giving up sugar/junk food
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I get my chocolate fix using cocoa powder. I add a tablespoon to 1 cup frozen mixed berries and protein powder for my morning smoothie (I also fill the blender with baby spinach but not everyone is into that). The other thing I do is add cocoa powder to greek yogurt with some stevia, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. What I found worked best for the sugar craving was to start this new lifestyle (high protein, low carbs) on the first day of my period. I usually gorge for the week before and then I am not very hungry the first two days. It seemed to work... no cravings this time at all. I also have a piece of gum as soon as I am done with my lunch.0
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HELLO, my name is Nina and I'm a sugar addict.
This is how I detoxed after Christmas.
Lots of green tea and water, high protein, and an added fiber called Glucomannan --which stabilizes blood sugar along with many other benefits... therefore helping with sugar cravings.
I wrote about it in my blog ...you can find a link to it in today's post actually!
www.runningsforthebirds.blogspot.com
Also, being distracted/busy/having something to do and getting PLENTY of sleep at night helps a great deal. It usually takes a good 3 days to get over the withdrawls --feeling better as day 4 approaches!0 -
Calcium chews come in chocolate flavors and are pretty darn good. I have to be careful because I could eat a handful, but at least it's not too bad for you! Good luck!0
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I was addicted to food. I can admit that now. I would eat when I wasn't even hungry.
When it came to junk foods, it was even worse. I would drink coke like water (literally.....not proud of that) and would eat chocolate daily as an after meal treat.... after every single meal in the day (again, not proud of that).
I cut it off completely three months ago when I joined this site. I have a few tips that have helped me:
- Make a mock entry in your diary (obviously delete it afterwards). Enter all the meals, treats, junk foods that you can recall on one of your WORST DAYS. This was important to me because even though I knew junk food was bad for me, I didn't EXACTLY know why. When you put together a mock entry of your WORST DAY, you get a clear idea of what it is you're trying to avoid.
(For me, I entered in a day where I had 1 x Pizza Hut pizza, 1 x Cadbury Chocolate Bar, 1.5 litres of coke among many other foods.... the tally was up to 5000 calories and no I am NOT joking... it woke me up. I haven't looked back.
- Log everything (EVERYTHING) that you eat, down to the last grape and drop of milk. Tally up your calories and see for yourself how easy it is to reach your calorie limit daily without eating junk food.
- Eat when you're hungry, not when you feel like it. When you don't know, eat a small portion (normally 1/4 to 1/2 of a standard meal you'd have) and wait 20 minutes. If you're still hungry after, finish off the meal. Wait another 20 minutes. This allows your brain to register that you are full.
- Drink water, water, and more WATER! Get that 8 glasses of water down your hole a day, or as close as you can. It teaches you the difference between thirst and hunger (my ability to know the difference was so weak, I'd confuse them...)
Look, I came around from a very, very, VERY destructive eating habit. I now only have a handful of licorice (high in energy, low in calories) or a Ski Lite yoghurt to settle the stomach. I cook my own meals so I know what I'm eating (steaks, fish, chicken, etc.).
Finally, whenever you have a sudden urge to eat bad foods in an unreasonable way (for example; a couple of squares of dark chocolate is actually good for you), and if you find yourself trying to JUSTIFY eating the food, remember this saying:
"Don't let a moment of weakness turn into a moment of regret"
Sorry for writing so much but I feel very strongly about this. It is not a stupid question and believe me when I say if I can turn that around, so can you.
This is great advice! I know I am addicted to food too. Sugar is my biggest trigger and I, like you, eat it after every meal...breakfast lunch and dinner and snack. I find that I crave it in the middle of the night, I have it stashed around the house, I hide it from my kids and husband. Its ridiculous really. I know I am better than this addiction. I think I am going to print out in big bold letters your quote about a moment of weakness! Love it!
