Sugar

[Lazyi]

It’s embarrassing and ridiculous, but I am addicted to sugar. Had a massive binge yesterday, ate 100g of sweets, massive slice of cake, a pack of cookies and a scone with jam and cream. Now getting night sweats and massive energy slumps. I’ve been addicted to alcohol in the past, and the feeling of cravings is similar. The buck stops here. Please help support me and join me if you wish. This is day one on my sugar free journey.

Ok - here is what I have done so far today....
Thought seriously about when the worst time for sugar temptations is - its in the evening, when I am packing away and tidying up after the evening meal... so here is my plan..........

I will get things ready for dinner in my lunch break today (WFH) so that its easy to clear up.
I will get my partner to clear up
I will get upstairs asap with a cup of coffee to remove myself from temptation
I will brush my teeth as soon as possible after coffee
I also have some pear and blueberries ready for the first port of call if temptation strikes.

I’m going sugar free too! Am on week 3 now. It gets so much easier once you’re 2/3 days in.

When I have sugar I get shakey hands and light headed a few hrs later. It just doesn’t agree eitb somemof us. Google hyperglycemic and see if anything there sounds familiar

Apparently eating inulin rich foods or supplements suppress sweet cravings

@Thesonglastslonger , that’s very impressive! We’re you eating a lot of sweets before?

Try doing the keto or Michael moseleys fast 800 to kick start and retrain your brain. It is painful to start with but does help and re-educate yourself

Thank you all for advice. I succeeded with today!! Woo!

@HallwayDoor , thank you. I’m not looking to restrict calories or diet. Is it still worth looking at these?

@purpledalmation , that’s great to know, I will look into it!

1 down!!

I’ll be honest - I’m addicted to sugar too but not willing to fight my addiction. Good Luck to you though

I’m addicted to sugar too. I also have a history of addiction (some class A drugs as a teenager and was a heavy smoker for 15+ years)
I just did 21 days sugar free, had a huge binge on rubbish on Saturday night, now the last 2 days I have had something sugary (last night it was a mars ice cream and 2 choccie dodgers 🤦‍♀️) - so nothing dramatic in real terms but I know I feel better when I don’t eat it at all, because I don’t get the sugar crash but I also don’t get the emotional response of feeling addicted and out of control. It’s really hard though.

things that work for me:
high fat and high protein diet,
proper hydration (eg 3l a day)
eating plenty protein if I run or workout
bcaa sups if I train
cutting dairy and wheat too- feel so much better on a clean diet
hypnosis- but I don’t often get time/make time
absolute cold Turkey- I’m not a moderator, I don’t have moderator genes. I need to cut it all out and can never have just one square of chocolate

I could have written this post 2 years ago, in fact I think I did but deleted it through shame. I kind of flounced off and said that’s it, no more sugar and god knows how but I did it. It was 5/3/2021 the Friday before we went back after lockdown. The only sugar I now have is wine at weekends and I’ve had to be really careful with that as I can feel my body going woohoo sugar give me more.

books that helped:
sweet poison by David Gallespie
Why we eat too much by Dr Andrew Jenkinson

essentially what I did was say I could eat what I want and as much as I want as long as it was mostly made from scratch (obv still have things like baked beans occasionally and sausages and kievs) and restrict wine to weekends. All I drink now is tea, water and wine. I used to love lemonade I tried a bit after a walk last summer and it took 2 pints of water to get the sickly taste away it was the most revolting thing I’d ever tasted and I used to get through loads of the stuff.

Don’t replace with sugar free substitute soft drinks they are counter productive as the chemicals they use to replace the sugar do no good at all. I’m also sure I read somewhere that the body realises it’s been tricked and throws more hormones at you you to seek out more sweet.

I did have some withdrawal headaches which definitely lasted around 2 weeks maybe 3 but that coincided with my covid jab. The salivating day-dreaming images of cakes and fruit pastels hitting my brain on an hourly basis gradually diminished but took I think the best part of a year to disappear completely. Easter was easy, Christmas was hard. Ready salted crisps don’t have sugar in. Oranges kept the mid afternoon cravings away.

changes I’ve noticed in addition to 4 stone weight loss (I’m still around 1.5 stone overweight but I no longer care about that)
I think I was pre diabetic, I never had that tested but was getting everything you mentioned in your op including fuzzy eye sight that’s all gone.
hot flushes almost diminished completely.
skin much better
energy levels vastly improved
Verucas that I’d had for years and tried everything under the sun to get rid of disappeared within 6 weeks.

