Suggestions for kicking the sugar habit?

Re: Suggestions for kicking the sugar habit?

• Lobsters25 member

  

  August 2012

  Though the research is still up for debate, I'm in the camp that sugar is an addictive substance.  So, in experimenting, I cut out sweets entirely, and found that I had a much, much easier time staying away from them once those initial cravings had passed.  It got to the point that I hadn't had sweets in so long, that I no longer craved them.  

  It took multiple trials of me adding them back in to my diet (as a small dessert) to get to the level of willpower where I could have just a little.  It seriously took me over a year to get to that point.

  
  

  That being said, when you have GOT to have something sweet, I recommend the following:

  -Wait as long as you can to have it and, if possible, have it just before you brush your teeth and head to sleep.  This eliminates the chance of going back for more, and lessens the time awake when your taste buds are begging for more.

  -Buy individual portions, one at a time (like one cookie from the local bakery, a small serving of one sweet from the bulk candy bins at the grocery, or an individual ice cream cup.)  If seconds aren't in the house, you can't have them.

  -Go real or go home.  The sugarfree crap is terrible for you, and you may as well just spend the calories on the real stuff.

  

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• PrincessJas member

  

  August 2012

  Thanks for the advice! 

  
  

   Lobster, I agree 100% that sugar is addictive, and I'm at the point where eating just a little only makes me want more.  I've never managed to completely drop added sugar in the past, by either keeping it out of the house or practicing portion control (c.f. not being able to have just a little), although I've come close before.  The past year and a half have been particularly bad because my BF has Type I diabetes and has to keep food with added sugar in the house for when his blood sugar goes low.  Because I never quite got to the point of having enough willpower to say no before he came into my life, but could largely control it by not allowing sugar in my house, I'm now really struggling because of the sudden prevalence of sugar (add changes in eating habits compliments of birth control, and I packed on 20 lb in the first year of our relationship - at least I've stabilized the weight gain, though).

  
  

  I guess deep down I know the brutal answer is I need to just cut it out and white-knuckle my way through the cravings because I know I can't stop if I have just a little.  I really appreciate knowing how long it took you to get to the point where you could add it back in in controlled doses - how long did it take to get over the really bad cravings at first?  I tend to make it about 2 days before I cave in...

  
  

  
  

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• Lobsters25 member

  

  August 2012

  That must be rough having to have it around - but good for you on trying to work with it for your FI's health and safety.

  
  

  The cravings for me usually went away within a short time (not nearly a day or two), but I had to find other things to move on toward.  I also appreciate a good glass of wine and really fresh, nice meats and cheeses, and other non-sugary splurges (okay, they all have sugar, but it my head it's different because I can have these things in moderation, and don't crave more to the point of binging.)  

  So sometimes I'd treat myself to a tastier lunch than I'd normally allow - where the fats are healthy, but the cals and sodium might be a bit higher - and that became my 'treat' for the day.  Or I'd go out for a kiddie size ice cream cone and walk away, telling myself that I'd had my treat, and it was time to move on.

  

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• PrincessJas member

  

  August 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_suggestions-for-kicking-the-sugar-habit?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:38bb0e26-98dd-4bae-9bbb-d863968f54daPost:e44de52d-563a-4eac-a440-139619f25d6a">Re: Suggestions for kicking the sugar habit?</a>:
  [QUOTE]That must be rough having to have it around - but good for you on trying to work with it for your FI's health and safety. The cravings for me usually went away within a short time (not nearly a day or two), but I had to find other things to move on toward.  <strong>I also appreciate a good glass of wine and really fresh, nice meats and cheeses,</strong> and other non-sugary splurges (okay, they all have sugar, but it my head it's different because I can have these things in moderation, and don't crave more to the point of binging.)   <strong>So sometimes I'd treat myself to a tastier lunch than I'd normally allow - where the fats are healthy, but the cals and sodium might be a bit higher - and that became my 'treat' for the day</strong>.  Or I'd go out for a kiddie size ice cream cone and walk away, telling myself that I'd had my treat, and it was time to move on.
  Posted by Lobsters25[/QUOTE]<div>
  </div><div>This is a great strategy I will have to try - I haven't been utilizing other foods I enjoy nearly enough to combat my cravings.  Hmmm, maybe I should try writing a list of tasty, sugar-free alternatives and taping it on the fridge and to the lid of the cookie jar.  I've also been trying to make my own baked goods using sugar substitutes - my two latest favorites are brown rice syrup and concentrated fruit juice (I don't believe in artificial sweeteners, either), which, theoretically, shouldn't make a craving worse (we'll see how this goes).  
  
  </div>

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• bgrjourney

  

  August 2012 edited August 2012

  Whenever I decide to cut something out on my diet I take baby steps. For instance 7 years ago I cut out all red meat and believe me those first three days i saw every whopper commmercial ever made. And I have stuck with it! But in other cases every once and a while Ill kick all drinks sans water... and as i said the method that usually works for me is one day and one thing at a time. resolve... for instance. REsolve to put half a cup less sugar in your sweet tea.... or 1 less snack a day. It seems to just help not shock your system so you don't end up craving hardcore

  

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• LauraJean317 member

  

  August 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_suggestions-for-kicking-the-sugar-habit?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238Discussion:38bb0e26-98dd-4bae-9bbb-d863968f54daPost:cecf1604-2a95-4e70-8124-d68d8a64ea50">Suggestions for kicking the sugar habit?</a>:
  [QUOTE]Hi ladies, I was wondering if anyone here has advice for how to wean myself off of refined sugar?  I am subject to awful cravings for food high in added sugar (and really severe mood swings when I don't get it), and it's absolutely destructive to my efforts to lose weight and eat more healthfully.   Has anyone successfully done this, or altered their diet in a similar manner?  How did you manage the mood swings and cravings? How did you keep the motivation up not to reach for the nearest cookie? I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!!!
  Posted by PrincessJas[/QUOTE]
  
  Good luck! I'll be starting my diet this weekend (for my wedding next year) and plan on cutting out sugar and caffeine entirely. They tend to trigger my migraines (15+ days a month now!)...I've noticed I also can't sleep/can't get out of bed when I have sugar that day, and I have crazy dreams...I feel groggy until sometime after lunch. I'm grumpy and snap at people, even though I'm not a crabby type of person. I don't want to feel like a crabbypants anymore, so I'm just going to cut out my two problem foods/substances.
  
  A couple things that seemed to help me when I went through a diet program a few years ago were:
  1. substitutions. I prefer a bowl of berries (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries) to any sweets. If I wanted something sweet, a handful of berries seemed to do the trick.
  2. free day. With my diet program, I had 1 day off a week to eat whatever I wanted. If I really wanted something, I'd tell myself I could wait until free day. Usually, by then I didn't even want it.

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