I think I am a sugar addict. Help me please!

[reddaisy]

I am a large size 16 at the moment and I have a 1 year old DS who has never slept through so I am utterly exhausted as I work FT as well. I can and often do use sugar just to get through the day but obviously I know it will cause a slump and a desire for more sugar.

But I am so tired that I don"t know how to break the habit. I am considering going cold turkey, I am rubbish at meal planning and I know I need to get organised. Help/advice/experience very much needed please.

[Wolfiefan]

Hi. I got to size 20/22 doing this. Lost lots of weight this year.
Tips:
Don't start the day with sugar. Try porridge or something like that which keeps you fuller for longer.
Drink lots of water. Your body can mistake thirst for hunger.
Don't skip meals.
Eat loads of fresh veg. I have a huge salad most days!
Avoid binging. Allow yourself a small treat but ration sugar carefully.
Exercise helps too. Focus on that as a goal (find something you enjoy) rather than food.
Remember: It gets easier! My youngest is nearly three. It's sooo different!

[reddaisy]

Thanks for the reply Wolfie and well done on your weightloss. I do have porridge sometimes but I do feel hungry a lot but I still blame breastfeeding for that but obviously as he is over one he doesn't bfeed as much anymore.

I definitely binge and I don`t restrict anything after I have had one "naughty" thing. Exercise has always been the key for me in the past but I am so tired it is hard to start but I know that is a vicious cycle. I might just start with walking to get me on the right track. Do you think you still have a problem?

[Wolfiefan]

I'm better than I was. I'm trying to eat "normally"! I too tend to go sod it after I've eaten one thing I shouldn't. I am allowing myself treats. I go out for meals but don't eat chocolate, crisps or cakes every day.
Have a target? I started by signing up to race for life this year.
Treat yourself (not food!) If I wear nice clothes and even make up them. Feel better.
Ahhhh. Haven't taken it off tonight! Timely reminder to do that before lights out!!

[tyaca]

hiya, i was getting worse and worse then dr diagnosed me as early peri-menopause (am 35). i went on the pill and that has helped loads. i didn't realise how bad i had got until i stopped iykwim. there's a lot of good info on hormones and sugar cravings on a site called pms warrior, it's worth taking a look.

[VerySmallSqueak]

If you take sugar in your tea or coffee,perhaps you could try cutting this down and then cutting it out altogether, first. It's amazing how much sugar you can consume this way and quite regularly,but it's reasonably easy to cut out.

[VerySmallSqueak]

And would it help any by initially changing the type of sugar (therefore breaking the habit of eating a particular type of food)

I'm thinking along the lines of swapping sweets for fruit,that sort of thing.

[reddaisy]

I don't have sugar in tea or coffee so at least that is something. I will try swapping chocolate and biscuits for fruit which I love. I do like healthy food I just have no energy to cook so I end up getting pizza etc because it is easy but I then use it as licence to eat rubbish for the rest of the night. I have had an apple today so far and I will make myself some porridge in a minute.

[reddaisy]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I really have been out of control.

[mumzy]

Increase your protein intake to reduce hunger pangs and sugar cravings. Mushroom omelettes, baked beans or scrambled eggs with smoke salmon for breakfast. Buy a ready roast chicken and have this with crutons, salad & caesar dressing for a few days. Tins of tuna for quick salad nicoise or mix with mayo & have with small baked potato and salad. I also love tinned pilchards or sardines with tomato sauce on sourdough toast.

[reddaisy]

Thanks Mumzy. I have made it through the day today without any sugar hits and I don't think I have done that for more than a year which is a bit embarassing so that is definitely progress. And there has been plenty of temptation around after we only had one trick or treater last night!

[qumquat]

Read "potatoes not Prozac" go to the related website radiantrecovery.com - they're saving my life!

[Wearsuncream]

Seconding what mumzy says - i was the same - chocolate consumption through the roof and would eat doughnuts in supermarket car park just to get me energy to drive home. Cold turkey worked wonders combined with more protein and fat - plus Ive lost 2 stone !!!

[ThePinkNinja]

Don't have a lot to add, I'm an addict too, but I second poster who said don't start he day with sugar (I try to start mine with a protein shake. Nothing keeps me as full for as long) and also narco be diet is great for a detox and to step away from the sugar,

I did it just before I fell pregnant the first time. I'll probably do it again when I wean ds2.... I feel like it'd be too extreme right now as he's only 7 weeks.

Good luck x

[Spamspamspam]

I would just go cold turkey and don't have anything with an 'ose on the end ie. Suctrose, Lactose, Fructose (Fruit being a big killer!). If you go low carb it will work wonders in the long run and all those cravings for sugar will stop after a few days. The first few days will be hell though, particularly around day 3 as you hit ketosis but after that you will wake up with so much energy and resolve the weight will fall off you and the energy will restore. Look at Neris and India's Idiot Proof diet or follow the many low carb threads on this page and just go for it. Yes you might have the shakes, a headache, feel wobbly and a bit sicky feeling at some point on around day 3 or 4 but it will pass in a few hours and you will suddenly feel great. All this is is your body has burn't all it's excess Carbohydrate, then it's glycogen and now is in a phase of burning fat. You won't feel anywhere near as hungry, tired or craving sugar as you do now, your blood sugars will regulate, your insulin production will regulate and you will feel amazing. If you carry on having carbs and sugar albeit a lower amount you will continue to crave and crave and whilst you might last a day or two you will fall over at some point and eat a boat load, which will just make you where you are now....tired, lacking energy and overweight.

Don't be fooled into thinking your body can't stand to live without carbohydrates as you enter into ketosis - SO many people give up just at the crucial point because they think their body can't live without the excess carbs/sugar that they crave and as I said upthread might be feeling a bit wobbly, headachey etc so they eat a load of sugar/carbs to "feel better" (for an hour or so maybe) and the cycle starts again....

Give it a go and come back and tell me in a week how much you have lost and how much better you feel - I bet you will be very surprised! I eat more or less like this as a way of life but there are times when I think I will go on a carb overload just because I had lived like that for 42 years - as soon as I do I bloat, get tired, lack energy and feel crap, skin is crap, I look older and tireder etc etc

Just give it a go for a week - what have you got to lose and what is a week? You don't have to cut calories or fat in fact fat is good for you - full fate cream, full fat cheese - yummy! you don't have to count anything, you will still be receiving enough nutrition to BF so just give it a go - go on dare you!

[NotInMyDay]

Hi I'm high jacking slightly - sorry. I feel this way too. I want something sweet even if I'm in no way hungry. In fact I NEED it.

Spam re the no fructose, lactose, sucrose thing can you tell what food that involves. No sugar or fruit I understand but isn't lactose in milk and therefore cheese etc?

Thank you

[ThePinkNinja]

Harcombe
Not whatever typo I made :) lol

[Spamspamspam]

Yes there is lactose in milk so try and have full fat cream or lacto free milk or ven soya milk.