Sugar?!?! Help me find a middle ground...

I go with 100g @ 1800 Cal. Usually with 2 pieces of fruit and some Greek yogurt I'm at about 60-90. it also gives me room for a small treat. I don't want to be super strict with my sugar goal and worry about it too much. However, for the last two weeks I have been avoiding treats like ice cream or cookies and each day feels easier to say no. I do want them as part of my diet but not a controlling part

I have an issue with sugar as well...I have had to STOP buying yogurt b/c that is my addiction & they are full of sugar - I didn't know this until starting MFP...Also, I read somewhere (not sure where at the moment) but it was in a health article about table sugar...We are allowed b/t 48-60 grams of sugar per day....MFP sets the limits lower than what we actually need on a few things...Fiber as well is one other one....I set mine to 60 b/c this is easier for me to go with than restricting so much that I only get 30 per day...I am still trying to cut down but now at least I know that I CAN have up to 60 grams vs 30 grams per day....Just wanted to let you know so that you don't feel as guilty about fruit & healthy sugars in your day!!

I suffer with sugar too. Once I start I just can't stop. One thing that has really helped me though is to stop buying processed suagr like sweets and pre-made cakes. Instead, I'll make a lower calorie treat, pref using natural sugars like making banana bread, having strawberries as a dessert or using Agave syrup on pancakes.

I'll admit that I haven't got it fully under control yet and that I do still have bad days but these are mainly when I've been eating shop bought sweets/treats. Replacing these as mentioned above does help me a lot.

That is the thing with addiction...............you can't find a middle ground.

If you are truly addicted, you will have to do the same as a drug addict or alcoholic. Cut it out and leave it alone.

Sugar addiction is no different than being addicted to cocaine, especially because it triggers the same part of the brain.

This is exactly correct.

You are right Paleo, that is why I had one taste and the whole box was gone. I am going to try something new and see if it helps. Continuing to follow the MFP guidelines but add on the grams of fiber I consume to my sugar allowance. That way I will be able to have healthy sugary foods (like fruit) but it will still need to be in moderation. Trial and error and I will find what works for me.

Here's a wonderful site for treats that are really tasty but most important of all HEALTHY, because she uses real ingredients,. It gives you the sugar fix but much healthier than most treats we may eat.

One of the perks of her site is she's got a section on what she calls "Single Lady Cupcakes" where you bake one and enjoy it and don't have a whole counter full left staring at you.

www.ChocolateCoveredKatie.com

Hope you find something you like!:flowerforyou:

I struggle with this too and alternate between thinking I can eat it in moderation and thinking I really need to cut it out altogether. I recently gave up caffeine and my sugar intake has increased since then as something else to give me that little boost. I found this article entertaining and potentially helpful although I admit I haven't tried it yet myself . . .

http://www.stumptuous.com/how-to-dump-sugar

Just looking over the link you shared, wow, some awesome ideas on how to give it up if it's not working for you. I was only able to read a bit of it now but will get back to it when I have more time to concentrate.

Just a note on the site, e-book she makes available, if you're easily offended by curse words it may not be the article for you unless you can simply read the material and learn from that. There is some valuable info worth taking time to read for sure!

Sugar and wheat are my trigger foods. It causes a reaction which leaves you wanting more and more and nothing will satisfy..hence the addiction.
I am pretty strong now in my journey that I could exercise portion control and have 1 serving but catch me on an "off" day of the month and someone needs to hide the box of cookies from me.

The link above that was shared by another member does mention that some are triggered by wheat as well and others not so much. I never really gave that much thought until I just now saw your post on how Wheat can be a trigger for you. You also might be interested in checking out ChocolateCoveredKatie website as she's not cooking with wheat but using anything from Almond flour, coconut flour, the list goes on. Take a peek gang it may be something that helps someone steer away from simple sugars but still be able to enjoy something sweet that's not made with sugar.

http://www.stumptuous.com/how-to-dump-sugar

Sugar is a HUGE problem for me, too. I understand what people are saying about addiction and going cold turkey, but for me this doesn't work. Going to one extreme almost always results in my going to the other extreme. It's kind of like a balancing act, so if the pendulum swings all the way to one side then you can bet it will swing to the other.

Instead, I like to wean myself. I do keep sweets in the house. It's not about denying myself something; it's about enjoying it responsibly. If I have one square of really yummy good dark chocolate every day, I'm happy. I can suck up all my other cravings because I know that I'm going to get my little treat. It gives me a reason to say no the rest of the time. I've replaced a lot of my junk food with fruit which, I know, also has a lot of sugar. Fruit also had a lot of redeeming nutritional qualities as well, like not having added refined sugar and being chock full of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Once I get the junk food cravings under control, I will start eating less fruit and more veggies.

I guess what I'm ultimately saying is that I think extremes and absolutes in one's diet can be detrimental, and I believe in training your body and brain to expect something different.

Don't forget all cabrohydrates are just the same. No difference.

Don't focus on white sugar in particular. Look at your WHOLE carbohydrate intake, always.

Pick some REAL GOAL like 80 grams /c per day and stick to that.

I am not a marathoner but I regularly run 15km or more. I never eat more than 72 grams of carbs per day (even on running days).