How do you deal with sugar withdraw??

Kupo98
Kupo98 Posts: 103 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I need inspiration for avoiding sugar!
«134

Replies

  • Kupo98
    Kupo98 Posts: 103 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    I eat something sugary to maintain my blood glucose and avoid crashes or spikes.

    Instead of just not eating any at all?
  • DisruptedMatrix
    DisruptedMatrix Posts: 130 Member
    edited October 2016
    Maybe get some frozen blueberries and snack on them!
  • Kupo98
    Kupo98 Posts: 103 Member
    DisruptedMatrix wrote: »
    Maybe get some frozen blueberries and snack on them!

    Hey that's awesome!
  • Patrickjames16
    Patrickjames16 Posts: 5 Member
    I just try to pick things that hit the spot, but don't throw me off. Granola bar that has some chocolate on it or a couple of tootsie rolls.
  • goldthistime
    goldthistime Posts: 3,213 Member
    More protein helped me immensely with curtailing my sugar consumption, as did reducing my deficit.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Just don't bring the sugary items you have trouble controlling into the house.
  • Kupo98
    Kupo98 Posts: 103 Member
    Thanks all! I love having some outside opinions.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited October 2016
    I'm the same as Aaron. I eat sugar alongside nutritious foods since there is nothing really wrong consuming it. I mean, eating too many calories causes weight gain after all. Sugar gives me lots of energy, especially for jogging, and is not evil or poison. ;)

    Fruit, vegetables, breads/cereals and dairy all have some form of sugar in them.
    united1974 wrote: »
    i eat a MARS, find it helps me to

    work
    rest
    AND
    play

    *sticks tongue out*

    Well.... I have a SNICKERS .
    Because Snickers satisfies.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    I have food.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,598 Member
    I never made an effort to stop eating sugar. If the amount of sugar I consumed decreased, it was only because I was consciously making other choices ... like choosing foods that were lower in calories but more filling.

    For example, I tried to do the whole Greek yogurt thing, but I'm just not that fond of the texture of those yogurts. As it happens I prefer the texture of low cal yogurt.

    And after work I had been eating a fairly large quantity of chocolate as a snack. I knew that didn't do me any good at all ... sugar spike then drop which didn't give me enough energy for my evening exercise, so it wasn't a difficult decision to eat cottage cheese and raw veggies after work instead.

    But I still eat at least two pieces of fruit a day ... and on weekends I'll have chocolate covered granola bars while I'm cycling ... and after a long ride, I might have ice cream ...

    However, if I do want something sweet and don't want to consume the calories, I will go for a glass of diet coke or a cup of rooibos tea (as is, no sugar or milk or anything). :)
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Basically I've learned for myself (not necessarily for everyone) when I calorie restrict to lose weight I need to eat more often. Not because I believe meal timing is somehow necessary for weight loss but I guess since I am eating less in any given meal I seem to need to eat more frequently to keep my energy going. Long times between meals can result in feeling quite tired so I typically try to eat something every three hours or so. I have no interest at all in avoiding sugar, I just eat whatever makes me feel less hungry. That is just me though.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    sandywaterbaby9 wrote: »
    I need inspiration for avoiding sugar!

    Sugar withdrawal isn't a thing, so don't worry about that. You certainly could get the low carb flu if you go low carb, but that passes (and isn't that bad, from what I've heard).

    As for avoiding sugar, depends on the context--when are you tempted to overeat it?

    I agree that if you want a sweet treat and it doesn't fit in the calories or you are trying to cut down that fruit might be a good substitute, but of course (as others have said) that's not avoiding sugar. I think it's often a good choice, though. I also have dessert options that aren't sugary (like cheese) -- high cal, of course! If you are tempted by sweet things at times you don't plan to eat, having a structure and getting used to it can be helpful. I know lots of people like grazing, but I do much better just eating regular meals (and a post dinner dessert sometimes).
  • tillerstouch
    tillerstouch Posts: 608 Member
    sandywaterbaby9 wrote: »
    DisruptedMatrix wrote: »
    Maybe get some frozen blueberries and snack on them!

    Hey that's awesome!

    Thats eating sugar.......
  • DebSozo
    DebSozo Posts: 2,578 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    sandywaterbaby9 wrote: »
    I need inspiration for avoiding sugar!

    Sugar withdrawal isn't a thing, so don't worry about that. You certainly could get the low carb flu if you go low carb, but that passes (and isn't that bad, from what I've heard)...

    You've heard wrong. It's pretty bad. Maybe you don't experience sugar withdrawal or perhaps you have never given it up? There are symptoms for some people.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited October 2016
    DebSozo wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    sandywaterbaby9 wrote: »
    I need inspiration for avoiding sugar!

    Sugar withdrawal isn't a thing, so don't worry about that. You certainly could get the low carb flu if you go low carb, but that passes (and isn't that bad, from what I've heard)...

    You've heard wrong. It's pretty bad. Maybe you don't experience sugar withdrawal or perhaps you have never given it up? There are symptoms for some people.

    I'm just going by the reports from low carbers here, but I thought that if you dealt with the electrolyte thing it wasn't bad at all. (It's also not properly withdrawal, of course.)

