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Original poster

How can I get some willpower with sweet stuff?

52 replies

Roblakeswife · 09/08/2020 20:27

If you have lost weight how did you do it? I start with good intentions then get tempted by sweet stuff and then beat myself up after eating it! It's like the craving overrides every other rational thought in my head and I have to have the cake or chocolate or whatever it is and cant think about anything else. I think I'm addicted to sugar.

No point saying dont buy it, other people live in this house so there will always be temptations.
I'm pre-diabetic so I'm not even allowed it, but even that doesnt stop me.

OP posts:

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/08/2020 21:56

You need to research Keto fully OP. I’ve completely fallen down the rabbit hole of low carb podcasts so I would recommend you doing that if you have the time. It’s incredibly informative and gives you a huge understanding of this way of life.

To start with I would say make the food transition, forget the fasting. Your body needs to adapt away from the sugar. So three meals. No snacking. Then once you start to feel settled on the allowed food then add in 16:8 fasting each day. It’s super easy because you’re never hungry. It’s the carbs and sugar that make you constantly ravenous. It’s not a lack of willpower on your part it’s chemistry. This food is designed to be addictive.

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/08/2020 21:57

Also I find Facebook groups amazing for support and information and recipes!

Original poster

Roblakeswife · 09/08/2020 22:01

Thank you. Yes I am part of a lovely facebook group for low carb but they all have a lot more willpower than me!

OP posts:

Meganplays · 09/08/2020 22:03

I’m also a sugar addict. I’ve low carbed in the past and it works so well, but Lockdown hasn’t helped my diet.

I can’t seem to stop once I start. if I’m half way through a cookie I’ll be thinking about starting a second one. Then a third. It’s got to be cold turkey for me too.

Original poster

Roblakeswife · 09/08/2020 22:06

It definitely does work for me. If I have lots of sugar or carbs I am starving constantly. I've gained almost a stone this year.

OP posts:

Meganplays · 09/08/2020 22:08

Are you missing the feeling that sugar gives you? It’s a satisfying, happy high. Eating low carb just doesn’t give me it. I suppose that’s what makes sugar addictive.

Original poster

Roblakeswife · 09/08/2020 22:09

As well as sugar addiction I am also an emotional eater. It's so tough!!

OP posts:

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/08/2020 22:10

Once you get into Ketosis you’re just not hungry. So it’s nothing to do with willpower. You just have to make a choice as to whether your health and well-being is more important to you than shit food. Only you can answer that. I decided that my kids and partner deserved to have the best mother and person I could be. Not some miserable, negative person with a myriad of health complaints. That’s what motivated me. I’m now down just under a stone and my health niggles have gone.

Original poster

Roblakeswife · 09/08/2020 22:10

@Meganplays

Are you missing the feeling that sugar gives you? It’s a satisfying, happy high. Eating low carb just doesn’t give me it. I suppose that’s what makes sugar addictive.

Yeh. It's the taste of it in my mouth, chocolate, cakes, biscuits. It is satisfying. But afterwards I just feel yuk.

OP posts:

Zebrasinpyjamas · 09/08/2020 22:10

I have zero will power but try to do three things when craving sugar. 1. Try to wait 15 mins (often I move on in this time as I normally crave it straight after lunch or dinner but am not actually hungry. 15 mins tricks me as it sounds achievable). 2. Don't buy it/have it home. Sounds stupid but I'm never bothered enough to walk to a shop but if its in the cupboard I graze on biscuits and chocolate when I'm bored/tired etc. Will power isn't needed if there isn't anything sugary to eat. 3. Eat an apple. It takes a while to eat so distracts me and is sweet enough to be nice.
None of these are your 'complete' weightloss solution but they do help me.

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/08/2020 22:11

Us I too am an emotional eater but I now don’t get the emotional highs and lows. My mood is steady and I’m just a happier more stable person.

FranklyADick · 09/08/2020 22:18

Google "Pete Cohen Weight Loss Academy" . Its free to sign up just now. He is a life coach who gives you all the tools you need to totally change your eating habits. He is very motivational.

Original poster

Roblakeswife · 09/08/2020 22:28

Thank you. Oh the waiting 15 minutes is a good idea. And apple. Quite liking having an apple cut up with chunks of cheese.

