Has anyone successfully broken a sugar addiction?

[Springtimeismyfave]

I wondered if anyone had successfully overcome a sugar addiction and, if so, how you did it? I am so fed up with myself- I eat really healthy meals and do plenty of exercise but ruin it all by eating loads of sugar- mainly chocolate. I got addicted during a super stressful time a few months ago and now really can't stop. If I try it's literally all I can think about! Any ideas?!

[BendingSpoons]

Following with interest as chocolate is my big downfall. I try to limit what is in the house and have fruit for an alternative sweet fix, but it is always on offer at work!

[Dowhatmakesyouhappy1212]

Swap to dark choc it really helps

[CodLiverOil556]

We're 2 weeks into Low Carb bootcamp and I'm not going to lie it's been hard but I've finally broken my sugar addiction.

I'd be like you where I'd eat healthily all day then come early evening I'd pig on sweets, chocolate and cake.

Now, I don't crave it at all and am even able to have the kids sweetie box in the cupboard without dipping into it at all.

Try it for a week and see how you get on

[mummymummums]

You need to do low GI because the more sugar you have the faster your blood sugar spikes then crashes and you need more. I use a fab book by Helen Foster. If I have even a small amount of sugar (in bread or baked beans) I get crazed and need more like chocolate

[CaulkheadUpNorf]

I don't buy it, so don't eat it.

It meant going cold turkey for a few days but it's possible.

[moutonfou]

I ate no added sugar for several weeks once. At first the cravings were like having a small child constantly tapping me for attention - but it only served to show me just how much my need for sugar was a chemical response in my brain and only spurred me on to ignore it.

I'd say it took about 2 weeks for the cravings to die down. After that it was quite easy, until I made the mistake of telling myself I deserved to pig out for my birthday, and what do you know, back they came...

I am thinking of giving it another go now that Christmas, Easter and my birthday are all out of the way...

[RuthB4]

Have you seen the I Quit Sugar Facebook page and website? They have an 8 week program to quit sugar and seem to have great results. They also have recipe books etc. I'm planning to do it too but recently had a newborn so am giving my body a break for a few weeks.

[honeyroar]

Ive done it this year. The I Quit Sugar Facebook was/still is very useful, but you don't need to pay or do the 8week thing, just use the tips and do it yourself.

I was like you, I ate pretty healthily but then ate a lot of chocolate and biscuits. I decided that I had to tackle my addiction in January. Since mid January I've lost 22lbs and inches from everywhere, but particularly my waist, legs and face. I've got at least the same again to lose, but it feels easy and like I actually can (I've yoyo'd on weightwatchers and slimming world for years, always struggling with sweet stuff).

I haven cut out sugar completely, I still eat a good amount of carbs, I eat loads and loads of fruit, I still eat large portions, I haven't particularly done any more exercise. All I've done is cut out processed food and refined sugar as much as possible. I've still had nights out, drunk alcohol, had mini breaks, I've just not gone mad. Oh and I've dropped all diet versions of things - so gone back to full fat yoghurt and butter, and ditched skinny lattes for regular ones etc.

I'd highly recommend doing this "diet". It doesn't feel like one and if I can do it anyone can, I was a major chocoholic.

[RuthB4]

Wow! Congratulations honeyroar on your weight loss! That's amazing! And very inspiring! Good to know you've done it without paying for the 8 week program too!

[honeyroar]

Thanks. I very nearly did pay to join the I Quit Sugar Program, but thought I'd give it a go alone first. I didn't want to be quite as strict as they were. I just used the general info on their Facebook page (there's lots) and the occasional recipe. I have a diary that I write down every single thing I've eaten since January, that helps too.

One thing that really seemed to help my cravings was a bowl of full fat Greek yoghurt with berries or grapes, for some reason it took the cravings away. I have it almost daily when I'm at home (I work away 11 days a month).

[beingsunny]

I'm on day nine of the blood sugar diet and have just realised this is the first day I haven't craved sugar after my lunch.

I think you have to just cut it out completely.

I also did the I quit sugar program, it works, but like all diets, I slowly went back to my old sugary sweet ways

[MisterDog]

Yes and I felt fantastic health wise. I was eating a worrying amount of chocolate (multiple share bars) each day and had killer cravings. I went completely cold turkey and although I had some awful withdrawal symptoms for the first week, I did feel in control of my eating for the first time in years. I lost 30lbs in 4 months and felt good doing it.

However, it all went wrong when I broke my arm .. I hadn't eaten since lunch and after leaving A+E around 11pm I was ravenous and decided to get a flapjack from the vending machine thinking I was past the whole sugar addiction thing. That was in September and I'm now 2st heavier and really struggling with it so am considering going sugar free again . It seems like if I have even a tiny bit I can't control myself at all and eat all the sugary things in the house. The cravings are the worst, almost like a compulsion .

So yes Op, I did beat it but made the error of thinking I was strong enough to reintroduce it in moderation. I definitely am not.

[HottySnanky]

You can break a sugar addiction but you do have to go cold turkey. And yes to what EnidColeslaw said, having sugary things makes you want sugary things.

[Whitney168]

Cautiously optimistic that I have (although by my own rules, don't know if anyone else would count it as such).

Sweet stuff is my real downfall for mindless eating. As of 1st January, I have given up sweets, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, desserts unless I have a proper 'occasion' - planned meal, celebration - and then I will have a dessert and enjoy it, but we're talking maybe once a month.

Am also following WW diet, so not claiming the 2.5+ stone weight loss since January is all that, but even when I do have a bad day eating all before me, I don't do anywhere near the damage I used to do (I might eat a bowl of Shreddies or two, rather than the various chocolate bars and other rubbish I would normally have eaten).

At the moment, it is feeling the most like 'a lifestyle change rather than a diet' that we're all told we should aim for - let's hope it continues.

[rocketman3]

yes, it's all about controlling your blood sugar, healthy eating isn't necessary stabilising this.

and having something to fill the void of course. the first one is easiest.