Help! I'm addicted to Sugar!
- Thread starter lorrayne
- Start date
Hi Lorrayne! I too crave sugar but in order to stop the cravings you must up your fiber intake. Eat a larger salad w/much more veggies than you would normally. Also up the fruit slightly & for bread make sure its at least 4-5 grams of fiber as well as increase your protein. This should take care of the sugar cravings. Its worked for me. HTH, Kathy
mogambo
Cathlete
I can hardly recall the cravings, but I do know that I once had them. So, it worked for me, but I just found that the psychological battle was "eating" too much of my time and energy that I'd rather use on the many problems and activities of life.
My tips are: You have to make up your mind to stop eating it. Some people can just eat it a little (like some can have a drink every now and then, or the occasional cigarette) and some can't. Get the junk out of your house. Resist the urge to have just a teensie weensie piecey-weesey, because often that leads to several more piecey-weeseys. Plan for an occasional treat but use portion control. Control your carbs. You don't need to do Atkins, but the more simple white starches and sugars you eat, the more you will crave them. Know that the food is not leaving the planet. You can always eat it again some day. Smelling things is a freebie. I am a veganish person, but I love stumbling into a cloud of bacon smell. I also love bakery smell, but I don't buy that crap. Once I eat it, 5 seconds of joy, hours of retribution and often I feel kinda sick too. You will definitely feel better, look better, have more energy and feel very smug and superior when you conquer this problem. Keep posting and we'll back you up, I'm sure.
These are my ideas, and I've been craving-free for many years. I occasionally decide to eat too much and it makes me feel yucky, but it's usually some unavoidable social event, or a vacation when we can't find a perfect restaurant and my choices are all bad or worse. So, I know the principles are still true.
My tips are: You have to make up your mind to stop eating it. Some people can just eat it a little (like some can have a drink every now and then, or the occasional cigarette) and some can't. Get the junk out of your house. Resist the urge to have just a teensie weensie piecey-weesey, because often that leads to several more piecey-weeseys. Plan for an occasional treat but use portion control. Control your carbs. You don't need to do Atkins, but the more simple white starches and sugars you eat, the more you will crave them. Know that the food is not leaving the planet. You can always eat it again some day. Smelling things is a freebie. I am a veganish person, but I love stumbling into a cloud of bacon smell. I also love bakery smell, but I don't buy that crap. Once I eat it, 5 seconds of joy, hours of retribution and often I feel kinda sick too. You will definitely feel better, look better, have more energy and feel very smug and superior when you conquer this problem. Keep posting and we'll back you up, I'm sure.
These are my ideas, and I've been craving-free for many years. I occasionally decide to eat too much and it makes me feel yucky, but it's usually some unavoidable social event, or a vacation when we can't find a perfect restaurant and my choices are all bad or worse. So, I know the principles are still true.
4
40something
Guest
Hi. First of all...when-where are you giving in to the sugar demon? At home? At work?
Nipping the sugar habit is like smoking...you just have to stop. Don't keep candy in the house. Don't keep candy at your desk. Don't keep candy in your car. Don't buy candy when your shopping. Stay away from vending machines...pack your own lunches and healthy snacks for work. You will stop eating it if it's not available to you and then once you have cleansed your body of it...you really won't crave it like you are now. I love chocolate too but I don't eat it everday...sometimes not even once a month. I don't keep sweets in the house. When I have chocolate I buy one bar. Think about what you're putting in your mouth before you eat it and decide if that candy bar is really what you should be eating...or if a handful of pretzels would be just as satisfying.
Most Americans are hooked on sugar...that's why we are such an over-weight society. So I like to think of myself as being a better person because I don't succomb to the All-American habit of eating sugar by the tablespoonfuls. Oh, and keep in mind that juices and pop contain alot of sugars too.
Just learn to say NO!
Nipping the sugar habit is like smoking...you just have to stop. Don't keep candy in the house. Don't keep candy at your desk. Don't keep candy in your car. Don't buy candy when your shopping. Stay away from vending machines...pack your own lunches and healthy snacks for work. You will stop eating it if it's not available to you and then once you have cleansed your body of it...you really won't crave it like you are now. I love chocolate too but I don't eat it everday...sometimes not even once a month. I don't keep sweets in the house. When I have chocolate I buy one bar. Think about what you're putting in your mouth before you eat it and decide if that candy bar is really what you should be eating...or if a handful of pretzels would be just as satisfying.
Most Americans are hooked on sugar...that's why we are such an over-weight society. So I like to think of myself as being a better person because I don't succomb to the All-American habit of eating sugar by the tablespoonfuls. Oh, and keep in mind that juices and pop contain alot of sugars too.
