Sugar cravings make every day feel like I’ve failed

[louchelashes]

I’ve got about 20kg to lose post baby, I’m type 1 diabetic but I LOVE sugar and treats. As long as I do the insulin to cover the food I’m eating my diabetes is fine, but my weight has crept up hugely in the last few months. I will treat myself to crisps or chocolate or sweets every day, but I then get in the mindset of “oh well today is a write off now” and I carry on eating badly.
I have bought a huge water bottle, vitamins and all the healthy things to start eating better, but I find myself scraping the cupboards to find something to eat.
I have no willpower and I can’t carry on like this. Any tips from anyone in a similar position who can’t stop the sugar cravings and constant need to treat themselves?!

I agree with others that cutting out the sugar altogether is much better, and for most people abstinence is much easier than moderation. The reason for this is that the decision is already made. If you allow yourself a sweet treat a day, which treat, how big, one more won't do me any harm etc

To manage your sweet cravings in the short term, whole fruits (although limit dates and bananas) and look up some recipes on whole foods which have high fibre and sweeten with honey or bananas - I like deliciously Ella banana breakfast bars which are a bit like flap jacks.

and remeber abstinence is much easier than moderation. Good luck!

Taking a glutamine supplement can help with sugar cravings.

Also agree with comments trying to say go cold turkey. No, it doesn't work for everyone! However it works for me, and a lot of other people. I go cold turkey on chocolate/sweets/treats for two weeks minimum (two LONG weeks!!) Then I can move to having an occasional treat on a Friday (but i will buy a single brownie/chcoolate bar) or something. My sugar addiction is too strong, if I have a couple of squares of chocolate every day, that just snowballs into craving it more.
It's worth giving it a go OP! Yes, it's rough and it might not work for you but it's worth a go

This is one where the approach needs to fit the person. I’ve spent 30-odd years trying to make myself be that person who can have a square or two of dark chocolate and be satisfied. I think I read once that this is what the supermodels did!

Last year I finally figured out that there is no place for sugar in my life; I can’t have a healthy relationship with it (have tried everything), it doesn’t do anything except make me fat and now I’m peri it also causes inflammation, so I need to be like an alcoholic-we wouldn’t recommend they just cut down to one or two drinks a day.

i find, like others, that I go through the tough first few days when cutting it out (I’ve been all the way back on in December; I adore mince pies so once I started on those it was a spiral into eating and drinking all the other Xmas shit, so I am now in cold turkey mode) but when it’s out of my system I can resist it quite easily.

I have a daily ‘treat’ of full fat strained Greek yoghurt with thawed frozen berries or toasted peaches etc. When I have something like that now, in these early days when my pallet is used to trifle and Xmas pud, it will taste less like pudding, but once the sugar cravings have gone it will be delicious

Find other ‘sweet’ things to replace the sugar. I make sugar free jelly, chew sugar free flavoured gum, have Greek yoghurt with berries, lemon juice and honey, eat small pickled onions and mini gherkins, drink mint or liquorice tea etc
Plan your snacks and make sure you have them in the house.
The Fast 800 Keto book has a desserts section that is also very good for suggestions.

I agree with others, don’t have the sweet ‘treat’ it opens the flood gates and you’ll soon be reaching for the next one.

https://thefast800.com/programme

Have a look. You can do a 7 day free trial to get a feel for it. I have tried everything in the past to get my sugar addiction (mainly dairy milk chocolate!) under control and I’m determined to stick to this eating plan until I’m no longer obese.

Everyone is different
If I try to give up completely I binge.
Allowing a little every day can be enough to stop the binge.
The OP specifically stated that having chocolate made her feel like she has failed. Nobody should be made to feel this way because they have a bit of chocolate.

Building it in is more helpful than giving in and bingeing.