Sugar addicts anonymous

[Fhee]

My name is Fhee and I am a sugar addict. It has been approximately 13 hours since I ate a nutritionally void sweet treat. I am going cold turkey on:
Biscuits
Cake
Chocolate

I am not going low carb, but also out are any non-sweet treats that have the same impact on blood sugar, i.e. crisps.

I will not be cutting out fresh fruit. That’s just silly.

Anyone one else need some accountability?

I'm joining! I've got 6 kilos to lose and sugar is my downfall too. I know I can lose it. Just need willpower and better habits

Sorry Coco, it looks like I’m comparing my stressful studying to your dad’s illness, I hadn’t reread your whole post and was just responding to the carbs thing.

I didn't read it that way Fhee, you're grand .
Hopefully when I go back to work on Tuesday I won't be thinking of stuffing my face all the time

On a separate note, I've discovered fizzy water really makes me pee 😣

Hello! Day two of sugar reduction for me. I ate an awful lot of crap and drank heavily over Christmas, but had been on a good run with healthier eating and regular exercise for a few weeks before. I am finding it hard to get back in to it, so am starting gently with some indulgent meals (fat not sugar) and one snack a day if I'm really hungry. Aiming to be careful in January and diet harder in February with a view to losing half a stone and toning up by March.

How is everyone else doing?

Well I've fell off the wagon .
I'm obsessed with black forest gateux but its really hard to get a fresh version.
DD was at Sainsbury's and came in with Patisserie Valerie a slice from there. I'm sitting in bed eating it 🐷
I've decided Sunday night is cake night.

Well there's always tomorrow Coca! It's not a proper fall from the wagon if you get straight back on it.

Sunday night can definitely be cake night Coco 😊

I'm starting today. I'll combine it with intermittent fasting, so no eating after 7pm.

My big trigger craving is having something sweet when I'm having tea/coffee. Any ideas for alternatives

Hi seething, Sometimes I'll have a croissant and some roasted almonds with a coffee as a pick me up. Croissant around 11g sugar per 100, so medium rather than low sugar, but I find it very pleasing and pretty sustaining when I'm really struggling. With time, it got easier to just have coffee with cheese and crackers/ rye bread and pistachios.

Salted popcorn also a good snack with beverage when struggling.

Or banana sandwich as a snack if desperate for something sweet but not mega sweet

Thanks, today is my first day without having biscuits and chocolate and I'm a moody cow. Like I'm after flying off the handle at home here over a few stupid things and honestly think it's because I haven't been able to reach for the quick fix high sugar treats. I think my bad mood is psychological rather than actually my body being low on sugar. My house is very very noisy with small kids and as a stress relief I love my mid day cuppa and treats, so now I'm in an awful mood.

Seething I know exactly what you mean. I definitely eat crap to manage feelings of boredom/ frustration/ worry, and particularly when I'm tired. If you can get through these first few days it will be easier.

I'm in.

Had to buy new clothes (charity shop, eBay and Primark) in a larger size that I've never worn before.

Told myself I didn't care but then got pictures sent through from a festive gathering and I look like an overstuffed/inflated blimp.

Sugar and overeating are my weaknesses.

Would love to reboot and see my weight reduce.

I think a 30 day cold turkey detox from sugar, carbs and booze would see me remembering I don't have to eat all the chocolate, pastries, Baileys all the time.

I'd like to reverse the terrible habits I've fallen into.

There's no way I can brave the scales right now but maybe after 30 days of supporting each other and taking each hour as it comes I'll be able to.

I guess I just bin the remaining biscuits, Christmas cake etc as scoffing them is essentially binning them but via my stomach. There's two unopened boxes of Quality Street. I guess they should go to the food bank.

@Cherchez well done for braving the scales. The last time I did that I was about that weight but am fearful I've gone over the 12 stone marker now.

I can't believe I used to fret when my weight went over the 8.5 stone mark & proffered it when 7 stone something but that was decades ago now.

I was wondering what people are planning to do for healthy food.

I might meal plan a repeatable daily schedule with something like omelette and salad for lunch then lean protein & veg for tea.

I'm convinced white carbs & my sugar addiction are linked so if I can cut them out too it might be easier in the long term.

@whyarentiskinnyet that's such a good idea writing things down (and username too)

Maybe I should restart using my fitness pal.