OP posts:

grool · 09/08/2020 23:08

Lost over 100lbs by low carbing, I'm pretty much cold turkey with sugar (barr a small bowl of raspberries or a little bar of 85% chocolate on occasion)

I was addicted to sugar, what you described was pretty much me. On an evening if I didn't have a large sugary treat (family size chocolate bar/trifle/cake/ice cream it was all I could think about. If I didn't have it I'd be in a foul mood and would make DP go to the shop to get something.

For me I just had an enough is enouh moment where I realised I was slowly killing myself. I went from addicted to disgusted very quickly and I no longer have extreme cravings for sugary food.

I'll always think "ooh I fancy some Ben and Jerry's right now" but it's not a physical need anymore.

And my knees thank me for it 😁

Valkadin · 10/08/2020 02:31

There is a strong genetic predisposition to diabetes in my family.

Three of my older siblings have it, my Mother managed to remain ok and not medicated as she was careful with what she ate. My Brother however due to his behaviour ended up on a lot of meds which ultimately destroyed his kidneys which in turn killed him after a few years on dialysis. The last 5 years of his life were dreadful. One of my sisters is not as careful as she should be, the other has done very well and though it hasn’t gone her readings are so improved she is on only a very small dose of meds.

I would suggest you tackle the real reason as to why you are emotionally eating. I am not suggesting you share anything on here especially. Or consider that diabetes can make your life dreadful and shorten your life expectancy if you don’t care for yourself.

GrumpyHoonMain · 10/08/2020 02:35

I think, as you are pre-diabetic, and buy the treat food you may be role modelling your behaviour to your kids. If you stopped buying unhealthy treats and only let them have one thing at a time occasionally then you will be setting them up with good habits.

HopelessSemantics · 10/08/2020 02:37

I felt gross on keto. Just no way was I willing to feel like that for any period of time.

I can't go cold turkey on sweet stuff so I massively limit it instead.

These days I buy those big bags of mini chocolate bars (eg the small size twixes or snickers) and hide them in my husband's car. He brings three up for me every day and I ration them out so I will eat one with each cup of tea/coffee.

In the beginning it was hell but nowadays, I barely think about eating sweet stuff and actually couldn't finish a Starbucks drink the other day because it was too sweet. I've been doing this for about three or four weeks.

I could probably cut sweet stuff out altogether now, I think.

JackiesArmy · 10/08/2020 02:43

I agree with cold turkey. I can't cut down, it's hell to cut out, but ultimately it works.

I've put on weight in the last few months so have decided to stop eating crap. I will allow myself an hour once a week to binge (glass of wine, pasta dinner, even some chocolate) then straight back on - following BIWI's bootcamp rules. It really works - I lost 2 stone a couple of years ago, but relapsed, ate crap, and put it all back on.

Ilovesausages · 10/08/2020 03:33

I find if I eat a decent breakfast and lunch then I am not bothered by sweets or chocolate.

The book Brain over Binge helped me with this. It’s a good read.

HopelessSemantics · 10/08/2020 04:06

The problem with cold turkey is where do you stop? You're very unlikely to go your whole life never eating anything sweet ever again so I find it's better to just allow myself some sweet things so I can stick to it long term.

SoleBizzz · 10/08/2020 18:43

Hopeless Well that's great for you but we are all different.

justanotherneighinparadise · 10/08/2020 21:46

@HopelessSemantics

Once your body becomes insulin sensitive it can handle very small amounts of carbs without any problem. It is a lifestyle change though and if sweets and pasta is more important than health then I guess you crack on.

Cakeorchocolate · 10/08/2020 21:54

Haven't read this thread yet but thanks for asking it.

I'm exactly the same (as you might guess from my username!). Well aware I need to cut it out, but I love sweet stuff and will happily drive somewhere (or walk or cycle if there was anywhere close enough) for cake 😔.

HopelessSemantics · 10/08/2020 22:10

@SoleBizzz what's with the attitude? You said what worked for you, I said what works for me. No need to take the hump

HopelessSemantics · 10/08/2020 22:11

@justanotherneighinparadise likewise, calm down. I will crack on. I have no interest in low carb, it is a fad diet and unhealthy imo

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