7 years, 9 months ago- Posts
We all battle a sugar addiction in some form. I mean let’s get real, sugar is everywhere we look and gets thrown in our faces around every corner. This can be defeating when looking to start a diet program that discourages the consumption of sugar all together. It is hard to stay accountable when sugar is socially acceptable to the masses, even though it has been said to be more addictive than high profile drugs such as heroin and cocaine. How have you battled or beaten your sugar addiction, and how have you noticed the sugar uptick rise in the last few years? What are your mental tips and tricks to overcoming your consistent sugar cravings?
The thing that has helped me most in the past with my sugar addiction is completely eradicating it from my house and my diet all together for a 30 day time frame. For me cutting out added sugars from my diet and simply not purchasing foods with added sugar for a 30 day time frame led me to crave it far far less, and to stick to eating very minimal amounts there after. Sometimes you need to take a “break” from the social events that keep leading you astray until you can get a handle on it…An alcoholic should not even enter a bar when he is first trying to defeat his addiction, for sugar addicts I think this is a huge thing…Though impossible to stay out of ALL situations that involve too much sugar, you can try to say stay away from the junk food aisle in the grocery store all together as well as staying out of the ice cream parlor until you are able to moderate yourself better. I find that after about 30 days of a huge diet change, addictions to sugar usually are suppressed so much that people are able to be in situations and not desire the sugary foods around them. A month of taking care of yourself and working on your food intake is not all that much time if you look at it in the grand scheme of life. So try to set aside some time in which you lay low on the social scene, you don’t have to disappear, just don’t overbook yourself with parties and social events when you are working on your food intake and ultimately your health.
My first round of P1 I did so well of staying away from sugar, but this second round is tough. My success first time I used sparkling mineral water with vanilla SweetLeaf Stevia… tasted like a cream soda. Also cherries were in season and when they were gone I happened into an amazing green variety of plum that had just the perfect sweet/sour to satisfy my cravings. Currently I don’t have a fruit that hits the spot. The stevia and mineral water isn’t doing it either… I was never a soda drinker. I want chewy toffee and caramels.
Judalon, something I have been doing lately is buying these coffee flavored hard candies (they are not sugar free, but less detrimental than caramels and toffee) I think the brand is Nibb’s or something like that. If I need a “sweet” taste after a meal or craving I will have one of those. I also use it while making dinner so I am not tempted to eat all the food as I am cooking. Sugar is quite the beast for mostly everyone, and it is in almost all the foods we have grown accustomed to unfortunately. So take it one day at a time and don’t beat yourself up! Also be sure to get enough sleep because lack of sleep is probably one of the most likely reasons that a good diet gets “wrecked.” Stay on track, try the hard candies, but make sure you aren’t popping them all day LOL this could backfire and become a vice. The idea is that eventually you won’t even want them anymore either.
Jessica, thank you so much for that suggestion. I am familiar with Nibbs and now that you mention it I can see how they are a better choice than toffee or caramels! Thanks for that reminder.
I’m on my first round of P1, and I am happy to report I have not stumbled too much while loosing. I do have a problem with the aftertaste of Stevia, it gets to me after I swallow. I use to have a Venti (largest) size Starbucks Caramel Machiata, with extra caramel poured in everyday; and now I cannot stand it that sweet at all if I happen to indulge in a small cup once a week decaf and no extra caramel. This program has helped me to cut WAAAYYY down, not quite completely but getting there. Sometimes use Agave syrup in my large cup of tea; and that makes a difference. I am also consuming waaayyy more fruits and veggies, and that helps with the cravings. If I start to desire it, I grab a water with some lemon in it, and it changes the tone of desire.
Sue that is fantastic! Being able to drink some water with lemon and it helping to cut down your cravings is wonderful. Also what a great step in the right direction as far as getting on the right path of cutting down your Starbucks drink to so much less than before. Those drinks are super sneaky sugar bombs for sure! Keep up the great work! you are on the right path to long-term success.
Jessica, I got the Nibbs and want to thank you. The coffee flavor does best to cut the craving, the caramel just makes me want to pop another! At 30cal a drop they are so much safer than a chocolate bar!
Judalon, so glad to hear you like them! Yes I noticed that with myself too, I just can’t stop with the caramel ones, but the coffee flavored is just right and completely hits the spot. It’s my trick to get through preparing foods just pop one in keeps me from taking too many tasting bites!
Is chewing gum allowed on this program? I am a compulsive “taster” when preparing anything, really, and I especially like raw dough of any kind. I find chewing mint gum helps me to break this habit. sometimes when I want something sweet I get a vitamin C tablet or a B12 and dissolve it under my tongue.
I don’t think it is off limits, I think if chewing gum helps you to keep from eating all the sugary things that you could be eating,this is a much better choice! I will update you if I find out if it is not allowed after all, but I am pretty sure you are fine. Try not to go overboard though as chewing gum can become its own addiction, also the calories can still add up with gum too 🙂 Overall if it keeps you out of the cookies and candy it is a far better choice.
This is good to know! I am not familiar with Nibbs but will look into it. Thanks
Jessica, I totally agree with your analogy of Sugar addiction being similar to alcoholism. I now tell my family and friends who continue to try to push cake, ice cream and brownies my way at birthday parties that I’m a sugarholic and once I start I can’t stop so I now stay away from it completely. They tend to understand that a little better rather than me just telling them “I’m on a diet”.
Exactly! I like to tell my family that because I was so overweight in my past I have to try so much harder than someone who hasn’t struggled with that in their past. I think they are more understanding of the fact that I don’t eat cake and brownies etc…most of the time! I do have indulgences on OCCASION when it is totally worth it, like birthdays 🙂
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