@indecisivewoman81

I really want to join this too but I am worried. I seem to have problems with (what I think is sugar levels) dipping.

I can have a relatively healthy day then feel insanely shaky and poorly and need (I think) sugar to make me feel better. I always feel like I might fall down and fit (mad I know because I'm not epileptic but DO have an under active thyroid that I am medicated for)

I need like a proper plan of meals that won't make me feel prisoner to my body.

If you think about it, these are the same symptoms of withdrawal that you get from any addiction; drugs, alcohol.

Keep one sugar lump in your pocket. If you get symptoms, eat it. You don't need 'a sugary snack'. You can wean yourself off in a day or two. It doesn't need to be a big drama about feeling horrible and deprived. You'll quickly learn what is your body's 'need' and what is your mind playing tricks to get you to eat unhealthy things.

The fat/carb balance is the problem. It has a 2:1 ratio in foods we find addictive, and that ratio isn't found anywhere in nature except human breast milk (which has to be addictive otherwise babies wouldn't cry for more, and then they wouldn't thrive) So it's not just the sugar that's the problem. 2/3 of society are adult bouncing babies, without realising why they can't stop.

If you just eat the sugar, the cravings will soon stop, because your body likes to take sugar with fat, and will make you wobble and quiver until you give it to it in that way. We like crisps, ice cream, chocolate, even chips with ketchup (full of sugar); we'll do almost anything to get that fat/carb ratio... sugary brioche buns with burgers... tomato sauce full of sugar on pizzas.

It's an addiction to a formula based on breastmilk.

Day 3 and I'm so hungry!

I'm actually trying to enjoy the feeling though. It surely means that I'm doing something positive for my weight and I know that in a week or two I'll have adapted to my new way of eating and the sugar cravings/hunger pangs will start to go.

I've given up all snacks as I don't need them and I find it easier not to slip up this way. If I just eat breakfast, lunch, dinner (which, let's face it, is plenty) then I'm not giving myself the opportunity to break or bend my own rules about no sugar!

Well done @PeppaPigWorld that's inspiring. Good for you for getting to Day 3 and recognising but welcoming the feelings of hunger.

I honestly can't recall what being hungry feels like.

@TheFoundation that's so interesting about breast milk and makes good sense that all the foods we love are the perfect blend of sweet, salty and stodgy. I think the have a bit of pure sugar as an emergency Plan B is a good idea.

I've felt for ages it's the whole suite of snacks that are my downfall with sugar being the strongest so going full on whole foods with very little carb has worked wonders for me, my weight and my gut health if I'm honest in years gone by.

When I did the Atkins diet (now Keto) it was the first time I didn't feel addicted to food, could go between meals without snacking and didn't have indigestion, heartburn, bloating or flatulence (tmi sorry) and I lost a good amount of weight fast 👍

I am on day 2 of no treats. I'm still having 1 spoon of sugar in my coffee so I need to address that but the big important thing for me is stopping the bad habits of scoffing on biscuits and chocolate. I had my coffee with snacker crackers, natural peanut butter and banana. Now I know it's not the healthiest but it's better than my usual rubbish.

I'm thinking of replacing my spoon of sugar in my coffee with stevia.

Cheated and had the last bit of stollen this afternoon. Small slice, 146 calories so not the end of the world, but still! Didn’t even make it 3 full days! Will be glad when the rest of the family finally finish all the Christmas treats and there’s no longer anything sweet that I’d want in the house!

I found the hidden chocolate box (by accident- it appears DH is rubbish at hiding things) and ate 4 chocolates ☹️

@Llamasally someone here left the extremely chunky chocolate biscuit selection tray out and I'd wolfed a couple before I remembered I'm committed to not eating that rubbish anymore. Rome wasn't built in a day?

I spend my life trying to teach my DS about eating well. I think I’m doing a fairly good job. He has chocolate and sweets occasionally but doesn’t seem to crave them or think about them all the time so why can’t I follow my own advice! It’s super frustrating. I hide away to scoff. The harder I try at the moment the worse I’m being. I’ve been scoffing Percy pig sweets all afternoon. Annoyed with myself. Tomorrow is a new day. I’ve made a healthy lunch and will pack savoury snacks for work. Let’s hope I can do a better job tomorrow. Well done to all of you who are doing a good job or having something small and sugary. It’s still a step in the right direction