I need Help for My Sugar Addiction

[Amy Steppe]

I have a very embarrassing problem.

I have never smoked and I do not drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. But I an addicted to sugar.

I am trying to kick the sugary soda habit, but it is so hard. I try to go one day without a Coke or Pepsi and by the end of the evening I buckle.

I start each day with a soda. I end each day with a soda.

I crave anything sugary to the point when I walk into a bakery area of a supermarket, I drool. I feel euphoric just looking at all the sugary treats. At one point I was eating pizza, 6 Dove Ice Cream bars and a large butterscotch cone from Dairy Queen for ONE meal.

I even eat cough drops for their sugar.

Has anybody else struggled with this addiction?

I know I could lose my last 10 pounds if I could kick my addiction to sugar since the rest of my diet is very clean.

I need help! When I try to describe this addiction to the majority of people, they laugh at me and tell me that life is too short to not have at least one vice.

I need advice and peer support.

Has anybody else gone cold turkey with anythig addictive? I know former smokers who just quit.

I feel like a total failure all because of sugar......

If this sounds absurd, please don't laugh at me.

I am reaching out to my peers here for advice and support.

Thanks in advance,

Amy

 

[sparrow13]

Amy, I went cold turkey with sugar this past summer. IMO there's no other way, sugar is too much of a beast to do gradually. No chocolate, no agave in my coffee, no nuttin'. Second week was rough but by the 3rd I was doing fine. My advice is to get it all out of your house - if it's there you won't be able to resist!!!

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[chefkate]

Not only do you need to cut out sugar, you'll need to cut out grains. They turn to sugar in your gut and you continue to crave sugar. Sounds drastic, I know, but I do it and mostly it works. The first week may be hard...you'll feel tired & sluggish. But then after that you'll feel tired & sluggish WHEN you have sugar/grains.

Hang in there!!

 

[Amy Steppe]

Amy, I went cold turkey with sugar this past summer. IMO there's no other way, sugar is too much of a beast to do gradually. No chocolate, no agave in my coffee, no nuttin'. Second week was rough but by the 3rd I was doing fine. My advice is to get it all out of your house - if it's there you won't be able to resist!!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Thank you! I live with a family member who is a sugar addict. He is always bringing in cakes, pies, etc.

This makes it so hard for me. It seems the really bad cravings hit me during the evening.

 

[chefkate]

And definitely do what Sparrow said. Keep it out of the house! If it's not there, you can't have it. You can do it!

 

[Amy Steppe]

Not only do you need to cut out sugar, you'll need to cut out grains. They turn to sugar in your gut and you continue to crave sugar. Sounds drastic, I know, but I do it and mostly it works. The first week may be hard...you'll feel tired & sluggish. But then after that you'll feel tired & sluggish WHEN you have sugar/grains.

Hang in there!!

So I need to not eat Triscuits or pasta?

I can easily give any of that up. I am not a big bread eater, even at restaurants.

But don't I need some carbs for fuel?

Thanks so much for your advice!

 

[hokypoky]

Hi Amy! This is not absurd and I don't think you should be embarrassed at all! I understand completely and I'd wager that many others here do, too.

I think you are triggering your body to expect sugar when you start out the day that way. What's help me kick sugar cravings are protein, protein, protein. When you eat sugar, your blood sugar spikes and makes your brain happy. When you start to come down, your brain says, "Need more sugar!" If you eat some carbs (complex, not a simple sugar) with a good amount of protein, you won't spike up and crash down.

It can take a few days to break this cycle, but YOU CAN DO IT.

I've found that small amounts of very good, very dark chocolate (70%) can give me the sweet satisfaction, but are concentrated enough that I won't binge on it.

I stilll fight this at work because there is this HUGE container of M&Ms that keeps getting filled by a sweet old man, but at least I can eat SOME and not screw up my whole day.

HTH!

 

[sparrow13]

Thank you! I live with a family member who is a sugar addict. He is always bringing in cakes, pies, etc.

This makes it so hard for me. It seems the really bad cravings hit me during the evening.

That does make it tough, if someone else brings it in. I think though if you can get through week one, you'll be able to do it (week one will be awful. I was literally pulling stuff out of the freezer, praying for a forgotten bag of 1/2 used chocolate chips or a fossilized Fudgesicle.) Can you substitute? IIRC when I felt the really bad cravings I'd grab my water bottle and chug or grab my jump rope and do a quick 25 or so. Sounds totally silly but it worked! And remember, it's only a Coke! It has no power over you at all!!!!

 

[Jonezie]

Amy...I couldn't understand this more. Sugar, for me, is like crack. I could eat all day everyday and nothing else and, besides a major headache and case of the shakes, be blissfully happy.

