall are all ganging up on her. That's not being supportive... our bodies process natural sugars and processed sugars differently. Yes sugar is sugar but they do not do the exact same thing in our bodies. Cocaine comes from a flower the flower itself is not addictive or harmful what makes it so is the man processing done to it. We do the same thing with sugar. We take raw sugar from a plant and process it and process it. It changes it and it can be addictive. Not everyone reacts the same way. Some may actually be physically addicted some just emotionally and some never become addicted. It's just like cigarettes. Most people are emotionally addicted and just go through mood swings and maybe put on some weight. The there are a small number that get physically ill when they try to stop smoking. If our bodies were all the exact same and did the exact same thing then we wouldn't have diseases that are different for everyone like most autoimmune diseases are.
The part in bold is incorrect. How is spreading mistruths in anyway supportive?0 -
OMG I love sugar!!! Says my brain who loves SUGAR no matter where he gets it from! I personally enjoy the taste of Oreos. I also believe that most of you are describing sugar incorrectly. I also realize that when I see an Oreo Dopamine is released in my brain and my brain wants that form of sugar right then and there however I am in control of my body and my emotions and can have the will power and self discipline not to have that Oreo or if I do have one I will only have ONE not an entire row. lol Also these so called trainers that some of you are seeing is a scam did you know you can become a certified trainer and nutritionist in a little over a week and that's because it takes a few days to mail your certs to you. Also remember if your personal trainer got his or her cert online that you can Google the answers............. scary stuff when you think about it. Most people trust their trainer and trust that he or she wont hurt or steer them in the wrong direction when most of them cant even do a proper deadlift or even tell you the entire mechanics of a deadlift. Next time you see your trainer ask him or her what a calorie is then ask what is energy and how does my body produce energy. I bet he wont know.0
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Hawkeye4356 wrote: »OMG I love sugar!!! This has been the hardest thing ever. I didn't even realize it until I started tracking my calories. So what are you guys eating in place of these amazingly delicious foods?
Mostly, what I've done is take the time to measure out a portion when I want to eat something. However, if you're just starting out, it might be more helpful to banish all trigger foods from your house for now. Period. No one else is allowed to have them in the house either. Understand if you can't control all the food, like if you're rooming with someone, but if you can, do so. Then, if you desperately want said food, use cookies as an example, they're not readily available. Do something to distract your mind for a bit, and if you still want the cookie after an hour, go to the gas station and get A SINGLE cookie (or single serve package) and take it home to eat. You still get the cookie, but you're not going to have a big bag sitting there waiting to be eaten. Try that see if it helps. ^_^0 -
Hawkeye4356 wrote: »OMG I love sugar!!! Says my brain who loves SUGAR no matter where he gets it from! I personally enjoy the taste of Oreos. I also believe that most of you are describing sugar incorrectly. I also realize that when I see an Oreo Dopamine is released in my brain and my brain wants that form of sugar right then and there however I am in control of my body and my emotions and can have the will power and self discipline not to have that Oreo or if I do have one I will only have ONE not an entire row. lol Also these so called trainers that some of you are seeing is a scam did you know you can become a certified trainer and nutritionist in a little over a week and that's because it takes a few days to mail your certs to you. Also remember if your personal trainer got his or her cert online that you can Google the answers............. scary stuff when you think about it. Most people trust their trainer and trust that he or she wont hurt or steer them in the wrong direction when most of them cant even do a proper deadlift or even tell you the entire mechanics of a deadlift. Next time you see your trainer ask him or her what a calorie is then ask what is energy and how does my body produce energy. I bet he wont know.
Savoury foods are amazing as well. It's just about balance.0 -
Honestly, reading everyone here who has trouble with sugar, I don't believe its only an emotional thing. It seems real enough that so many people's experience is that they craved sugary foods and if they cold turkey stopped eating processed sugar they were able to keep to their food limits much easier. Some people even felt better too!
