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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

<<Stands up>> My name is Lulu and I am addicted to sugar, and possibly carbs....

28 replies

SlebMner · 30/03/2009 15:31

any tips/advice for reducing sugar and refined carb intake?

am adding more and more sugar to my tea and craving sweet , stodgy stuff

is chromium a worthwhile supplement to take?

top tips please

OP posts:
Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 15:39
OP posts:
hippipotamiHasLost14Pounds · 30/03/2009 15:43

Oooh, me too, me too (sorry, that is no help whatsoever is it??)

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 30/03/2009 15:43

well sugar is addictive so the more you have the more you want.....

do you know WHY you are craving sweet, stodgy stuff?

Stop buying stuff that is bad for you, start buying lots of fruit.

Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 15:46

thanks hippopotami, and well done on your weight loss

thanks libra, i do buy and eat fruti and veg and eat healthy and mainly cook from scratch

but snacking is my downfall and multiple cups of tea and coffee with sugar

i don;t think i cna go cold turkey!

i crave it as it is comfort food and bad habits and boredom and lots of other reasons that are not to do with hunger

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hippipotamiHasLost14Pounds · 30/03/2009 15:50

Thanks sleb One stone down, six to go [panic]

I have stopped snacking on bad, sugary treats. And have increased my fruit/veg intake.
But I still have one heaped teaspoon of sugar in each cup of coffee, and two in (black) tea!!
And cannot kick the habit.
Also, after being good all week I caved this weekend and had a teaspoon of nutella straight out of the jar
It was out of my control

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 30/03/2009 15:51

Well if you know why you do it then it will be easier to break the habits! If you don't snack from hunger when do you snack? In front of the TV? then find something to do with your hands whilst watching TV (apart from smoking). Whilst waiting at the school-gates? Make sure you have an apple with you.
Whilst having a cup of tea? Have a biscuit but make it a rich tea instead of a chocolate digestive.
If you find it difficult to stop snacking then you can reduce your breakfast/lunch/dinner portions and make snacks part of your daily food count.

If you can't go cold turkey on the sugar in tea then start reducing the amount of sugar you have in your tea - maybe on a weekly basis? Or you could subsitute a sweetner even tho personally I think this will still make you crave sweet things.

hippipotamiHasLost14Pounds · 30/03/2009 15:51

chromium looks interesting by the way, but am always a bit undecided about supplements...

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 30/03/2009 15:53

hippipotamiHasLost14Pounds I would say having one teaspoon of nutella was very much in control. Losing weight and then maintaining it isn't suppose to be a life-long lesson in deprivation it's about learning to control your portions/appetites so you can have the food you like without putting on weight. Instead of being hard on yourself for having one teaspoon of nutella I think you should congratulate yourself on not having a whole jar of nutella.

Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 15:53

snacking mainly whilst at computer, which i use for MNing and for work. have tried replacing with nuts and seeds etc,but can easily demolish a whole tub

thikn it is partly basic willpower, which i need to strengthen

can tolerate sweeteners in black coffee but not tea

OP posts:
LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 30/03/2009 15:58

bottle of water by the computer?

Sorry there are things that can help but basically in the beginning it comes down to willpower whilst you retrain your mindset.

Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 16:01

no, that;s fine , i need to get my head round it whihc is a longer process after years of bad habits, water a good idea. i am probably thirsty a lot of the times i snack .

i appreciate the advice

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hippipotamiHasLost14Pounds · 30/03/2009 16:19

Thanks libra

A whole jar of nutella - that would be too much even for me...
I snack in the evening - in front of the tv, snuggled up on the sofa, I just seem to 'need something' to eat/taste.

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 30/03/2009 16:30

Take up knitting?

abraid · 30/03/2009 16:36

I've had some success buying in stocks of very, very dark chocolate. If I eat too much I just feel very sick.

ALmonds are also a big help: they feel like a decent snack but don't (for me) have that compulsive 'I must have another and another' ingredient.

I've been experimenting having a bigger and bigger bowl of porridge for breakfast, with berries in it. That seems to fill me up so much I don't get the sugar dip.

mullercorner · 30/03/2009 16:44

I second the almonds - if you put a few in a cop, pour boiling water over them, leave overnight.

In the morning the skins slip off and you are left with crunchy, sweet nuts.

I had them like this as a child and love them

applepudding · 30/03/2009 16:58

I am a huge snacker. Am currently doing slimming world which lets you eat unlimited fruit and very low fat yogurt.

I've been doing this for 8 weeks and although I haven't stopped my snacking habit I have completely swapped the bics/crisps/choc/cake for loads and loads of fruit, with some yogurt, alpen lite bars and a pack of ww crips.

There are always bics and cakes in the kitchen at work and I used to say that they talked to me as I just had to eat them, but since I've been doing this I'm quite satisfied with my healthy snacks and have really not had the urge to eat the bics (OK I had a choc eclair on Fri but after 8 weeks that itsn't too bad!!)

Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 17:20

thank you all , taht is all really really helpful advice

for me, i know slimming world won;t work as i have tried it before and it just gave me permission to eat unlimited quantities of stuff, which is not good for me

i think i need to relearn hunger and thirst signals and ask myself why am i eating and i am really hugnry or am i bored etc

thanks again x

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hippipotamiHasLost14Pounds · 30/03/2009 17:22

And what have you decided about the chromium? (if indeed anything?)

Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 19:25

i think i might give it a whirl, can;t do any harm can it? unless it works in reverse and makes me eat twice as much sugar

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bodiddly · 30/03/2009 19:43

I have taken chromium before .. you only really need it when you first go cold turkey ie. for a week or so. After that your body isnt really craving the sugar .. then it is a question of your MIND!!!

hippipotamiHasLost14Pounds · 30/03/2009 19:43

Does taking chromium speed up the weightloss? Or is it really just used to control the cravings?

Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 20:16

Thanks , bo

that is my understanding it is to curb cravings rather than make you skinny

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charitygirl · 30/03/2009 20:20

switch to fructose rather thanh granulated sugar - it is much sweeter so you need less.

Could you try some fancy tea blends so you could have them without sugar? As in 'you'd miss the sugar with your normal brew, but not with something new'?

The way I cut the carbs was to do Atkins - I'm not still doing in but it was a revelation how much fuller and better i felt after a carb free breakfast/lunch - which affected my long term eating choices. I

bodiddly · 30/03/2009 20:56

As I understand it the chromium helps prevent the sugar cravings ... I don't think it is designed to aid weight loss .. but hey if you aren't eating a kit kat then that has got to help!

Original poster
SlebMner · 30/03/2009 20:58

fructose?

have tried lots of herb and fruit teas, they taste better with sugar. or honey!!

atkins.. i don;t think i could do it, not enough fruit and veg etc

bo, i don; eat kitkats, they are nestlé

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