I can share a resource with you..that helped me. It is devoted exclusively to people dealing with sugar addiction. It's www.firstourselves.com. I even downloaded a free e-book on overcoming severe sugar addiction from the site. The woman that runs it is GREAT....and she also does workshops. It changed my life. Some portions of the site are now offered by subscription only, but a majority of the info can be downloaded for free. It changed my life.

Hope this helps!

Jonezie

 

[RapidBreath]

Gymnema sylvestre is an ayrvedic medicine that is used for the treatment of both alcoholism and sugar addictions. Its very effective. Some people do have an adverse reaction (puts them to sleep) but I find it to be very useful. It makes foods seem less sweet and less inticing also it reduces the amount of sugar that is absorbed in the intestine. I use the Nature's Way standardized. I take one capsule for every 10 g. of carb. That might be extreme for you but I don't think so based on your history.

Btw I really know how you feel. You may have seen the slightly comedic post about me eating a whole gallon of ice cream hiding in the back yard at the age of 6, its funny but it actually happened.

 

[RapidBreath]

So I need to not eat Triscuits or pasta?

I can easily give any of that up. I am not a big bread eater, even at restaurants.

But don't I need some carbs for fuel?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Fruit and vegetables not grain.

 

[chefkate]

So I need to not eat Triscuits or pasta?

I can easily give any of that up. I am not a big bread eater, even at restaurants.

But don't I need some carbs for fuel?

Thanks so much for your advice!

No Triscuits or pasta. And I *heart* triscuits.

Fruits and vegetables have all of the carbs you need. I promise!
You also need to be careful with your fruits - some are very high in sugar (bananas, grapes). Your best bet with fruits is berries - I split a pint everyday with my 1-year old and they are so good!

 

[Autumn68]

I have a very embarrassing problem.

I have never smoked and I do not drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. But I an addicted to sugar.

I am trying to kick the sugary soda habit, but it is so hard. I try to go one day without a Coke or Pepsi and by the end of the evening I buckle.

I start each day with a soda. I end each day with a soda.

I crave anything sugary to the point when I walk into a bakery area of a supermarket, I drool. I feel euphoric just looking at all the sugary treats. At one point I was eating pizza, 6 Dove Ice Cream bars and a large butterscotch cone from Dairy Queen for ONE meal.

I even eat cough drops for their sugar.

Has anybody else struggled with this addiction?

I know I could lose my last 10 pounds if I could kick my addiction to sugar since the rest of my diet is very clean.

I need help! When I try to describe this addiction to the majority of people, they laugh at me and tell me that life is too short to not have at least one vice.

I need advice and peer support.

Has anybody else gone cold turkey with anythig addictive? I know former smokers who just quit.

I feel like a total failure all because of sugar......

If this sounds absurd, please don't laugh at me.

I am reaching out to my peers here for advice and support.

Thanks in advance,

Amy

Sugar is my problem as well. As a matter of fact this week I have vowed to eliminate it from my diet. Not only is it causing me not to loose the weight I want, even though I exercise so much - but it makes me sick to my stomach. So does fake sugar - I'm adding more fruit to get it. I don't know what I'll do for coffee yet, or hot tea....perhaps honey.
I feel for you. If you want to have a thread to be a support group of those of us cutting it out I'm game. We can post of our sucesses and our failings and most of all tips as we come across them. - Autumn

 

[Autumn68]

Amy, I went cold turkey with sugar this past summer. IMO there's no other way, sugar is too much of a beast to do gradually. No chocolate, no agave in my coffee, no nuttin'. Second week was rough but by the 3rd I was doing fine. My advice is to get it all out of your house - if it's there you won't be able to resist!!!

GOOD LUCK!!

I bought agave, I thought it was natual????? What's wrong w/ replacing sugar w/ this? - A

 

[sparrow13]

I bought agave, I thought it was natual????? What's wrong w/ replacing sugar w/ this? - A

Autumn,

IIR what I read correctly, agave is a highly concentrated form of fructose, so it actually hits your system even more intensely than regular sugar. These days if I feel like some sugar I just have a little raw organic sugar (and honey sometimes, my sister keeps bees and has wonderful honey.)

Those more in the know please feel free to correct me!

 

[Autumn68]

Autumn,

IIR what I read correctly, agave is a highly concentrated form of fructose, so it actually hits your system even more intensely than regular sugar. These days if I feel like some sugar I just have a little raw organic sugar (and honey sometimes, my sister keeps bees and has wonderful honey.)

Those more in the know please feel free to correct me!