So nay sayers nay, but people, if it works for you don't fix it just because science ( and some MFP ers ) say other wise! Stick with your plan! The results are proof enough.0 -
Honestly, reading everyone here who has trouble with sugar, I don't believe its only an emotional thing. It seems real enough that so many people's experience is that they craved sugary foods and if they cold turkey stopped eating processed sugar they were able to keep to their food limits much easier. Some people even felt better too!
So nay sayers nay, but people, if it works for you don't fix it just because science ( and some MFP ers ) say other wise! Stick with your plan! The results are proof enough.
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Honestly, reading everyone here who has trouble with sugar, I don't believe its only an emotional thing. It seems real enough that so many people's experience is that they craved sugary foods and if they cold turkey stopped eating processed sugar they were able to keep to their food limits much easier. Some people even felt better too!
So nay sayers nay, but people, if it works for you don't fix it just because science ( and some MFP ers ) say other wise! Stick with your plan! The results are proof enough.
Don't fix something because science says otherwise? Don't let pesky things like fact get in the way. Wow.0 -
Hey everyone! I'm new to the app, I installed to track my food intake and exercise. I realise that my biggest problem is sugar cravings and sugary food consumption. Does anyone has the same problem? How do you deal with it?
I re-watched supersize me over the weekend and he talked about having massive cravings after eating all the Mc Donalds, so yeah sugar/carb cravings are real and a big deal for any naysayers out there.
There's not much sugar in the usual McD's order and tons of fat. Maybe he was craving fat? Oh, right, it's 2016 so everything has to be about sugar/carbs.
Truth is that people crave things they find tasty and are in the habit of eating. People "craving" a cookie don't want just any cookie and they certainly don't think a spoonful of sugar would be an adequate substitute (and most sweet things people crave have tons of fat too).0 -
Couchpotato39 wrote: »I have an issue with sugar and have cut out processed foods and sweets. This helps. I also have increased my fat intake which makes me feel more satisfied. Best of luck to you as you try to get this issue in check.
How do you define processed foods. Most people who claim to have cut out all processed foods have not.
Also, care to tell me why processed foods like smoked salmon and cottage cheese are bad for me and should be cut out?0 -
Wheelhouse15 wrote: »Hawkeye4356 wrote: »OMG I love sugar!!! Says my brain who loves SUGAR no matter where he gets it from! I personally enjoy the taste of Oreos. I also believe that most of you are describing sugar incorrectly. I also realize that when I see an Oreo Dopamine is released in my brain and my brain wants that form of sugar right then and there however I am in control of my body and my emotions and can have the will power and self discipline not to have that Oreo or if I do have one I will only have ONE not an entire row. lol Also these so called trainers that some of you are seeing is a scam did you know you can become a certified trainer and nutritionist in a little over a week and that's because it takes a few days to mail your certs to you. Also remember if your personal trainer got his or her cert online that you can Google the answers............. scary stuff when you think about it. Most people trust their trainer and trust that he or she wont hurt or steer them in the wrong direction when most of them cant even do a proper deadlift or even tell you the entire mechanics of a deadlift. Next time you see your trainer ask him or her what a calorie is then ask what is energy and how does my body produce energy. I bet he wont know.
Savoury foods are amazing as well. It's just about balance.
Agree -- I find the idea that sugary foods are somehow harder to resist to be odd, personally.
Anyway, to the OP, what worked for me was not snacking. If I eat only at mealtimes I tend to want a balanced meal, not sweet stuff. If I want a little something sweet after a balanced meal I am not going to overdo it, and I measure out a proper amount.
I do find that having a diet that is satisfying in general helps, and for me that means enough protein, lots of vegetables, healthy fats, stuff like that.0 -
Couchpotato39 wrote: »I have an issue with sugar and have cut out processed foods and sweets. This helps. I also have increased my fat intake which makes me feel more satisfied. Best of luck to you as you try to get this issue in check.
