Sugar Addiction

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I has it

I've only realized this recently, which is quite odd actually. Basically, I am constantly eating sugar, justifying it by saying that the actual item is low cal (such as frozen yogurt) and the rest of my diet is mostly vegetables. But the truth is, I'm constantly eating sugar so I'm constantly using sugar for energy, rather than burning up fat. Hence my weight loss has almost stopped completely! Am I the only one? I eat no other junk food whatsoever except sweets.

Starting from tomorrow, I am eating NO sugary food (aside from 2 serves of fruit) for 2 weeks.

I'm expecting this to be a lot like quitting smoking, I know it's a physical addiction as well as a psychological one (wiki has an article about this) and I'll probably experience withdrawal symptoms, the same way you do when you quit nicotine or caffeen. It's going to be tough! I'm gonna post my adventures here as well btw. And I'm not weighing myself for a week, we'll see if it makes a dent lol.

Anyone else addicted and wanting to give up? We should start a support group

edit: Back in my younger days when I had an eating disorder, I was hypoglycemic. Perhaps I should get my blood sugar tested, or a diabetes test?

[Junglemum]

Best of luck to you. If i wasn't UTD i'd join you. I do have a bit of a sweet tooth usually but while preg i havn't had any sweet cravings. wierd?!

I have cut out sugar once, and like you say it is like quitting an addiction. It took a while but it wasn't long before i didn't even miss it. Even had coffee with no sugar!

[LaDeeDa]

Hey Nee,

I so know what you mean. This time last year I cut ALL sugar out of my diet and after a HORROR 2 weeks with headaches, mood swings, nausea etc I felt BRILLIANT.
Then Christmas hit and I was back at square one....
Now I'm pregnant I am uncontrollably addicted..... I almost ate a 1/4 of an icecream cake last night

I'll be a part of the group ....LOL

[christy]

My name is Christy, and I'm a sugar addict. I love the stuff... I don't even like things like chocolate, because it takes away from the sugar. I don't eat it while the children are awake, except for in my coffee. Sometimes I will bake with them, just to get a bit in.... After they have gone to bed, I raid my jelly packs and eat quite a bit. I've tried to curb it to eating popcorn, or something else, but no... nothing will curb it like a handful of jellybeans.

I am not able to kick the habit atm.... moving, sick kids and Matilda's assessments. I plan on doing a full detox in January planning...

[~Debbie~]

just a comment for those trying to beat their sugar addiction.. work out what it is that triggers it. I read somewhere, and it is certainly true for me, that carbs / starchy foods can trigger a suger low, therefore, making you want to have suger. So, by cutting back on your carbs / starchy food, it may help cut out your suger needs.

[Inanna]

I have realised it too - I am an ADDICT - big time.

For the past 6 weeks I have maintained my carb count at 20grams - most of my carbs come from salad veges... I have never felt physically better in my life. I have heaps of energy (when I am no sleep deprived thanks to Princess Poo Pants!)

I went thru the DT's for about 7 days and I tell you it was hell... But after that it was all good...

I suck on sugar free mints - and I go to Terry White's and stock up on sugar free lollies - and suck when I feel like I need to do something oral... I have realised that a lot is wanting to do something with my mouth.... Weird I know but true.

Once you give up sugar and refined carbs you won't look back. I have lost about 6kilos too!

[Sammiejane]

I think that i have this problem, but its not just confined to sweet things.
I was going to start something on it to see if anyones else is experiencing the same thing...

I am fine during the day, but as soon as the evening hits i could eat anything and everything.
An example, last night i had lasagne for dinner (home made and very heathly), then still wanting to eat more (but NOT HUNGRY AT ALL) i had 2 slices of toast with aioli and cheese and then still not satisfied i had a massive bowl of fruit salad and natural yoguhurt.... about an hour later i found a startburst suck and had that too.
Its insane, i just cant stop eating. I need help before i become the size of a house!!!

[Lisa]

Chromium tablets are awesome for helping you through your sugar cravings.
I am on a low carb diet atm, and my body usually craves carbs/sugars, but because I am taking a good multi vitamin with chromium added, my cravings are non exsistant. I know I have lost weight, but I am not weighing myself for a month... My rings are feeling loose and that is always the first sign of weight loss for me. I'm only on day 3!