Man, you just can't win. I do get local honey around here but never had it in coffee. Hum, have to figure this one out. Thanks for the info. - A

 

[sammy123]

I haven't had a cookie in 3 years. I never thought that I would be able to say that- no cookies, no cheesecake, NO ICE CREAM!!!!
A few years before I had tried to give up sugar and was successful for almost a month. Then one morning I was packing a lunch for my husband and I thought, "I am so strong. I have so much control. I am a no-sugar-eating superhero." Or something to that effect. So I decided to eat one cookie. One little chocolate chip cookie. You know what happened...by the time the smoke cleared it was 6 months later and I was 10 lbs. heavier. Just like a drug.
Three years ago I decided to try again. The first week was hard, the second week was harder. I knew this time that if I failed it would be a long time before I tried again and I just didn't want to ever start over again, so I realized that I was giving up sugar forever. It was kind of hard to wrap my head around the fact that I would never EVER eat a piece of carrotcake or a Mounds Bar again. I had to deal with that.
When I would see a piece of something that I wanted I would say out loud (even if I was alone), "Oh... I don't eat sugar anymore. Thank you very much but I just don't eat it."
At the end of the first year I found that although it was getting to be a habit to not eat sugar, I still thought about it and wanted it. A few months later I began to realize that I just didn't care that much anymore. I hit 3 years on January 1rst and you could throw a pie in my face and I wouldn't think to lick it off.
People are different but for me I could make NO exceptions- not ever- not one taste- not one tiny lick.
Oh! And I lost 20 pounds in the first 2 months without changing anything else. Definitely the best thing I ever did for my health!

 

[Jonezie]

I haven't had a cookie in 3 years. I never thought that I would be able to say that- no cookies, no cheesecake, NO ICE CREAM!!!!
A few years before I had tried to give up sugar and was successful for almost a month. Then one morning I was packing a lunch for my husband and I thought, "I am so strong. I have so much control. I am a no-sugar-eating superhero." Or something to that effect. So I decided to eat one cookie. One little chocolate chip cookie. You know what happened...by the time the smoke cleared it was 6 months later and I was 10 lbs. heavier. Just like a drug.
Three years ago I decided to try again. The first week was hard, the second week was harder. I knew this time that if I failed it would be a long time before I tried again and I just didn't want to ever start over again, so I realized that I was giving up sugar forever. It was kind of hard to wrap my head around the fact that I would never EVER eat a piece of carrotcake or a Mounds Bar again. I had to deal with that.
When I would see a piece of something that I wanted I would say out loud (even if I was alone), "Oh... I don't eat sugar anymore. Thank you very much but I just don't eat it."
At the end of the first year I found that although it was getting to be a habit to not eat sugar, I still thought about it and wanted it. A few months later I began to realize that I just didn't care that much anymore. I hit 3 years on January 1rst and you could throw a pie in my face and I wouldn't think to lick it off.
People are different but for me I could make NO exceptions- not ever- not one taste- not one tiny lick.
Oh! And I lost 20 pounds in the first 2 months without changing anything else. Definitely the best thing I ever did for my health!

Sammy...when the smoke cleared?!? That is HILARIOUS!!!

Amy...what Sammy is saying about giving it up for life is what the woman who founded First Ourselves had to do. I gave you the web address earlier in the thread...but I wanted to give you the link to the free e-book I downloaded (and loved).

Here it is:
http://www.firstourselves.com/2008/sugar-addiction-ebook/

Jonezie

 

[sammy123]

Amy,
Another thought: In order to successfully give up sugar (or anything) in your diet you must learn to eat foods that are different from what the people around you are eating. Most people will not be making healthy food choices and you will never be in a situation where you have 100% control over what other people are eating. You can't be tempted to give in every time you see somebody else eat sugar or you won't last a day.
My husband is a sugarfreak so I just made up my mind and said "Bring it on.....". In fact, they're doing you a favor because you just have to get use to it.
I hope that helps and doesn't sound discouraging.

 

[bmccartney]

Amy, I'm right there with you!!!

On June 2, 2009 I cut out sugar. I was so sick of how it controlled me, how I'd shake and break out into a sweat if I didn't eat every 2 hours. Not to mention how my head hurt and how exhausted I felt. I flushed everything I could down the garbage disposal that would tempt me, because I knew that if it was in the trash I'd dig it out later.

The first week I had wicked diarrhea, headaches, and nauseua. I was not a treat to be around.

Anyway, what got me started was a great book called "The Sugar Addict's Guide to Total Recovery" by Kathleen DesMaisons (sp?). It talks about what chemical processes are going on in the brain with sugar and ANY addiction, and how some people are more prone to addiction than others.

The hardest part for me is that I DO allow some indulgences like an ice cream cone on Saturdays. So, while I enjoy that ice cream immensely, I feel hungover and like crap the next day. It would honestly be better if I cut it out completely, though I haven't gotten there yet.

The book suggested a series of steps to start with. The first was making sure you eat breakfast each morning with protein. Actually every meal should have some protein. Just by doing that my blood sugar leveled out so much.

It's a day by day battle and I still crave sweets just as much now as I ever did. BUT, I feel better, have more energy, ect. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you need some sugar addiction support!