This was me too! It is very difficult to give up sugar but ssoooooooooooooooo worth it. My body tried to trick me and begged me to give it sugar and even made me suffer headaches for a couple of days a few days in but stopping the processed sugar
was the best thing I could have done for my body & weight loss. It took me a couple of weeks but I just drank alot of water and ate alot of fruit when I has a craving - and I knew when I won because I could walk past chocolate, donuts, cake, candy etc and not even give it a second thought! This holiday season was a huge test for me and I passed with flying colours! I had a bite of two of sugary foods and that was enought to satisfy me! I even have a open half eaten chocolate bar in my fridge that has been there since October - I've seen it several times a day everyday and it doesn't bother me - I have the odd square here and there! That is huge for me - I could eat a whole box of chocolates in one night before!! The more sugar you eat the more your body wants. Good luck - stay strong!! :drinker:0 -
I started drinking a green smoothie for breakfast. It's been almost 2 months now but I started noticing a big difference within a few weeks. I no longer crave junk food. It is the weirdest thing to me! It's also wonderful knowing you are filling up your body with great nutrients.
Anyhow, I started after my friends had great results and I plan to continue it. I follow Kim Snyder's Glowing Green Smoothie receipe minus the celery as I don't care for it.
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...
Also, being distracted/busy/having something to do and getting PLENTY of sleep at night helps a great deal. It usually takes a good 3 days to get over the withdrawls --feeling better as day 4 approaches!
This is something that is also extremely true. Idle fingers are our worst enemy. Keep them preoccupied! For me, video games did wonders
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I strongly believe that processed sugar is addictive - I know it is for my body. Like, really, genuinely addictive. It doesn't work for me to have just a little of something very often, so I prefer to cut it all out. I chew gum, drink tea, drink carbonated water with lemon, eat fruit leather and lots of fruit. Eating whole foods like whole grains, greens, fats, etc are the trick for me. I need them to feel satisfied, diet food and artificial sugars just don't do it for me. Oh, and the other thing is raw honey! I eat raw honey almost every day and probably 1-5 pieces of fruit per day. Of course I am not a perfect person, so I still eat sweets sometimes, and that's really okay. I think if you do you shouldn't shame yourself for it, then it will have a bad effect on your mind too. Treat yourself well, take the time to figure out what works best for you. Good luck!
I agree with you. I know that I am addicted to sugar like people are addicted to smoking or drugs...same mental thing going on here. I am not big on diet food/artifical sugars. they are expensive and just don't taste like the real thing so I don't want to bother with them. Do you just eat spoonfuls of raw honey or do you put it with your fruit or on your oatmeal? Just curious how you do that...and why raw. What is wrong with the stuff I find in the grocery store?
I used to keep bees, so I'm personally a bit of a honey snob :P
But the stuff in the store is heated and processed so it has no nutritional value and it is basically like eating corn syrup - in fact, some studies have shown that the stuff in the store does have some amount of non-honey add in. There's a lot of other reasons, like how the bees are treated that come in to play for me, but the main reason is that raw honey has tons of nutritional value and has been a healing agent for health and sickness for a long time. And I eat about a tablespoon of honey each day, sometimes on some fruit, sometimes in tea, sometimes just a little bit on a spoon.0 -
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Okay giving up sugar is hard! I went from drinking multiple cans/bottles of coke everyday for years. So giving it up was a really really hard thing to do.
I hate to say this, but the only way that I found worked is to just stop. You will get headaches for a few days due to the lack of sugar that your body is used to, but this will pass. I recommend drinking plenty of water while cutting it out to assist your body to flush it out of your body.
Sugar is bad in many ways, it assists in weight gain and due to my excessive sugar for years I now have to have a few root canals which is not cheap! Or lose my teeth. I think you need to look at what its doing to your body and realise the effects go beyond what you think. Its simply breaking a habit and habits are hard to break. But now I dont drink sugar drinks at all and if I do its very rare. I drink water and only water just about everyday now. Its worth it.
