Sugar Addict needs support

Sugar doesn't turn to fat.

You are making this more complicated than it needs to be. That's not your fault. A lot of diet gurus have sold a lot of books and done a lot of talk shows exactly by making it more complicated than it needs to be. If you've heard it often, you tend to believe it whether or not it's actually true.

The truth is: Don't worry about carbs and sugar. Unless a doctor has told you to limit sugar, there's no need to. Just limit your calories. For weight loss, all you need to do is burn more calories than you eat. Period. As long as you do that, you could be eating nothing but Twinkies and still lose weight. (That's ill-advised for other reasons. You won't get proper nutrition and you'll feel like garbage. But you'll be lighter.)

Long-term, the goal is to train ourselves in eating habits we can sustain for the rest of our lives and still be healthy. Unless you're prepared to cut out sugar for the rest of your life, don't be extreme about cutting it out while "dieting". You'll just end up going crazy once you hit your goal weight, binge on sugar, and eventually gain it all back. Become accustomed simply to eating less.

bettersusan wrote: »

So, I have dieted successfully before, but over the years the weight has crept back... Especially since a major injury and surgery on my foot. This time I am trying to be healthier in regard to my sugar intake as I lose weight. I'm also trying to eat low to moderate carbs each day. I am having MAJOR sugar withdrawal. I know it may sound ridiculous to some of you, but I feel like I'm absolutely going nuts sometimes wanting something sweet. I feel so agitated. I have managed to keep the sugar and carbs low the past several days, but what do I do when I want it so badly I can't stand it. I wonder if this is what drug addicts and alcoholics feel when they try to quit. I literally felt ill the first couple of nights when I went to bed. Is this normal? The problem is, I can't avoid sugar. It is EVERYWHERE. Even sweet little old ladies at church give it to my children. I know I can lose weight without limiting it so much because I have before. I want to be healthier though. Sugar not only turns into fat but it is hard on our livers and kidneys, and I already have a rare, autoimmune liver disease. Any tips?? I feel like I need to join a "Sugar Addicts Support Group."

Actually sugar generally stored as glycogen, oxidized for immediate use, and a small part might be stored as fat if glycogen is full and no immediate use for it is needed.


Why not just start making smart choices. It seems like most of this is behavioral/psychological. What I have found that if I restrict foods I enjoy, it's hard for me to stay on track. If I incorporate 10-15% of my calories to treats, I have greater compliance. What I do is concentrate on calories and protein. Additionally, if you are eating adequate amounts of fiber, it should eliminate the impact of sugar.

bettersusan wrote: »

This time I am trying to be healthier in regard to my sugar intake as I lose weight.

I think this is a great plan. For a lot of us focusing on healthy eating can be motivating. It's good to try to make this a positive goal and not too restrictive. Think about what you want to have in your diet within your calories, which will help you understand what you have available for some extras (whether decadent foods like good cheese, which is one of my vices, or chocolate, or whatever).

I'm also trying to eat low to moderate carbs each day.

That is often a good strategy, depending on personal preference. Are you also focusing on getting a reasonable amount of protein? I think that is important. Also, really satisfying additions of healthy fats and other foods that fit now that carbs are lower? One thing I think is important when switching around a diet is making sure you enjoy the new diet.

I am having MAJOR sugar withdrawal. I know it may sound ridiculous to some of you, but I feel like I'm absolutely going nuts sometimes wanting something sweet. I feel so agitated.

I don't think it sounds nuts, although I don't think it's physical withdrawal for various reasons. Most likely it is a normal reaction to changing habits (I used to eat all the time between meals at work, especially when stressed, and when I stopped it was HARD, for a while, and then it stopped being hard at all). In other words, it is a pain to get through, but will likely go away as you change habits.

You also may have some issues with emotional eating (or perhaps not -- as I do, I don't want to assume everyone does, but going by the feelings). One thing I think is helpful is to understand WHEN you are wanting something sweet -- is it a specific sweet thing or things (for example, I never have any interest in hard candies, but might really want ice cream or chocolate), is it at certain times, is it when it's offered, it is associated with lack of sleep or feelings or what.

Oh, lack of sleep deserves a special mention. It in many, many people makes you crave sweets (or other quick carbs), especially if you have been in the habit of using them as a pick-me-up. And it messes with willpower. It helps sometimes to think "my body just needs energy, I'll have a cup of coffee and try to sleep better tonight."

Anyway, understanding when and the triggers or associations that lead to the desire for sugar (or certain sweets) can be extremely helpful.

I also found that for me structure helped. I think about what I want in my diet, getting it in specific (delicious) meals, and not eating at other times, period. After a week or so I mostly stopped thinking about foods at other times.

Not at first, but later, I did find it helped to include something sweet in my day, occasionally, for me having it after dinner in a measured out serving size, was ideal, but people vary. Among other things, being able to think "not now, but if I have calories after dinner" allowed me to not want the many things offered -- most of which, realistically are just THERE, but not as good as what I may have planned for my dessert later. And not thinking it's 100% off limits, but just something I'm choosing not to have now because I am saving the calories for later helped me too. (People will vary on strategies that work best for them.)

On being healthier -- that's overall diet, not whether you have a little sugar or not. The question, of course, is how much of your diet is it. You might be making it harder by focusing on it as something you cannot have, though. (Or you might find you cannot currently moderate it but can later.) Starting with structure and realizing that it will get easier should help, though.

I've quit smoking before, many, many times, before finally quitting several years ago. I've also had to cut the majority of my sugar and carbs from my diet due to health reasons. I would not say it's the same level, but it has a lot parallels. There's the habit and routine, the pleasurable associations, and there's going through the pain (withdraws).

What are your withdrawal symptoms? "Keto flu" If it's headaches and feeling fatigued then you may have to increase your sodium and potassium intake. Your body and brain may also be slowely adapting to burn fat as your primary energy source - so you may feel sluggish for the first week or two.