Technically, if I pick a strawberry in my garden, stem it, and throw it in the freezer, I have processed it. So to avoid semantic debates on MPF, instead of saying "processed foods" I say "ultra processed foods" and link to the Brazilian definition.0 -
Hey everyone! I'm new to the app, I installed to track my food intake and exercise. I realise that my biggest problem is sugar cravings and sugary food consumption. Does anyone has the same problem? How do you deal with it?
@arsgomez I had the same problem but it went away in about a month after I got off of most all sugars and all grains Oct 2014 at the age of 63. I am still off both but the 3-4 times I have eaten things like deserts the craving came back fast and HARD. As long as I keep daily carbs <50 grams, protein <70 grams and get 80% of my calories from fats I do fine craving and weight wise. Blood markers are now awesome and 40 years of IBS is still gone. Mental clarity/energy level is better too.
Best of success.0 -
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Wheelhouse15 wrote: »Hawkeye4356 wrote: »OMG I love sugar!!! Says my brain who loves SUGAR no matter where he gets it from! I personally enjoy the taste of Oreos. I also believe that most of you are describing sugar incorrectly. I also realize that when I see an Oreo Dopamine is released in my brain and my brain wants that form of sugar right then and there however I am in control of my body and my emotions and can have the will power and self discipline not to have that Oreo or if I do have one I will only have ONE not an entire row. lol Also these so called trainers that some of you are seeing is a scam did you know you can become a certified trainer and nutritionist in a little over a week and that's because it takes a few days to mail your certs to you. Also remember if your personal trainer got his or her cert online that you can Google the answers............. scary stuff when you think about it. Most people trust their trainer and trust that he or she wont hurt or steer them in the wrong direction when most of them cant even do a proper deadlift or even tell you the entire mechanics of a deadlift. Next time you see your trainer ask him or her what a calorie is then ask what is energy and how does my body produce energy. I bet he wont know.
Savoury foods are amazing as well. It's just about balance.
Agree -- I find the idea that sugary foods are somehow harder to resist to be odd, personally.
Anyway, to the OP, what worked for me was not snacking. If I eat only at mealtimes I tend to want a balanced meal, not sweet stuff. If I want a little something sweet after a balanced meal I am not going to overdo it, and I measure out a proper amount.
I do find that having a diet that is satisfying in general helps, and for me that means enough protein, lots of vegetables, healthy fats, stuff like that.
Agree as well. I don't crave sweets. A couple years working in the bakery department of a restaurant got rid of ANY sweet cravings I had! Not that I craved that much to begin with. My craving is for salt. While there are sweet things I love and don't buy frequently because I will eat too much of them (Easter is the worst, damn Cadbury Eggs!), when I'm having a 'craving', it's for something salty, like chips.0 -
Hey everyone! I'm new to the app, I installed to track my food intake and exercise. I realise that my biggest problem is sugar cravings and sugary food consumption. Does anyone has the same problem? How do you deal with it?
When I do the following, I don't have cravings or problems with overconsumption of sweets:
1. Get sufficient sleep
2. Exercise regularly - when I get the happy hormones from exercise, I'm not prone to seeking them from food.
3. Get sufficient protein in relationship to carbs. I'm not low carb, but reducing carbs and upping protein worked for cravings for me.
4. Eat moderate amounts of fruit
5. Take a magnesium supplement. This can be especially helpful for women premenstrually.
6. Save foods like chocolate for after dinner, in small amounts0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Wheelhouse15 wrote: »Hawkeye4356 wrote: »OMG I love sugar!!! Says my brain who loves SUGAR no matter where he gets it from! I personally enjoy the taste of Oreos. I also believe that most of you are describing sugar incorrectly. I also realize that when I see an Oreo Dopamine is released in my brain and my brain wants that form of sugar right then and there however I am in control of my body and my emotions and can have the will power and self discipline not to have that Oreo or if I do have one I will only have ONE not an entire row. lol Also these so called trainers that some of you are seeing is a scam did you know you can become a certified trainer and nutritionist in a little over a week and that's because it takes a few days to mail your certs to you. Also remember if your personal trainer got his or her cert online that you can Google the answers............. scary stuff when you think about it. Most people trust their trainer and trust that he or she wont hurt or steer them in the wrong direction when most of them cant even do a proper deadlift or even tell you the entire mechanics of a deadlift. Next time you see your trainer ask him or her what a calorie is then ask what is energy and how does my body produce energy. I bet he wont know.