Just learn to say NO!
Gemini girl
Cathlete
Thank you for this post! I have the same problem - and this morning, I woke up and said something has to give, or I'm going to go insane with this battle! I have a question too- what about eating the no sugar/low carb candy? Russell Stover has this incredible toffee candy, and is made with Splenda, I swear it taste like the real thing. The calories are high, but no sugar. Would it be ok to have that? I know for sure i'm not as disciplined as you guys - I need my chocolate!!
mogambo
Cathlete
What's ok to have depends on what pushes you over the edge. No one can answer that but you. If you can truly just eat one or two and then stop, then you can eat them! Presto! If not, then you can't.
I cannot eat one tortilla chip. But I do not like potato chips. I do not like chocolate, but I love caramels. I don't eat them though. It's all just a series of decisions that are totally up to you, but you also have to live with the consequences. I feel soooo good all the time, and I look sooooo much better and am so much healthier than 98% of people my age, and I know that I've had caramels, I know what they taste like, and eating one is not worth it. I probably haven't eaten one in 10 years.
I cannot eat one tortilla chip. But I do not like potato chips. I do not like chocolate, but I love caramels. I don't eat them though. It's all just a series of decisions that are totally up to you, but you also have to live with the consequences. I feel soooo good all the time, and I look sooooo much better and am so much healthier than 98% of people my age, and I know that I've had caramels, I know what they taste like, and eating one is not worth it. I probably haven't eaten one in 10 years.
lorrayne
Cathlete
I personally think eating "sugar free" chocolate is just as bad. I tend to over eat this as well as normal sugar. Still high in calories (typically higher in fat). Problem I find with the sugar free chocolates is that I end up getting a belly ache with these (since there is an ingredient called Malitol in these chocolates that could cause diarreha).
My problem is that once I start to eat sweets, I'll continue to eat them until I either run out or am physically sick. Sigh.
Lorrayne
My problem is that once I start to eat sweets, I'll continue to eat them until I either run out or am physically sick. Sigh.
Lorrayne
lorrayne
Cathlete
I have another problem. What to do with overcoming the initial sugar withdrawals? I constantly think of sweets; in particular, chocolate. It just keeps calling my name.
I do eat tons of veggies and lots of fiber. In fact, I typically eat well throughout the day. I bring my own lunches to work to keep me away from bad food choices. My problem is primarily after dinner and when there are goodies in the office (like right now. Someone brought in cookies. HELP!).
I do eat tons of veggies and lots of fiber. In fact, I typically eat well throughout the day. I bring my own lunches to work to keep me away from bad food choices. My problem is primarily after dinner and when there are goodies in the office (like right now. Someone brought in cookies. HELP!).
Gemini girl
Cathlete
You have no idea how much I admire you!!!!! But you have a great point..I'm going to try to just skip the chocolate altogether. I gave up pop for 3 years now. I don't even miss it - so this can't be any harder. Right?
nancy324
Cathlete
I know I keep saying this, but it's all about eating low on the Glycemic Index scale. Breakfast is the most important meal because it sets you up for the rest of the day. If you eat complex carbs for breakfast, and keep eating low GI all day, you'll never have another sugar craving again. It's just that simple.
You have to stop your blood sugar from spiking up and down, which is what causes the cravings. Eating simple sugars naturally leads to craving more simple sugars, and the cravings are impossible to resist. If you don't eat simple sugars to begin with, you won't crave them. No will power involved.
You have to stop your blood sugar from spiking up and down, which is what causes the cravings. Eating simple sugars naturally leads to craving more simple sugars, and the cravings are impossible to resist. If you don't eat simple sugars to begin with, you won't crave them. No will power involved.
UH-HUH . . . ME TOO! Been struggling for a long time . . . had my fiancee take what was left of the jelly bellys that we received yesterday and dump them in the trash as the trash was being picked up at 7 AM and would be gone - otherwise I would probably "raid" the trash looking for the package of candy. I don't know what to do other than to "hang on" real tight and refuse to eat the stuff which works a good deal of the time but when I relent and allow myself to have some candy I EAT IT TILL ITS GONE AND WOULD DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO GET MORE! Wanna start an on-line support group for the likes of us?
Gemini girl
Cathlete
Yes! Online support would be great!!
lorrayne
Cathlete
You sound just like me! Do you ever feel like that bag of goodies is calling your name? Can you concentrate at all without that goodie calling your name? I absolutely hate it. I think that's why I eat it all in one sitting so it can no longer torture me.
