Cutting down sugar

minnaramraj · May 2016

Hi, Is there any tip to control sugar intake. I am trying to cut down it since ages. I will be all good for a week and then I stuff myself with all possible sugary stuff. Any help is deeply appreciated. Thank you. Happy Memorial Day.

goldthistime · May 2016

Here are my tips:

1. When I have had a sweet snack and find myself wanting more, I eat something else, like a protein. It interrupts the "more more more" cravings that can kick in. Often I realize that I was actually hungry, and that sweet snack just wasn't enough.
2. I try to minimize exposure to my triggers. Aggressively sweet things are triggers. Candy bars, cake icing, iced cookies etc. Mostly I just don't eat them, but when I do, I do so knowing that I will have to just wait for the subsequent cravings to disappear. Smells can be triggers. If someone at my house is going to be baking I make plans to get out of the house.
3. I eat moderate amounts of sugar daily. I have a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee or tea, I eat Fibre One bars, dark chocolate, sweetened yogurt etc. I eat fairly close to MFP's limit over the course of the week. I don't want to feel deprived.
4. I don't aim for a big calorie deficit. I have my setting at 0.5lb/week weight loss. When I get overly hungry, I'm more at risk for a sugary binge.
5. I eat a higher percentage protein than I used to. I'm assuming this works because the protein keeps my blood glucose levels fairly steady. Whatever the reason, it works.

Good luck.

minnaramraj · May 2016

Thank you so much. Yes,exposure to sweet things is a real trigger. I should avoid that. Thank you once again.

llbrixon · May 2016

Cut back on your sugars (high concentrated type foods)...sodas, cookies, or junk food. When I started to cut out the sugar. I stopped drinking my Mountain Dews, I must of been drinking at least 6 or them a day! I started drinking Hot Tea in the morning instead of drinking a Mt. Dew. Then, I quit eating my late time sugar snacks. It takes some time to get off the sugar stuff. Once, I got off the sugar I did not crave it anymore. The more sugar I ate, the more I wanted. You can do it!

liznotyet · May 2016

When I was gaining my sweet tooth was all-powerful! Brownies and diet soda were my two sweet treats. I had to quit both completely for several months and then slowly add in less-sweet sweet things in controlled portions, like individually wrapped bite sized dark chocolate, or a handful of blueberries. And these days I can only eat those with a protein source (like almonds) or a high-fiber carb (like oats.)

Over time I was able to learn to prefer the taste of plain yogurt and kefir over the sweet stuff. Having tea in the morning instead of coffee has also reduced cravings for things that typically go with coffee, like danish.

Three years later, I still crave diet soda and I know it technically has no calories, but it stimulates the sweet urge too much. And there are certain trigger foods where I know I will lose all control that we just can't have in the house.

If you have to work too hard to be 'all good for a week' then maybe you could try an old friend's tactic, she has a daily 'date with chocolate' so that she always has it to look forward to and doesn't feel deprived.

Everyone is different, I hope you find your balance.

minnaramraj · May 2016

Thank you so much.I don't drink tea or coffee. My problem area is cake. I just can't say no that

Hopefully I can control it soon.

schmerikad · June 2016

There is a movie on netflix called "that sugar film". If that doesn't scare you away from sugar, nothing will!

minnaramraj · June 2016

Thank you for the suggestion. I will definitely watch.

TR0berts · June 2016

No, don't watch it. It's fear-mongering nonsense.

sc487 · June 2016

Protein bars - the good ones have about 2-3G sugar and satisfy that sweet tooth really well.

Cutting down sugar

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