    I've never lowered my carbs below 80-100, so yeah, haven't experienced it personally. I have gone without added sugar for a month, but obviously that wouldn't cause "withdrawal" or any other symptoms if you still had enough carbs to avoid ketosis, as your body is going to break down the starches and non added sugars in the same way--it physically doesn't make sense to claim "withdrawal" from cutting out added sugar.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    It is partially an electrolyte imbalance thing but for some, that's not all of it.
  • mysteps2beauty
    mysteps2beauty Posts: 493 Member
    edited October 2016
    Mumu190672 wrote: »
    It depends what you mean by avoiding sugar.
    I eat fruits, bread and other things that contain sugar.
    Personally I avoid to put sugar in my coffee, I dont eat cakes, chocolates or candies because they are high in calories and don't have much nutritional value.
    There was a time I was eating chocolates and candies but I always ended up eating everything.
    I find it easier not eating this kind of food at all even if it is in the house.
    As long as I don't touch it I am fine.

    This is pretty much me now.

    I started MFP this my 2nd time, for health reasons. So I was intentional on little sugar and sodium.

    The hardest part was my morning coffee, always cream and sugar, ALWAYS, since like forever. Now I can drink my coffee black. Never thought I would see the day. It took me about a month to wean myself to this point. Also because I ate less sugar in other things so that I could keep my grams to 25 and under, my tastebuds have changed. I really cannot tolerate even a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee. Fruit tastes waaaay too sweet. It's like a miracle. I want to keep it this way because it helps with the calories. :)

    So OP, I would say don't go cold turkey, just gradually wean yourself off, however long it takes. I really enjoy it, and I think you will too.
  • Kristi26
    Kristi26 Posts: 184 Member
    I avoid refined sugar almost entirely. I still eat fruit, honey, and maple syrup though. Does that help you?
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    Eat more protein and veggies. There is sugar in vegetables and fruits, and there are plenty of sites online that state which ones contain low/high levels.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    mysteps2beauty wrote: »
    Mumu190672 wrote: »
    It depends what you mean by avoiding sugar.
    I eat fruits, bread and other things that contain sugar.
    Personally I avoid to put sugar in my coffee, I dont eat cakes, chocolates or candies because they are high in calories and don't have much nutritional value.
    There was a time I was eating chocolates and candies but I always ended up eating everything.
    I find it easier not eating this kind of food at all even if it is in the house.
    As long as I don't touch it I am fine.

    This is pretty much me now.

    I started MFP this my 2nd time, for health reasons. So I was intentional on little sugar and sodium.

    The hardest part was my morning coffee, always cream and sugar, ALWAYS, since like forever. Now I can drink my coffee black. Never thought I would see the day. It took me about a month to wean myself to this point. Also because I ate less sugar in other things so that I could keep my grams to 25 and under, my tastebuds have changed. I really cannot tolerate even a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee. Fruit tastes waaaay too sweet. It's like a miracle. I want to keep it this way because it helps with the calories. :)

    I always find it odd when people say that their tastebuds changed, since most naturally enjoy both sweet and other flavors (sour, salty, bitter, spicy, whatever), especially when they claim not to have thought fruit was sweet before (or carrots or whatever). I've always hated (like I think it's disgusting and can't drink it) coffee or tea with sugar in it, but I love fruit and don't think it's too sweet for me, and I enjoy a variety of sweet dessert items (while some I do think are too sweet). I'd be sad if fruit stopped tasting good to me.

    I went without added sugar for a month, twice, and none of this changed.

    I do have somewhat different tastes than I did as a kid, mostly from being exposed to more things and liking a much broader range of flavors (more bitter, more spicy, so on). Hmm, I love vegetables now and only thought they were okay as a kid, but I also cook them much better than my mom did. Disliked coffee as a kid and had to learn to like it by making it half milk, initially (years ago).
  • ldougherty329
    ldougherty329 Posts: 2 Member
    There's no easy way to do it. I assume you mean processed sugar withdrawals, which in the past have made me plot ways sneak in chocolate. Fruit is definitely a good option, and I keep liquid stevia (for sweetening plain yogurt or other oatmeal) & sugar-free maple-imitation syrup on hand. The syrup is good because if I make "banana pancakes" (one egg and one banana mixed together and cooked on a griddle), the banana and sugar-free syrup are sweet enough that it feels like dessert - but it's clean!

    Water is also great - I love flavoring my water with cucumber, lime, and mint! It's like a mojito :) Keep on pushing through, the first two weeks are the hardest. Hope you find some stuff that works for you!
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,598 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    It is partially an electrolyte imbalance thing but for some, that's not all of it.

    Electrolytes are minerals. The seven top ones include:

    •Sodium (Na+)
    •Chloride (Cl-)
    •Potassium (K+)
    •Magnesium (Mg++)
    •Calcium (Ca++)
    •Phosphate (HPO4–)
    •Bicarbonate (HCO3-)


  • natasor1
    natasor1 Posts: 271 Member
    Sugar withdraw will go away, just after 21 days if u will stick to very low carbs for that time. The body has ability to switch from consuming sugar in your guts for energy to the Krep cycle, which uses fats or proteins in your own body. At that type of energy generation (neoglycolysis) u will have plenty of energy any time, clear mind and no nusty feeling of being hungry
  • janekana
    janekana Posts: 151 Member
    Whenever I get sweet cravings (not sugar, just sweet things in general), I go get a muesli bar made with chocolate and honey. Yes it's 113 calories, but it's much better than eating a chocolate cake worth 500 calories. Plus, it's fills me up too.

    However, I do have cheat meals, at least once a week (or less than that if I can). It allows me to eat sweet stuff or something else that would be calorie dense. I do make up for it with a deficit over the week, but if I didn't have cheat meals and have to go cold turkey, I would be very, very miserable.

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