There is no such thing as sugar addiction.

[Cozytoesandtoast00]

If I read or here this again, I will scream.
I am a sugar addict. I cannot control myself around the substance but frequently trick myself into believing that I can have a little on special occasions. I can't. This thinking leads to sugar binge eating.
I've just eaten four ice-cream's. A bag of chocolate chips, spoons of maple syrup and lots of biscuits. I would have eaten more but all the other sweet stuff has been hidden by my husband (at my request) I don't binge on anything else.
I've previously eaten my children's Easter eggs, S'more sets which were meant for camping and ingredients for a granola recipe for my children.
Once I start, I can't stop.
I've just finished searching the house for the hidden chocolate and have given up.
I'm now crashing on sugar and feel hopeless and depressed.
It wasn't always like this. I gave up for 30 days once and felt amazing. I didn't even want anything sweet and felt like I'd conquered this obsession. I then had a slice of cake at a birthday party and the hell spiral continues.
I'm now crying. I'm going on holiday tomorrow and know I won't have the strength to say no.
I lost a lot of weight on Ozempic but now I'm going back to my old ways.
If anyone has any words of wisdom. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks x

*hear. Sorry.

I think that sounds more like binge eating disorder (I have that) but totally understand what you’ve just described. You’re not alone.

It would be fantastic if anyone has any sugar beating tips. I am sure there are many of us out there.

I think people get overly technical when they talk of addiction, or reliance or dependence so they say this thing is or isnt an actual addiction. Its not much help if you're craving it so badly you dont make choices that you feel are in your control.

There is some research to show that the drugs used to support people coming off heroin and crack etc can support people trying to break a sugar 'addiction' so people know how strongly this affects some people

I didnt have a sugar addiction but I do need to leave complex and refined carbs alone (Im not too bad with fruit and veg and milk) in order to feel full up and in control of my appetite.

Of course mention this anywhere on this forum and people get the hump but there you are, my body is not theirs.

Have you tried accessing support for binge eating disorder OP? It does sound like that's probably the underlying cause and sugary quick hits are one of the most common sources. Sugar itself is like poison to your body though, and I definitely agree it isn't easy to give up- your body does have withdrawals without it if you consume a lot usually and its recommended you follow a plan to taper off it which is wild really.

I see what you mean but binge eating advice has never got me anywhere (i.e. you shouldn't omit any foods) I've tried this for years and it's never helped.
If I eliminate sugar, I feel much better. I stopped eating sugar for 3 months a few years ago and felt totally free.

Exactly OP, once you leave the sugar alone, you're not binging. Thats not binge eating disorder

Do you think you can go cold turkey for a week or two.

Yes I have before and it hasn't helped.
I'm a therapist myself ironically.

There is some research to show that the drugs used to support people coming off heroin and crack etc can support people trying to break a sugar 'addiction' so people know how strongly this affects some people

Lots of research states that methadone and the like actually cause very intense sugar cravings so that's interesting.

I see what you mean but binge eating advice has never got me anywhere (i.e. you shouldn't omit any foods) I've tried this for years and it's never helped.

Have you had therapy etc for it though? You absolutely will feel better after giving up sugar, but it's also partly about why you binge and getting to the root of that to overcome this.

That would be amazing if there was medication for this.
I know I can do it. I just need to focus again.

I heard an alcoholic talk about his conversation with a therapist; the therapist asked "what's the problem?" and he replied "I'm an alcoholic". The therapist then pointed out "no, that's how you've been treating the problem".

This really stuck with me when I was sorting out my relationship with food, I always thought of myself as a food/sugar addict, but really it was just a way of coping with other stresses and problems (some long term and some more transitional).

If eating healthily was as easy as giving up sugar or taking a drug, then we'd all do it no problem. In a way it would be easier if I was addicted to heroin because it would be harder for people to offer it to me! I found it helpful to follow some really food + body positive people on TikTok/Instagram e.g., mellymayweightloss

I also got really into cooking from scratch and watched some good, healthy recipes on social media too e.g., thehungrygreek

I don't think it's something that really goes away, but I have days where I manage the urge to binge really, really well. On the bad days, I remind myself that I've not 'ruined' anything because each moment in each day is separate- I'm not letting anyone down (not even myself), because eating an entire multipack of crisps isn't a moral decision- so I'm not bad for having done it.

I realise that everything is individual and subjective, but I hope it helps to know you're not alone.

I’ve found that that most therapists just can’t help with binge eating. If I was making myself sick I could access ED help but BED seems to have very little available.

Sugar is my downfall too, I could leave salty foods but would sometimes eat sugar straight from the jar. I feel disgusting.