I think an online support group would be great. I guess we would be members of sugar anonymous. ;-)
Lorrayne
I think an online support group would be great. I guess we would be members of sugar anonymous. ;-)
Lorrayne
I have read that if you do higher intensity cardio your blood sugar lowers and if you don't replenish it properly you will crave sweets all day. I eat more fruit now and periodically suck on hard candy. That really helps. I think sitting at work with sweets lying around is real tough to avoid. This is difficult for me as well. If I keep busy I am fine.
Gemini girl
Cathlete
I chew gum ALL day long - I love Orbit - couldn't survive without it. I'm fine if I'm busy too, but the weekends are tough. It gets really bad after my workout (after work) an hour later - wow..I crave sweets and any type of food I can get a hold of. I know I need good food to replenish what I just worked off - but why the sweets?
I am on a low Glycemic Index diet too...someone mentioned it above. I have cut out sugar and most white flour. Both in conjunction helps. I cannot keep candy in the house...it is really hard because any holiday that rolls around, my kids get a ton of it from some party at school or something...and my MIL gives me turtles, or something! Easter was a battle, big time!
For me,the reason I have cut out sugar is that doing so has cured my (bad) acne. I look at the candy, picture a big, painful nasty, long lasting zit on my chin, and I don't want to eat it. Staying on a low GI index eating plan has done wonders for my face.
If it helps, chocolate is actually good for you if you pick a very good high quality chocolate with 85 percent chocolate, and only 15 percent other stuff. The very expensive stuff isn't so bad for your blood sugar, because it has more chocolate than sugar and butter. I personally don't care for artificially sweeted chocolate things, but I don't mind the sugar free puddings.
It is worth it. Keep yourself fed so you don't grab the bad stuff.
Find another way, other than eating sugar, to get your boosts, either mentally or physically.
For me,the reason I have cut out sugar is that doing so has cured my (bad) acne. I look at the candy, picture a big, painful nasty, long lasting zit on my chin, and I don't want to eat it. Staying on a low GI index eating plan has done wonders for my face.
If it helps, chocolate is actually good for you if you pick a very good high quality chocolate with 85 percent chocolate, and only 15 percent other stuff. The very expensive stuff isn't so bad for your blood sugar, because it has more chocolate than sugar and butter. I personally don't care for artificially sweeted chocolate things, but I don't mind the sugar free puddings.
It is worth it. Keep yourself fed so you don't grab the bad stuff.
Find another way, other than eating sugar, to get your boosts, either mentally or physically.
This is a great link to a site with the best help I ever found and the forums are really great also.
www.radiantrecovery.com
Love
Edith
www.radiantrecovery.com
Love
Edith
Hi Lorrayne and Gemini Girl . . . Yep, it's a deal - we can be the charter members of S.A. with a chapter for Hallucinators! Yup, I get the "calling" a bunch - particularly in the evening and am awakened during the nite by very compelling callings. IF there is something in the house that is sweet and sooo good (or not sooo good) no matter what it is -- it has met its final destiny when I complete the short run from bedroom to kitchen (absolutely nothing can stop me!). Yup, you gotta eat it till its gone to end the torture! Uh-huh, I think we got the same thing bad. However, I am seriously reading the info posted by Nancy324 re Glycemic Index and GI eating all day to cure sugar craving . . . I am gonna give it a try. I have to agree with your comment regarding the "sugar free" chocolate - I just eat more of such stuff in an effort to get the flavor and "feel" of the real thing - I stay away from "Sugar Free" except for sugar free jello. I've got a great Dietetic/Diabetic Lemon Jello Pie (or pudding) recipe made with sugar free lemon jello, fat free cottage cheese and low fat cream cheese (for myself I just use the fat free cottage cheese). I am gonna be strong tonite! By the way, how do you figure the message posting number? It looks like I am 10 on this subject but I don't see how it is identified -- let me know, it would be helpful. Gotta go - this is so much fun . . .
Dear Edith -- THANK YOU! I took a quick look at Radiant Recovery and signed up for the newsletter -- I am so excited about this and will look at the website with further detail. It is just so amazing the wealth of knowledge available to us and the wonderful people who share it! THANKS
Hi Edith,
Thank you very much for posting that link. I love sweets! If I give them up for a month or so, the cravings decrease, but one piece of chocolate and bam- cravings galore! I also have the issue with food "calling" to me lol. The site looks great- definitely going to read up.
Gina
Thank you very much for posting that link. I love sweets! If I give them up for a month or so, the cravings decrease, but one piece of chocolate and bam- cravings galore! I also have the issue with food "calling" to me lol. The site looks great- definitely going to read up.
Gina