Sugar woes

[MisterDog]

Hi,
This is somewhat inspired by some of the questions I've read on other treads and really I just want help as I'm in two minds about everything.

One one hand I want to be able to control myself around food and be able to eat things like chocolate in moderation. I just want to be normal around food with out all the restrictions and stress. I also worry about the example I'm setting my children.

One the other hand, I have tried everything to control my eating and the only thing that has ever worked, whilst keeping me feeling well, is completely cutting out sugar. I made the mistake of reintroducing it last time and went way off track, I'm now back to my starting weight so have put the 30lbs I lost back on. I'm 11st and 5ft 1in.

I just don't know if I can control myself where sugar is concerned. I don't over eat anything else but sweet things are a real issue for me. If I have a square of chocolate I nearly always find myself eating every sugary thing in the house shortly after.

I guess what I'm asking is if anyone has dealt with a similar issue (sugar addiction) and found a way to reintroduce it in moderation with no problems. Or do I need to accept that my issue is with sugar and steer clear entirely for ever?

I think I've been kidding myself about how bad the issue is at the moment and I just want to feel healthy again.

[HottySnanky]

I completely understand how you feel. I have had to cut out sugar too because while I can have unopened stuff in the house for ages, I can never have "just one square", once I have a bit that's it, it just makes me want to eat more. So I have to avoid it altogether. I don't know what the answer is. Which isn't helpful for you really but I just wanted you to know that you're not alone!

[drayday]

I allow myself to binge once a month. no sugar for 3.5 weeks then buy some crap, binge for half a week then back on track. Works for me as I can't control myself, like you. but also I get to enjoy it occasionally. coincides with my pms too

[FinallyHere]

What kind of 'chocolate' are you eating, which seems to trigger you?

Having cleaned up my eating following the low carb high fat way of eating (thank you MN low carb bootcamp), I now only have Lindt 90% in the house. I can enjoy a square and leave the rest. It has become routine.

I have never managed to do that with chocolate which has a lot of sugar in it.

[MumIsRunningAMarathon]

What other 'sweet stuff' do you then binge on?

I gave up sugar few years back, then started eating what people would say is 'normal' but now can't bear overly sweet things

Bread,pasta etc.... all tastes too sweet!

[MisterDog]

I'm glad I'm not alone! It's terrible because with other things I have a lot of self control so I feel terrible about not being able to control myself with chocolate and cakes.

The chocolate tends to be milk chocolate. Dark chocolate I'm better with but it gives me terrible headaches so I don't usually buy it. I am particularly bad with those little gu desserts, cakes and chocolate bars. I would just not buy them but always end up getting them in for my son and eating the majority of them myself. If I'm honest I know at the time that they are for me really, it's just an excuse.

Although I wouldn't say I over eat other things I do eat differently when I'm having more sugar in my diet. For example I eat a lot less fresh food and protein and lean more towards pizza and cheese and salsa toasties. I also find that I stop drinking much water and drink more coffee.

[MusicToMyEars800]

I am like you OP, I buy the GU desserts and nearly always eat bothe pots I try to stick to dark chocolate ( usually lindt with sea salt ) but still end up demolishing the bar, I also have a weakness for salt and vinegar crisps I can eat loads, I cut my sugar down in my coffee and tea from 2 sugars to 1 and now am trying to cut down to half, then eventually none! I will be allowing myself tonight to enjoy some shit food and and my shopping is coming tomorrow and is all healthy no junk in it at all I will be joining the gym on Monday and am determined to better my health and weight.

[MisterDog]

Music, that's sounds really positive! I really hope it goes well :)

I've stopped eating any sweets things again from the beginning of this week (except fruit) and upped my water intake and have lost two pounds. The cravings are starting to stop too :D I just have to remind myself to not kid myself into thinking I could just have one pot or one cake etc

[MusicToMyEars800]

Well done Mister keep it up, I will be starting as of tomorrow, I've just got to avoid shops at all costs which isn't too hard as my shopping is done online, and grit my teeth through the horrific cravings I know are to come ( I've done this before ) Lets keep each other updated and motivated?

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

I'm beginning to believe I need to pretend that sugar is cigarettes . Gave up smoking a number of years ago and have never touched one since - and still think occasionally that I quite fancy one. Frankly after 30 years of smoking if I had one cigarette I would start again.

It is beginning to dawn on me slowly that perhaps sugar is the same. I had been low carbing successfully for months. In the last few weeks I have had ridiculous amounts of sugar. One night I ate 7 bars of chocolate No one does that, do they? Once I've had something sweet I can't stop.

[MusicToMyEars800]

sugar is highly addictive, it doesn't help that it is in almost everything...
I gave up smoking years ago but can still have the odd one or 2 and not start up again, I don't think I could have the same control with sugar, I start eating something sweet and can't stop, it's up there with some hard drugs in it's addictiveness.

[MisterDog]

That's how I'm seeing it Bless. I know that I can't stop at one, so I have to have none. I might sound silly but I just keep telling myself that I'm an 'addict' and sugar is a drug. I know that sounds dramatic but It was ruining my health like a drug would and I was being secretive and lying about it to myself and others... So far that thought helps me stay away from it completely.

Last time I made the mistake of having 'just one' and I slowly found myself started back on the horrible sugar binges and put back on all the weight I worked so hard to lose.

Atleast this time I have the experience to know what will happen if I slip up and hopefully that will be an advantage.

Good luck everyone

[humanfemale]

I don't think that sounds silly at all. It sounds like you're being real and honest about your relationship with sugar, which is great!

I'm a recovering alcoholic and don't ever expect (or want) to be able at some point to return to 'normal' drinking. I just finally accepted I'm addicted and need to stop.

I believe it's apt to understand sugar in a similar way, because it's also addictive, leads to binges we can't control and undermines our health and self esteem. Some people can have a single glass of wine / few squares of chocolate and leave it at that. But many many others can't and I think abstinence is the way forward for them.

[honeyroar]

How are you all doing?

I gave up processed foods and sugar in mid January. I'm doing ok. I've lost 23lbs, and am slowly chipping away at it. It's been a lot easier than I thought. I definitely think I was as addicted to sugar as I was to cigarettes when I smoked.

[FlightyMare]

Well done Honeyroar - attempting to give up sugar is a continuous soundtrack to my life! I've recently bought Paul McKenna's quit sugar book and hypnosis app so will see if I manage to last a bit longer following his programme. I've got a horrendously busy 2 weeks at work, so I'm not even going to attempt until after that, but hopefully more people will turn up with success stories that'll motivate me...