I'm Addicted to Sugar

I also have PCOS and pre-diabetes, and I've done a couple things that help. First, is keep a food diary and be honest in it. Track your meals, snacks, water and other beverages and every day add up the number of grams of carbs and sugars. See exactly what it is you are consuming since you probably don't exactly know.

Second, try to eat sugars/foods that have a lower glycemic index (fresh berries, whole grains, etc).

Third, wait to have any sugar until lunch time. Then it's not on a mostly empty stomach.

Another thing is - don't deny yourself something, just DELAY when you have it, and have 1/2 of what you would ordinarily have (and then if you can be happy with that, do half of that). Make cupcakes so you control portion size, or make mini-muffin sized cupcakes.

Do something active or keep your hands busy at times you would feel cravings (so you would be too busy to eat sugar).

If it still doesn't work, find out if your Dr. can refer you to a nutritional consultant or diabetes support group.

I tried the low carb/Atkins thing, but it was really hard to fix separate food for the rest of the family and couldn't really stick to it when we were on vacation. I haven't been able to lose weight - but I haven't gained either, but my tummy keeps getting fatter. It's very frustrating.

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I found that when I increase my B-complex, my sugar cravings almost completely disappear. I take a really good high quality B-complex, made from really pure food sources (not synthetic) and it works like a charm. Also it decreases my PMS symptoms too! I think every woman should know about the power of B!

If you're interested, I'll tell you what kind I have and how much I take.

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I have had the same problem my whole life and have pretty much failed every diet out there because of the sugar-cravings. A couple things that have been successful for me:

Arbonne has the Figure 8 Weight Loss program. Their protien shakes are great to start your day out. The recommendation is to mix the powder with water. This can be used as a meal replacement. I actually add some extra calories but it tricks my sweet tooth and keeps me satisfied. I mix the vanilla shake with a cup of non-fat milk, a banana and frozen berries and blend up a smoothie. I'm very happy to start my day with a strawberry/banana shake but this one is high-protien, low carbohydrate ans tastes great. It keeps me satisfied as well as stabalizes my glycemic index so I'm not going through the day on a roller coaster (eating carbs for breakfast-energy level up-crashing as the sugar leaves my system-craving and eating more sugar-then continuing that cycle all day long). For lunch, I take another protein shake or eat a salad and then eat a healthy dinner. The shakes come in vanilla and chocolate and you can add a number of thigs to them to keep it exciting while maintaining a healthy meal replacement. The line also has a fiber supplement that is tastless and odorless that can be added to anything. I put mine in my morning shake. There are also protien chews that can be used to satisfy your sweet tooth during the day.

In regards to a cleansing product, Arbonne has the SeaSource Detox Spa. While the majority of the line is set up to maximize your skin's ability to detox, there is a 7-day oral detox that can be taken once a month. While the recommendation is you eat healthy during the cleanse, you CAN eat. It does not require fastig.

For more info on these products you can go to my webpage at www.nursekerry.myarbonne.com.

Also, if you're interested in an acai berry supplement, Monavie has a great product available.

Hi A. D,
I, too, A. addicted to sugar and stuggled with it my whole life. The one and only cure for me was acupuncture! The treatment completely cured me of my cravings and I now have full control over when and how much sugar I eat. There are no side effects like quitting cold turkey, no headaches, mood swings, nothing! My acupuncturist is located in Ballard, but she's worth the drive. The website is www.sujinacupunctureherb.com.

Best of luck to you!
Peace,
L.

I quit sugar for 10 years as I'm hypoglycemic and not supposed to eat it as it could lead to diabetes later on in life... I A. currently pregnant but intend to kick the habit again afterward. I can tell you it's really, really difficult. But one of the things that helped me was to get a load of sugar-free candies/chocolates and cut back from there. It takes about two weeks for your body to stop craving the sugar, so it will be hard at first, but if you have the sugar-free stuff it's easier. Also, cut juices down and only drink ones that are 100 per cent juice (a lot of them have glucose-fructose added) and that helps, too. Try to stay away from simple carbs such as white bread, rice, etc. while you're trying to get rid of the cravings as well. Switch to whole-wheat pasta, bread, etc. I quit cold turkey, but with the aid of sugar-free chocolate. This helped and after a few days I even stoppped eating that as it just doesn't have the same effect as sugar, though you fool your taste buds and cravings into thinking it does! Baskin and Robbins have sugar-free ice cream, too, if that's your thing. But there are lots of sugar-free alternatives out there, albeit not as tasty, but helpful when you really, really need something sweet and your body won't get addicted to them. Good luck!!

Have you tried using a sugar substitute like Stevia or Splenda?