Exactly this but I'm off on holiday tomorrow.
I think I need to have a word myself and focus, even if I am on holiday!

I agree with you @Cozytoesandtoast00 I stay away from sugar, the more I eat, the more I want. I have never binged though. Too many chocolates is not binging I presume. But I used to go round the supermarket and I always needed something sweet. Now that I avoid sugar, I don't need sugar. Not rocket science, but for me, it's clear. If I have sugar I am thinking about more sugar.

https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner/videos

This bloke is really inspirational, there are lots of videos but he does 6 parts of his weight loss programme and the sugar one is eye opening.

Thank you. This is really helpful actually.

Fellow sugar addict here. I have no advice im afraid , but get where u r coming from. I find if I can get to 3 days eating healthy with no chocolate (by biggest temptation) I can keep eating healthy for a while - but periods, poor sleep, a stressful day etc... and I'm right back in it :(

make yourself drink a glass of water before you eat each individual sugary thing.

I eat too much sugar, I’ve gained some weight lately and I know I’m going to have to give it up completely as I always end up having a little more (ice cream is my downfall). Having been addicted to very strong prescription drugs trust me it wouldn’t be easier being addicted to a drug. I get what you’re saying and that it’s hard re the sugar as people tend to offer it all the while, but whilst I love sugar I don’t get horrific shaking / withdrawal from it like I do from withdrawal from prescription meds. Not physical anyway. When you’ve got kids it’s hard not to have bad stuff in, but the things I like my kids aren’t that mad on so from next week I’m not buying the ice cream or milkybar (two downfalls)

I wouldnt advise it

You need to prep like its a job interview or a military operation, so enjoy the holiday, get home, get everything prepped in the kitchen, foods you're going to turn to and need to fuel yourself with, plan it all out and then start

Yep. Me too 😥

Don't have it in the house. If the kids want something sweet, they go on a walk with their father and buy it/eat it outside. Might reduce the number of times they have it and they'll learn sweets/ice cream/cake/biscuits aren't compulsory every single day - despite what they learn from school dinners.

It's a lot harder to binge when it's going to involve getting up, getting dressed, going out of the house, finding somewhere open, choosing what you want, waiting at the till, paying for it and then eating it - and the emotions that have largely triggered this urge can dissipate in that period.

However, eating higher protein snacks is very good for curbing cravings for sugar - for some reason, whilst it's possible to eat sweet stuff almost without ever feeling satisfied (albeit all the way up to feeling sick), eggs, cheese, etc, are very good at filling the hole in your feelings that you try to cram with sugar.

You still need carbs, as completely avoiding them can also trigger a binge at the first taste of sweetness - it's a human instinct/response - but carbs like potatoes, rice and fruit, rather than Haribo and Magnums.

I crave sugar and refined carbs if I allow myself to eat them.

I can go for really long periods without eating sweets, cakes, white bread etc but it does mean going through 7-10 days of shittiness first, headaches, extreme tiredness, rumbling, gnawing stomach, mouth watering hunger. Once that 7-10 days is done though I feel great, more energy, no desire for much food at all let alone sweet stuff, weight comes off nice and evenly. For that 7-10 days I let myself eat as much as I want but not carbs. I make my diet high fat, high protein, green veg, berries. Loads of full fat Greek yoghurt with nuts, full fat (longley farms) cottage cheese, meat, asparagus, green beans.........

Then once the craving has gone I reintroduce wholewheat pasta, oats, grains etc

1 slice of cake though can be enough to push me back into the craving.

.MatthewWeiner

This is the sugar one. I want my OH to watch it, he eats utter crap. I dont think he has yet.

It sounds like binge eating disorder to me - I have it and all sympathy. There are different ways of managing this and you certainly can ban certain foods if that’s what’s right for you.

As far as I understand it, over eating (or binging or eating and throwing up or undereating) are addictive behaviours, rather than food itself being addictive - but certainly sugar triggers a hit in the brain doesn’t it.

It sounds like you need to look more broadly at ways to treat binge eating disorder, to find the right method for you. BEAT is a good place to start. You also might find Overeaters anonymous useful. You could talk to your doctor about CBT.

Useful books - Christopher Fairburns overcoming binge eating, Shahroo Izardis The Last Diet (not a diet, a book about food and behaviour change), Ranjan Chatterjee’s Loose Weight Feel Great (not a diet either but a good general guide to good eating habits for those who are emotionally attached to food).

Tackling stress is also really important. There’s a theory that all addictive behaviour is caused by a lack of meaningful human connections as a root cause - so while I also think you need practical solutions for habit change, it’s also worth thinking about what you need in your life that you don’t have.

Finally I think it’s important to remember that permanent change is slow change - so focus on small wins.