Also sugar free is better for you it has other additives which I bloody terrible for your body, so I do recommend trying to stay away from the diet drinks as well.0 -
GREAT POST! very motivating 0
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"sweet" idea foods that are yummy and good for you: sugar free jello, ff popcorn kettlecorn, sugar free hot chocolate, fiber one brownies oh so yum and only 90 cal, great witha glass of milk as a snack. pudding cup, ff or sugar free, choc low fat milk. protein shake with frozen nana, tastes exactly like a milkshake, chocolate cereal with milk, i think cocoa pebbles are about 150n cal for bowl including milk and yummy for breakfast lunch and dinner or snack, half a choc bar with pb, yum yum, choc covered strawberries, cut up nana and strawberries with a little hershey syrup on top and some free cool whip my fav snack, no pudge brownies made with pumpkin puree, i could go on and on with the list!0
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I am definitely getting back onto the track re: sugars.0
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great advice! mind if I repost to my page? my friends would love this!I was addicted to food. I can admit that now. I would eat when I wasn't even hungry.
When it came to junk foods, it was even worse. I would drink coke like water (literally.....not proud of that) and would eat chocolate daily as an after meal treat.... after every single meal in the day (again, not proud of that).
I cut it off completely three months ago when I joined this site. I have a few tips that have helped me:
- Make a mock entry in your diary (obviously delete it afterwards). Enter all the meals, treats, junk foods that you can recall on one of your WORST DAYS. This was important to me because even though I knew junk food was bad for me, I didn't EXACTLY know why. When you put together a mock entry of your WORST DAY, you get a clear idea of what it is you're trying to avoid.
(For me, I entered in a day where I had 1 x Pizza Hut pizza, 1 x Cadbury Chocolate Bar, 1.5 litres of coke among many other foods.... the tally was up to 5000 calories and no I am NOT joking... it woke me up. I haven't looked back.
- Log everything (EVERYTHING) that you eat, down to the last grape and drop of milk. Tally up your calories and see for yourself how easy it is to reach your calorie limit daily without eating junk food.
- Eat when you're hungry, not when you feel like it. When you don't know, eat a small portion (normally 1/4 to 1/2 of a standard meal you'd have) and wait 20 minutes. If you're still hungry after, finish off the meal. Wait another 20 minutes. This allows your brain to register that you are full.
- Drink water, water, and more WATER! Get that 8 glasses of water down your hole a day, or as close as you can. It teaches you the difference between thirst and hunger (my ability to know the difference was so weak, I'd confuse them...)
Look, I came around from a very, very, VERY destructive eating habit. I now only have a handful of licorice (high in energy, low in calories) or a Ski Lite yoghurt to settle the stomach. I cook my own meals so I know what I'm eating (steaks, fish, chicken, etc.).
Finally, whenever you have a sudden urge to eat bad foods in an unreasonable way (for example; a couple of squares of dark chocolate is actually good for you), and if you find yourself trying to JUSTIFY eating the food, remember this saying:
"Don't let a moment of weakness turn into a moment of regret"
Sorry for writing so much but I feel very strongly about this. It is not a stupid question and believe me when I say if I can turn that around, so can you.
or the saying goes "a moment on the lips, forever on the hips" because "nothing taste as good as thing feels" i try to remind myself of these sayings when i am contemplating eating something that might trigger a binge0 -
Thanks for asking this question. Sugar addiction is the one thing I have not been able to crack. I've given up smoking and drinking but sugar seems twice as hard. The great answers given here will help I'm sure!0
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I don't drink sodas or juices. I drink a lot of water. I chew gum cuz my mouth is always dry so it helps, but it is sugar free gum.
Have you had your blood sugar tested lately?
I haven't had my sugars tested lately. Every time I have had them checked I fall well within the normal range. I know that diabetes runs in my family so I know I need to get this under control before I become like them.
Oh good! I always worry about anyone who is having symptoms like excessive thirst. It turned out my mother was diabetic, and we had no idea until after she passed away. It has given me renewed inspiration to not let obesity and eventual diabetes be a part of my life. :flowerforyou:0 -
Gum is good for when you want something sweet. Check out the Extra Dessert delights!0
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So I am on day 2 of sugar free. I have followed the advice here...lots of water, fruit, etc. I have had a sugar free jello pudding to help with the chocolate need. I was close to my calorie goal yesterday and I am doing pretty good today. I would have added some exercise but I have been dealing with a raging sinus infection so exercise is just painful right now. I have been craving sugar like a fiend. It is crazy but I feel like my muscles are twitching and I am ancie and irritable (sorry kids :-( ) I know I can beat this addiction! I don't want to turn to a lot of sugar free/artificial sweetners because they will still add to the calorie counts and doesn't really change my behaviors. I see it as switching from alcoholic to nonalcoholic beer...really the habit doesn't change the relapse is going to be more likely. I know I am going to get sick of fruit after awhile. Thanks for the support and feedback everyone!0
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I gave up all sugars and sweet fruits 21 months ago. I've lost 145 pounds and kept it off.
