Sugar addicts - Going cold turkey!

[Snowkey]

Anyone else doing this now the season of chocolate feasting is almost over? I have been gradually eating more and more on a daily basis and I don't seen to be able to resist, one bar is never enough!

In the past I have gone cold turkey, which was tough initially but then I just stop being tempted by sugary treats on a daily basis - then I got smug and thought I was in control and one little square of chocolate wouldn't hurt and here I am back in sugary hell.

Would anyone like to join me in my sugar detox - I'm on day 3 but there is still many sweet treats calling to me in every cupboard, I fear I am still feeling weak but I'm trying to just take one day at a time.

[ClutchingMyPearls]

I confess I have always thought about doing this. Are there any side effects?

I wouldn't say I was an out and out suger binger (I take one small sugar in tea, have chocolate maybe twice a week, cake or something similar once a week too) but I am fully aware that it's in a lot of other foods too like ready meals, pasta sauce jars etc. It seems so hard to avoid!

I cook 90% of all meals from scratch but I just think this would be so hard to do. What about honey? would that be allowed as it's natural?

Oh and well done for giving up! You are so far better than me!

[dustwhatdust]

I would llike to try but definitely not ready for any kind of diet until 2nd Jan when I go back to work . I will watch your thread until then.

[Snowkey]

I did think about waiting till 2 Jan but I could feel my waist expanding from December excesses, I'd had enough!

Going cold turkey does work - I did low carbing last year and mostly lost interest in sugary food but I wanted to try just cutting out sweet carbs and have a few starchy carbs. Not sure how strict I'll need to go with sugar to get rid of the cravings, I hate not feeling in control of my eating.

I'm looking at taking L-Glutamine, it's meant to help deal with cravings in about 10mins if you place it under your tongue...anything is worth a try.

[VisualiseAHorse]

I've done this before - and it worked fab! I'm going to wait until all the sugary treats are eaten that we currently have in the house, and plan to start on the 1st of January.

I just find that every time I pass the fridge/cupboard I grab something. I'm currently a size 10 on my hips and boobs, but have this size 12-14 lump around my middle that is just not attractive, and makes finding clothes a nightmare! I'm hoping to cut out booze too (currently have a bottle or can of cider every night), and maybe thinking about doing the 30 day shred too.

[javotte]

I have done it before and relapsed just like you. Now I need to lose 4-5 stones before September. Do you think I can go cold turkey while breastfeeding a 2-month-old?

[Snowkey]

Will cut booze out for January, always do. I thought starting on both sugar and alcohol on the 1st jan sounds too much for my mind and body to cope with.

Javotte Can't see how you couldn't knock sugar on the head while breast feeding - your body doesn't need sugar, although it's hedonistic affect is exactly what we need at times to get through the day, I'm hoping that L Glutamine will help me with the cravings, not sure how safe it is for breast feeding.

VahI love the shred, I run and do a few exercise classes a week but I'm currently recovering from a chest infection/flu so exercise has been impossible for 3 weeks which has had a fairly brutal effect on me maintaining a healthy weight over the festive period - which sugarwise started on the 1 Dec . I'm buying a Fitbit tomorrow to encourage me to generally move more through the day.

[Snowkey]

Today was hard - went out for lunch and I always have pudding when we eat out - breaking from the habit is tricky. Then went around to MIL's and was offered buttery mince pies and then after dinner, Nigella's trifle. I said no to all but the craving lingered all day - I used wine to drown it out!

[SCOTCHandWRY]

Yes go cold turkey on the sugar (and other high GI carbs while you are at it ), tough for a few days but easier after that as the cravings subside as your blood sugar stops spiking so much.

But Chocolate! Chocolate is NOT the problem, it's the sugar in rubbish Chocolate that's the problem - Get yourself some decent 85% (minimum!) chocolate and have a square or 2 every day (it's so strong, a square or two is enough), I low carb but that's my evening reward - 2 large squares is 5g of carbs so it's an easily workable treat. There is not enough sugar in it to trigger a binge (by comparison a small bar of junk chocolate might have 60g sugar).

[Tortington]

i started low carbing again today, and find the first three days of sugar free awful - mood swings the lot.

i have to do it now so i am not a tearful bitch full of woe before i go back to work next week

[Snowkey]

I love 85% chocolate and I can eat a lot more than 2 squares! For the moment I need to stay away from all sweet treats, it's a habit that needs to be broken not replaced with less sugary chocolate.
Went out for lunch today again and resisting the pudding course was hard but not as hard as yesterday, I treated myself to a lovely cappuccino without the chocolate sprinkles so I didn't feel too deprived.
I don't want to go low carb because I already fast twice a week and exercise intensively and I enjoy being adventurous with foods and although low carb food is delicious I just don't want to feel that restricted long term and it's not the savoury stuff that I struggle to resist. It's possible that I will have to reduce my starch to control the sugar urges but I'm hoping that I can have carbs for at least one meal a day.

[FurryDogMother]

Thing is, the longer you resist sweet stuff, the less you want it. If you keep trickle-feeding sugar into your system, you're never going to lose the craving, nor be fully satisfied, because you're restricting your natural desire to have more of it, and therefore feeling deprived. If you just stop eating it, you'll have a bad week, or maybe two - but after that, you'll be freed from that constant craving. THAT is the advantage of a low carb diet - but you can't 'half do' it - it's not like calorie restriction where you can have an up day and a down day - it's about becoming keto-adapted, and using the advantages of that (reduced appetite, fewer cravings etc.). Ack I could go on (could write a book at this point!) - but I can feel my evangelical low carb thingie coming on, so had better shut up. Whichever way you choose to address your issues with sugar, I wish you the best of luck!

