Sugar cravings - normal?

[Sudokufail]

Hello.

I'm new on this thread.

It's just over 13 months since I last drank alcohol. Prior to giving up I didn't think I had a sweet tooth, but I spent last summer eating a litre of ice cream a day. I managed to dump the ice cream habit, but now I find that I want to eat sweets and cakes and biscuits.

I've been putting up with it because my priority has been to stay off the alcohol, but I'm putting on weight and the time has come to try to cut back.

I'm just wondering whether this is typical for people who've stopped drinking. Any experiences most welcome, thanks.

Normal,I think. A substitute for the sugar in the alcohol.

I gave it a year to go away naturally and when it didn't, I went cold turkey on my four Twirl a day habit. Day 6 today, but I've just eaten a handful of prunes just to eat something sweet.

Hi @Sudokufail yes this is normal, my DH has been sober for years and still eats alot of sugary foods.

Thanks, both! That's reassuring :) I think I've reached that same point @TheOtherHotstepper. Time to stop with the chocolate (and crisps...)

Yes, I haven't had a drink for coming to 6 years, and I still have a sweet tooth that wasn't there before.

If it's any consolidation I think it is your taste buds regenerating after being anaesthetised, I will see if I can find a reference

Consolation

Here
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/11/e013246.long#ref-9

It's called habit swapping. It's a desire / dopamine thing where your brain seeks and craves dopamine from somewhere else. It's often an unwanted side effect of giving up/reducing drinking but there's no need it has to stay. You just have to modify your desire for it. I can explain how if you're interested.

Sorry to jump on someone else's thread, but I'd be very interested! I'm coming up to a year sober and like the OP I really enjoy sweet stuff, which I didn't before I got sober and if possible I'd like to tackle it.

My aunt worked with a charity supporting former addict's , and she always said when catering special events she could make lovely platters of selection of sandwiches sausage rolls chesses etc. and generally half was wasted or she could make a plate of simple jam or honey sandwiches and the lot would be gone in minutes.

I'm reading a Davinia Taylor book right now, where she says that in rehab she was encouraged to replace alcohol with sugar. But sugar is addictive too, so if you are eating loads of it to stay off alcohol, you are swapping one damaging substance for another. Her book is worth a read if you looking how to break the habit.

Totally normal. I'm in Overeaters Anonymous and we have lots of members who join Alcoholics Anonymous, become free of the booze then get hooked on sugar (some realise food is their primary addiction). OA works and you would be most welcome OP

It is so so normal. They even hand out sweets in AA!

When I first got sober I eat chocolate like it was a major food group. Surprisingly I still lost a load of weight at the time, probably bloated from alcohol and I used to snack on crisps/ nuts/ savoury snack when drinking. And fried things at breakfast.