I don’t think there’s any going back for me now, I did succeed for a couple of months once before but relapsed and I think it’s harder once the sugar monster knows what you’re trying to do to it.

@thenewaveragebear1983 : "I also don’t get the emotional response of feeling addicted and out of control." - THIS!!

I also don't have moderator genes.... I always look on in amazement at people who have one glass of wine, or manage to keep a bar of chocolate in their desk without eating it all.... why do you think it is?

I am going to write down all the things you suggested... can you tell me what effect the bcca supplements have? Worth trying?

thanks so much for sharing

@thenewaveragebear1983 - one more question - can you DM me who you did hypnosis with? I tried it last year, and it didn't work.. not sure if its worth trying again.

@Billybagpuss - I am so impressed. I feel like its going to be really hard, and almost impossible... but I gave up drinking 10 years ago, and if you'd told me in 2010 that I would be a non-drinker, I would never have believed you, so perhaps I am capable... I AM!!

I am going to get the two books that you have recommended, and also note the tips on oranges and ready salted crisps... I also take your point on diet drinks... as I wanted to keep them coming, but I realize that they will have to go to.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share.... day two on the way!

I bought a few sessions from a company I found on Facebook- clear minds hypnotherapy. You buy the recording and it’s yours to keep. They have various ones for healthy eating and bingeing and one for sugar addiction.

BcAA is basically a protein supplement that helps your muscles actually utilise the protein in your diet. I use a capsule, the pack says take 6 a day but I find if I do I get all twitchy. I take one a couple of times a day after a strength training session and I find it just stops me getting DOMS and seems to curb that insatiable hunger. If I’m doing a long run I take a couple before and a couple after, I notice the impact on my stamina if I take them. I don’t know how or why this happens but it does seem to work. I also think fat and protein are definitely key to successfully quitting sugar, and it’s not always the same day, so eg if you don’t eat enough fat on Monday you’ll be ravenous for carbs on Thursday even if you eat enough calories 🤷‍♀️ bodies are weird

I did almost a full year sugar free after doing a paleo detox during lockdown #1. I don’t think I can go the rest of my life never eating sugar but I’m not really able to moderate yet.

Day 2!!!

So today, the hardest point was when I was clearing up after dinner. I’d had pasta with a cream cheese and veg sauce, and right after I really wanted cake, chocolate and sweets. Instead I had some sourdough bread and butter and some squares of 100% chocolate. They didn’t really hit the mark, but the cravings subsided. Funnily enough, I just didn’t fancy the pears and blueberries I had ready and waiting for such an occasion. I’d had some pudding the night before, made with bananas and dried dates in lieu of sugar, and that hit the spot well, so might make that again tomorrow. Thanks all for sharing your tips and info.

It does get easier.

I absolutely believe sugar is addictive. I have ADHD and when I’m struggling I use it like a dopamine hit. The challenge is I can eat enormous amounts of sugar without stopping. Love it and hate it at the same time

Check out some of this man podcasts I've found them very helpful for changing my mind set

open.spotify.com/show/6NyPQfcSR9nj0DPDr2ixrK?si=hz8fSMf-TUyxZII5TvRZyQ

I was the same, absolutely no moderation around sugar at all. Day 3 was the worst but I'm 14 weeks in now and 1.5 stone lighter and feel so much better. I have a few sugar free products now like light hot chocolate which helps take the craving away if I get it. Good luck

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor - another hero along with @thenewaveragebear1983 and @Billybagpuss . I'm on day 3 today - so wish me luck. Please share any other hints or tips!

@Ricco12 - I already listen to his podcasts, and have enjoyed lots of them. Until he started talking about cold water swimming, which I will never get into!

Joining you as of now, having already binged earlier today...

The year is 25 days old, this is my 25th new start 😰🙄