Breaking the sugar cycle?

Hi everyone, I’m new to MFP - I’m working on breaking the sugar cycle. I know that I feel better in general when I have less processed sugar. But the call to the candies and cookies is very loud! Does anyone have suggestions for breaking the sugar addiction?

Replies

  • mariannekehl
    mariannekehl Posts: 66 Member
    I am trying to do the same thing. I recently gave up alcohol so i expected the sugar cravings to be fierce but wow this is bad.
  • Ninnoc06
    Ninnoc06 Posts: 7 Member
    I know it’s the same with sweets for me - the headaches are horrible!
  • Ninnoc06
    Ninnoc06 Posts: 7 Member
    BZAH10 wrote: »
    Many times cravings for sweets is much more of a habit and a comforting ritual. For example, candy in the afternoon, dessert after dinner, etc. It's a habit that can be changed. Replace the sweet with something else you enjoy whether it be food related (flavored unsweetened tea) or a 10 minute break to take a quick walk or listen to a couple songs you really enjoy.

    I like this a lot - I love a good herbal tea or a good stretch. It’s hard at the office especially when they keep offering snacks but maybe a cup of tea or a quick walk outside will be enough?
  • Shexio
    Shexio Posts: 184 Member
    -- Seriously, salt ? Can I have dill or sweet pickles?
    Is any of it related to the fact I don't eat a lot of fat (added fat) and I'm a veggie/fruit + oats girl?

    Ugh, I know...some of mine HAS to be the fact I'm not balancing out protein/fat/carbs.

    I want to get through a day...but I fail by 2pm.
    Trying again right now...no sugar from 3:30pm - bedtime.....
    and then NO sugar tomorrow morning. WHy is this SO hard to do???


  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    I'm the same as @AnnPT77 - when I eat more fruit I crave added sugars less. I needed to cut out most sugar when I was diagnosed with diabetes, and my experience was that after going cold turkey on oversweetened foods for about two weeks, they started tasting too sweet and I no longer wanted them as badly.

    During that transitional period one unexpected thing that helped was changing my habits around food. For example I used to stop every day for a Coke Icee at a particular corner, so I changed my driving patterns so I didn't pass it on the way home. I still crave Baskin Robbins when I pass the place we used to get it on a hot summer afternoon. Just simple things like putting the cookies in another cabinet can help.
  • Erick_mg
    Erick_mg Posts: 1 Member
    Salt, pink salt, when you crave sweets. It's just a little help to get you over the crave moment. After you've broken through the addiction you'll be ok without the extra salt.

    What just eat salt ? Ive had the aame problem cookies is the worst for me and i dont know how to stop that craving it always gets me not everyday but at least once week and that is what leads me to my cheat meals if i would know how to control that sweet craving i would be able to accomplish much more
  • khaatrebert
    khaatrebert Posts: 20 Member
    I love sweets. I was raised in a family that had a little something for desert every night. I don’t fight my love of sugar. I probably have desert 4 times a week. I make small one person deserts so that I don’t over eat. My personal favorites are chocolate chip cookie dough for one (although I leave out the chocolate chips because I don’t need them), peanut butter cookie dough for one, brownie for one, and a 1/4 batch of crepes!
  • Ecosse2018
    Ecosse2018 Posts: 33 Member
    What works for me is looking in the mirror, then going upstairs and looking in my wardrobe at the clothes I want to look good in this summer. When you are addicted to sugar you cannot stop with just one, but want another and then another. For me it is easier not to eat anything with any sort of sugar in the ingredients.
  • amberellen12
    amberellen12 Posts: 248 Member
    bhurley100 wrote: »
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    I love this! So true!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited February 2019
    Eat 2-3 servings of fruit daily.

    You'll probably come to find out it's not really sugar...at least not sugar alone. Most things like cookies, candies, etc have as many if not more calories coming from fat and the combination is highly palatable.

    It's also not an addiction...if it were, it could easily be cured with a banana.
  • Fatty_Nuff
    Fatty_Nuff Posts: 273 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    It's also not an addiction...if it were, it could easily be cured with a banana.

    Ever since I started my Dr. Oz 9 day banana fast, I'm totally addicted. :anguished:
  • suzu_2
    suzu_2 Posts: 311 Member
    I'm going to land firmly on the Fruit-is-your-friend side for this argument. Sugar as an addiction... probably not, habit... that is too mild to even scratch the surface! Whatever description you use, it is a da@! hard thing to give up, and anything healthy you can do to help you over the hump is a plus. I love crispy-sweet-tart apples. I keep a bag in the fridge at work and at home and this is my go-to when I have to have something sweet. It takes a little while to get through an apple and the time it takes to crunch through a whole one gives your brain time to register that you are fulfilling your need for a treat.
  • Ninnoc06
    Ninnoc06 Posts: 7 Member
    OP here...so we started doing smoothies and I swear you can’t taste the veg at all. We found a healthy Orange Julius recipe that’s nice and orangey. Also I am noticing a huge difference in how I feel - I feel not sick when I don’t have sugar- which makes me think a lot of it is in my mind.