Sugar and Food after quitting booze

[IcecreamForAlcohol]

Just wondered if this was common...

I quit booze a few weeks ago as my intake was about 4 bottles of wine a week plus a few G&Ts. Consisting of about half a bottle of wine and 1-2 G&Ts per day. That's clearly way too high and there are reasons it crept up.

My question is more around the amount of food I've been getting through since quitting. I think I was drinking around 600 calories a day of alcohol (sugar) and wonder if my body is trying to replace that.

Before I quit I barely ate any junk / snacks, now I'm craving biscuits, crisps and ice cream from about lunchtime til bedtime.

Is this common?

[IcecreamForAlcohol]

I've bought some of those low cal jellies and sweet fruit like mango and pineapple. Hope it works as I've put on 2 lbs in the 3 weeks since I quit booze.

[IcecreamForAlcohol]

The sugar cravings do seem to have eased off a bit this week. Although I am eating a lot of fruit.

[recoveringyoungalco]

Very very common. I was told to carry mini mars/ similar in my bag when I first quit drinking to curb any cravings. I wouldn't worry about the sugar intake for now. Like pp's I eat a fair amount of sweet things (very unlike me) when I quit but don't really now

[Oldhabitsarehardtobreak]

I just gradually reduced. One day I was stuffing a family sized sharing bag of malteasers down my neck & I just started weighing them out and having half of the amount. I pretty much avoid processed sugar now or else I just end up on a binge again!

[ChickenNurturer]

Yes OP, I definitely experienced this when I gave up alcohol. I used to say “I don’t really have a sweet tooth” but all of a sudden I was eating chocolate, pudding every night etc. It passes, you adjust and I think things like improved sleep that comes with time in sobriety also contribute to better food intake over the long term.

My advice would be to prioritise your sobriety, even if you need to eat a bit more sugar in the short term. I think part of it is filling the ‘reward’ element that alcohol can sometimes be used for, especially in the evening. I found identifying some non-drinkable or edible alternative rewards helpful e.g. a bath, a new book/audiobook, doing a home facial, burning a posh candle etc.

[IcecreamForAlcohol]

@Oldhabitsarehardtobreak

How did you get a grip on the sugar cravings?

[IcecreamForAlcohol]

I think it makes sense. My body is used to 600 calories of sugar a day. I don't miss the booze, so I'm wondering if that was more of an emotional thing but my body seems to be physically addicted to the sugar. I think I'll just try and gradually cut down on the sugar.

[Oldhabitsarehardtobreak]

Well done on quitting alcohol.

I know someone who started getting through a jar of honey a week after quitting.

I also suddenly started craving, & eating, huge amounts of sugar laden snacks. Biscuits, sweets, huge slabs of chocolate….all stuff I didn’t normally touch.

I figured I would get a grip on going AF first and then deal with the sugar issue. Thankfully I got a grip on it.