[MrsFabuloso]

Yep, me too and its BAD!!! I have given up chocolate and a few other things, dairy included for DS (bf'ing and it affects him badly) and I have noticed that I am really craving sugar. I usually get a fair bit with dairy, like a chocy milk, yogurt, icecream....and I luuuurrrve my chocolate! But I haven't been able to have it and boy have I noticed, I have been having sugary drinks instead, cordial, juice, when noramlly I have water all day and don't like sugary drinks cause they don't satisfy my thirst. Me thinks I will join this band wagon!

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

just a comment for those trying to beat their sugar addiction.. work out what it is that triggers it. I read somewhere, and it is certainly true for me, that carbs / starchy foods can trigger a suger low, therefore, making you want to have suger. So, by cutting back on your carbs / starchy food, it may help cut out your suger needs.

This is very true. The problem is white flour, which has a high glycemic index (which means your blood sugar goes really high then plummets again, which makes you want a fix). It makes perfect sense when we remember that sugar is a carbohydrate.

I totally didn't eat sugar today, despite my mum lol. She made me a crete beer (beer with cherry brandy, though our beer and brandy is non-alcoholic) after I told her not to the night before lol, AND made me a hot milo! I didn't give in but The only sugar I had was the two pieces of fruit I had and the sugar in my decaf. Since I was drinking instant, I made a rule - must have more coffee powder than sugar lol. So I had 4 teaspoons all together in hot drinks today. Rock on!

[Sammiejane]

well done.

well i have made a decision, i am starting being good on Monday... that may sound like a cop out, but i am starting a course this morning (expressing atm thats why im awake) and wil be away from MJ until Sat arvo and then all day Sunday, so may need to indulge a little as i think that i will be missing here... so as of Monday im starting.

Did you set clear rules for yourself Nee? other than the coffee? i only drink tea and have that sugar free... for me, its more the binging at night
Anyine else have clear rules???

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

My rule is nothing that's sweet to taste, except 2 pieces of fruit a day. Having teaspoons of sugar in my coffee (as long as I have more coffee powder than sugar, that's my rule) is fine because the coffee doesn't actually taste sweet. I'm not having artificial sweeteners either. Both sugar and artificial sweeteners produce a chemical reaction in the brain and that reaction is what i'm trying to break free from. The reaction isn't caused by the substance itself but by the fact that your tastebuds taste it, which sends messages to your brain to release certain chemicals. And yep, my problem is late-night sugar cravings too!

[C~Q]

But the truth is, I'm constantly eating sugar so I'm constantly using sugar for energy, rather than burning up fat. Hence my weight loss has almost stopped completely!

I just wanted to say that what your body uses for energy has very little to do with the levels of macro-nutrients (carbs, Protein, Fat) in the body - only really if you are severly lacking in one. What your body uses for fuel depends on what you are doing at the time - the intenity of the exercise or movement. During innactivety and light exercise your body will be predominantly using fat for energy. When you're talking about weight loss you need to think about an overall KJ defecit - not where the KJ are coming from. Does that make sense? Also as exercise intensity increases (and your body switches to carbs ((sugar)) ) so does KJs burned, so fueling your body from carbs is not a bad thing!

I read today that the average Australian consumes about 115g of sugar a day which is almost 42KG per year It's pretty scary.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread - just thought you might be interested

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

It's the calories in the sugar rather than the fact that it's sugar, yeah.

[krysalyss]

I am so in with the sugar cravers club. DH doesn't understand - he is a deep fried craver but of course he doesn't put on the weight. Me on the other hand....

[Astrid]

When you're talking about weight loss you need to think about an overall KJ defecit - not where the KJ are coming from. Does that make sense?

I think they are finding that is not quite so simple as that, the type of food eaten is important. When eggs are eaten daily they do help with weight loss when compared to eating the same amount of kj's, but no eggs for breakfast, I posted an article about this in another thread. I believe what we eat is important as it helps to control our kj intake. If by dropping 2 slices of bread a day and having eggs or another protein helps to control our hunger and therefore overeating, then what we eat does affect weight loss.

[C~Q]

Oh god yes absolutely, there are so many factors involved in weight loss and foods that help or hinder it but I was talking about the energy systems used within the body. If you have a net defecit of 500KJ you will lose weight - it doesn't matter if those 500KJ were burned by energy converted from Fat, Carbs or Protein - does that make more sense?

Obviously there are other nutrients that you need to consider for many other health reasons - we don't just need carbs, fat and protein!

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

How are we all going with our sugar fasting? I feel awesome I DID buy halva the other day >.< but that was one slip-up, apart from that, all i've had is fruit and I feel awesome