Savoury foods are amazing as well. It's just about balance.
Agree -- I find the idea that sugary foods are somehow harder to resist to be odd, personally.
Anyway, to the OP, what worked for me was not snacking. If I eat only at mealtimes I tend to want a balanced meal, not sweet stuff. If I want a little something sweet after a balanced meal I am not going to overdo it, and I measure out a proper amount.
I do find that having a diet that is satisfying in general helps, and for me that means enough protein, lots of vegetables, healthy fats, stuff like that.
Agree as well. I don't crave sweets. A couple years working in the bakery department of a restaurant got rid of ANY sweet cravings I had! Not that I craved that much to begin with. My craving is for salt. While there are sweet things I love and don't buy frequently because I will eat too much of them (Easter is the worst, damn Cadbury Eggs!), when I'm having a 'craving', it's for something salty, like chips.
Probably the best way to get rid of a food craving is to work with that food. Anyone here that ever worked for McDonald's and still want a Big Mac?0 -
Mcdonalds puts sugar in everything the fries the buns the meat do your research. Sugar can be addictive do the research0
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Floridaman789 wrote: »Mcdonalds puts sugar in everything the fries the buns the meat do your research. Sugar can be addictive do the research
If you've done the research you'd know that sugar is not addictive.0 -
Floridaman789 wrote: »Mcdonalds puts sugar in everything the fries the buns the meat do your research. Sugar can be addictive do the research
No they don't. There's a little sugar in the buns like most commercial bread in the US. There's sugar in ketchup. The fries have 0 grams of sugar.
Bigger point -- no one eats McD's burgers and fries because of sugar. What people find tasty about them is the salt and fat (and overall package, but I would bet those play the biggest role). I don't care for McD's, but I do love a good burger and fries, and those are not sweet foods. I don't like ketchup anyway, but the idea that anyone overeats those foods because of the sugar in the ketchup or the bun or, I dunno, the pickles having a little sugar, or all that sugar in the onion is bizarre.0 -
Sugar/carbs is not an issue for everyone or even most people. To get my HDL levels really high and my triglycerides much lower I had to really cut my carbs down. 30 days after I went off of sugars and grains my joint and muscle pain dropped from a subjective level of 7-8 for the prior 40 years down to 2-3 and have stayed there since Nov 2014. It took about six months for my 40 years of life defining IBS to totally clear up. A huge motivating factor for me was I did not have to start on Enbrel injections for pain management since my health was failing fast.
For those who can eat sugar just fine then cases like mine to not apply to you. I still like ice cream, etc but just a little can let me know it is still wrong for my health. It is not so much the pain shoots up but signs of IBS start to reappear. While I have lost 50 pounds and can now get in and out of cars unaided I think the fear of IBS coming back is the main reason to stick with my new Way Of Eating that for 1.5 years has worked so well for my recovering health.0 -
I used to drink Mountain Dew. Not a lot, but at least a can a day. I started making fruit smoothies. It's a simple recipe. 3/4 cup of orange or apple juice, 1 cup frozen fruit, and 6 tablespoons of regular yogart. It has sugar, but it's natural. You might give it a try.0
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Hey everyone! I'm new to the app, I installed to track my food intake and exercise. I realise that my biggest problem is sugar cravings and sugary food consumption. Does anyone has the same problem? How do you deal with it?
OP did not ask for a debate on the merits of sugar addiction, nor was this discussion posted in the Nutrition Debate section. OP has requested assistance and guidance in dealing with sugar cravings. Lets not get hung up on vernacular.
A link to our community guidelines, in case anyone needs it: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/guidelines
Please, stay on topic here.
Happy Leap Year Monday,
JustSomeEm0
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