Along with giving up sugar you are also going to have to quit all sweeteners.
You are going to have to give up all wheat products. Remember 2 slices of wholewheat bread has a higher gilcemic index than a snickers bar. The moment you eat the whole wheat it turns to sugar. It spikes your insulin and causes cravings.
You will suffer withdraw symptoms for a short time but it will be worth it. You will be free from that crack sugar.
After a while your taste will change, you will no longer like sweet tasting foods or drink.
You will lose weight and feel great.
A few things to help you. Watch the YouTube video by Dr. Robert Lustig called "Sugar The Bitter Truth",
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
Read the book by Dr. William Davis called "Wheat Belly", you can read the first chapter on Amazon.com
Read the book by Gary Taubes called "Why We Get Fat, And What To Do About It", available on Amazon.com
I do enjoy the occasional DARK chocolate. 85% is sufficiently bitter to allow me to handle the little sugar in it. A 3.5 oz. bar will last me a month.
Think of all the money you are gong to save.
I wish you success.
Dan
Lustig lol, read
http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/01/29/the-bitter-truth-about-fructose-alarmism/
http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/02/19/a-retrospective-of-the-fructose-alarmism-debate/
Taubes
Fat can be stored without the presence of insulin, oops there goes his whole carbs are evil hypothesis. Also among others;
http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html
Wheat Belly lol lol
GI is mostly irrelevant to the avg person, guess what spikes insulin as well? protein0 -
Why do people insist on overcomplicating this, and making it far harder than it needs to be?
As long as you have no medical conditions, losing fat while maintaining as much muscle as possible is very easy. Hit your calories deficit, hit your macros, stay hydrated, lift heavy, getting cardio will help too. Job done.
No need to cut anything out, ban this, etc.0 -
Why do people insist on overcomplicating this, and making it far harder than it needs to be?
As long as you have no medical conditions, losing fat while maintaining as much muscle as possible is very easy. Hit your calories deficit, hit your macros, stay hydrated, lift heavy, getting cardio will help too. Job done.
No need to cut anything out, ban this, etc.
This is more about controlling bad eating habits. Cutting out the sugar is something I need to do to maintain the correct calorie counts. it is a proven fact that too much sugar in your system will lead to health problems. For some it is more than just "Hit your calories deficit, hit your macros, stay hydrated, lift heavy, getting cardio will help too. Job done." It is about changing the way you look at and consume the food you are putting in your body. I have a family history of diabetes so I need to be careful with the choices I am making especially concerning the sugar. After feeling the way I have felt for the past several days it is obvious that I needed to make a change.0 -
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bump. I am definitely gonna work on this, went searching for a good thread and found one!0
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I gave up desserts for 10 days.Honestly it was hard for me because i have a habit to eat desserts after i eat dinner ,but it was good that i did this experience because I didn't feel that bloated after I ate.I noticed I felt better about myself and noticed I was eating healthier.I wish to continue eating healthier and if your reading this you should too .Eating desserts can cause weight gain and it can also cause health problems like diabetes or cancer.Instead of eating desserts you can eat yogurt with granola and fruits.You can also eat apples with peanut butter.Hope this advice helps you. call me at 1800 get thin!!! 0
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Sugar turned me into a newt!0
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Sugar turned me into a newt!0
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Sugar turned me into a newt!
I - I got better!0 -
And yet another 2011 post.... lol. This has to be some kind of resurrection record in one day on MFP....... LOL0
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And yet another 2011 post.... lol. This has to be some kind of resurrection record in one day on MFP....... LOL
Actually, I'm kinda relieved it's a zombie thread....I'm pretty sure no one who tries to post this nonsense these days would get to the 2nd page before the dissenters (ie sensible people) showed up.0
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