[Snowkey]

Furry I've done low carb, I've done ketosis, I've read all the books and it did kill my sugar cravings. I don't want the restriction of low carb long term. Only cutting out refined sugar may not work for me but I need to give it a shot, I need to know how far can push it. I have a BMI of 21, so I don't need to lose weight I just need to get to grips with my sugar issues - which tbh got a lot worse when I fell off the low carb wagon and lost all ability to control intake, I am ready to stop now and it seems to be working - will give it a month and if the craving don't go I'll return to low carbing.

[SCOTCHandWRY]

FURRYDOG, I'm another who struggles with the evangelical low carb thingy , I just want to get the message out their but realise most people are not ready to accept the modern western diet is killing us all... it's just too big a change for most people (especially if you think grain foods are the root of our problems like I do... see, I'm extra crazy evangelical ).

I lost a LOT of weight, but it's about health, long term health now for me... you don't have to be fat, it doesn't matter what your BMI is, you could be underweight and at risk of many diseases related to metabolic syndrome/disordered insulin metabolism, if your diet is high carb (at the levels we are now advised to eat for our "health"!).

I shall step down off my soap box now.

[FurryDogMother]

Am climbing onto the currently unoccupied soapbox...

I totally agree that it's about health, rather than appearance. I'm 53 now (how did THAT happen?) and am not about to pour myself into something small and slinky - but I would rather like to avoid type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease etc. The cosmetic side of weight loss via low carb is an added bonus, as far as I'm concerned, but not the main motivating factor.

I've just taken issue with someone on another thread who claims we say that low carb 'works every time' (ie, we have to do it multiple times cos as soon as we stop, it stops working) - well yeah, name a diet that works when you're not on it? My evangelical gene is throbbing a bit, so am trying to restrain myself :)

The (carb free) vodka probably isn't helping.

Handing the soapbox back now...

[LeftMeInSuspenders]

Yes I started today.

No chocolate or fizzy drinks.

My addiction to chocolate is my own personal hell!

[Chottie]

I've been eating a lot of yummy high quality chocolate over Christmas and now I am wearing it I need to get out of the habit of eating chocolate and sweeties and biscuits. Sugar is very addictive...... and it rots your teeth.

LeftMe I am in with you. We were out all day so I have not eaten anything sweet today either.

[Snowkey]

Bugger! I fell into a vat of sugar last night at a New Years Eve bash...never mind clean slate today. Alcohol free, sugar free....for January at least!

[anothertiredmum]

I am in. I have a 10 week old baby and I have been eating sugar for the past 10 months.... so much chocolate and biscuits every day. So, I shall not have any sugar for now. I will see about carb a bit later, one step at a time or I know I won't make it. I will explore Patrick Holford plan too as it is supposed to regulate your blood sugar. I have also decided not to weight myself and see when I feel better rather than having it dictated by the scales.

[SCOTCHandWRY]

I've just taken issue with someone on another thread who claims we say that low carb 'works every time' (ie, we have to do it multiple times cos as soon as we stop, it stops working) - well yeah, name a diet that works when you're not on it? My evangelical gene is throbbing a bit, so am trying to restrain myself

Exactly so... most things only work when you actually do them! . Go back to eating big piles of carb every day, and of course the weight/health issues will come right back.

[anothertiredmum]

Low card is not a very healthy option anyway. My sugar addiction is not healthy and as a new mum, I need to be a good role model to my daughter and eat healthy food. I think Patrick Holford's plan makes sense and I will try to get to grip with it, but stopping sugar should already make a difference to my health and my moods in the meantime.

[Snowkey]

The think its hard staying off sugar though...I can get my savoury fix very easily using low carb recipes but the sugar thing is tricky and there is so much lovely chocolate in the cupboard. I'm considering making myself a total yogurt with berries, seeds and vanilla but I'm sure it's the wrong approach, I'm trying to plug a craving...a feeling of boredom...a habit. Will have a cup of liquorice tea, see if that helps take my mind off eating.

[SCOTCHandWRY]

ANOTHERTIREDMUM, the point is, what we are being TOLD is a healthy diet, is not healthy!
Also, sugar=carb=sugar too many people don't realise ALL carbohydrates are sugar, it doesn't matter much if its sucrose or potato or rice, the total average daily carb consumption and the number of hours per day the blood sugar is elevated above their natural baseline has a big impact on long term health. The more carbs you eat, and the more often you eat them, the higher the risks to your health. This link is a "starter", if you are interested, there is plenty of info out there.

www.drbriffa.com/2007/01/05/carbohydrate-not-fat-consumption-is-linked-with-increased-risk-of-metabolic-syndrome/

The most interesting part in this particular article is this bit -
In this study, a high-carbohydrate diet was defined as one in which more than 57 per cent of calories come from carbohydrate. It should perhaps be noted that we are very often encouraged to ensure that 60 per cent or more of our calories are carb-based.

[Snowkey]

I think eliminating sugar will massively lower my carb intake anyway. Agree that wheat isn't great but I'm going to continue eating small portions of brown rice and starchy veg.

[SCOTCHandWRY]

:) I do have the occasional small potato/sweet potato and Manuka honey (rare treat) and 2 squares 85% choc a day... not as hardcore as many but

[anothertiredmum]

Hi Scotch. I will have a look at your link. Thanks. Is what you have been doing for 7 years, a low carb diet?

What I meant was unhealthy is the like of Ducan or Atkins where you eat low carb but high protein.