I had the same problem, complicated by hypoglycemia and hypothyroid (not a great combo). I learned about shook called "dr. Gundrys diet evolution" and have been following his suggestions pretty much to the letter. I still allow myself a bit if dark chocolate each day, but for the most part I neither crave nor want sugar or even white carbs during the day. It's a solution that has worked for me. Good luck!

I found The Diet Cure by Julia Ross very helpful for my sugar addiction. She discusses why the body has food cravings and recommends supplements to help. I was a sugar addict, I craved things like jelly beans and horrible, sugary candy and pop. After reading her book and taking l-glutamine, I realized that my brain was craving the sugar and not necessarily my body. I no longer crave sugar and A. even a bit repelled by it at times.

I A. wondering if you have more yeast in your system than you should. Cleansing herbs would be Chili powder, cyan pepper, paprika..start using them in all the things you cook at least to some degree. Then, for a little while at least, try eating something like yogurt when you get the urge to eat sweets....whatever kind you want..but vanilla is best..and not only that its lower calorie too. I suggest it because your cravings should go down. If you aren't diabetic yet, monitor your blood sugars...but start eating a lot of cinnamon, ginger, blue berries (especially blueberries!). They help with higher blood sugars.

Most of the responses you get are going to be far better than mine but...if you don't know the answer maybe someone else will and could help us both out. Years ago, and I'm thinking 15ish or so, I read a paperback Atkins diet book. It was yellow??? In that book he named 2 supplements to take if you crave sugar which I do, but did more so back then. I remember taking them and it worked and when I was done with the bottle not ever buying them again. My sugar cravings are much better unless I nap and then I NEED sugar as soon as I wake up. I wish I could remember what they were but if I find them I will send another reply. Good luck.

does treating the pcos with something like metformin help?

I find that raw baby carrots are a great way to satisfy my afternoon sugar/snack cravings.

Oh, also, i have found that if i eat a good, well-balance, but high protein meal early in the day cuts down on the cravings that i have later in the day.

Good luck!

When I was pg with my 4th child I craved sugar. I did the south beach diet and it really curb my craving. Good Luck!

I'm a bit of a sugar fiend myself so I can tell you I found out when I was pregnant that when you crave sugar it's because you need protein. Eat meat, beans, nuts, cheese, tofu, etc. first. Another benefit is even if you eat sugar anyway, the protein slows down the sugar metabolism and prevents the deadly sugar spike that's so bad for diabetes and energy crashes. Also, I can't tell you how to quit sugar, but I can tell you that peanut M & M's have one of the lowest glycemic indexes for candies because of the combination of protein (nuts) with the sugar. Also have nuts with your pastries. Trader Joe's sells dark chocolate covered edamame (soybeans) which is out of this world and dark chocolate is less sugary than regular I think.

Also, summer is coming up and if you can afford to indulge in fruit, it is WAY healthier than processed sugars and you don't get empty calories! Many fruits are coming into season and more affordable than the rest of the year like grapes, watermelon, mangos (which have many of the same nutrients as vegetables if you don't like veggies either!), strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, plums, peaches, kumquats, kiwis, etc. can get you out of the apple-orange-banana doldrums. I discovered the nirvana of fruit in the good old-fashioned fruit salad with this combo: grapes, apples, bananas, watermelon. Try it -- it tastes like nothing you will have remembered! I can't believe something so simple tasted way better than the sum of its parts! But you have to use those exact ingredients to get that particular taste and if you use an organic watermelon it will be triply better tasting.

Bottom line is I find that if you *don't* try to deprive yourself of what you crave, and in fact, if you can find healthier ways to indulge it as often as possible, the urgency of the cravings is not so bad because of the "forbidden fruit" effect. Good luck!

Green smoothies have really helped me. Here are two blogs that give me good ideas for them:

http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/

http://www.lazyorganizer.com/blog/?p=3363

Eat better, and have good snacks on hand (nuts, fruits) so that you are not tempted to make cookies every day. Drink a lot of water. Many times our bodies are thirsty when we get "snacky".

Decide what you want to be. :)

I have quit 'sugar' a few times. It does get easier after 2 weeks. What I have found is that it is easier if you don't use other sweeteners instead. Just eliminate sweets completely. If it is sweet, don't eat it. Then, if you still feel the need for sweets after a few weeks, at least, add some stevia to your foods and drinks. This is what I use
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001E5E3JY/...

Artificial sweeteners can be very bad for you. I wouldn't even use the stevia at first though, because you want to retrain your taste buds to not want sweets. After 3-4 weeks you can add in fruit also. You can make some yummy stuff without sugar. Take a banana, peel it and put in the freezer. Blend frozen banana with carob or cocoa powder. You can add plain yogurt if you want and maybe a little milk if you need liquid. It tastes like ice cream.

Keep a can of your favorite nuts, I like almonds, in the car so that you can snack on that when you feel starved and are tempted to eat junk.

Get all junk out of the house. Don't buy it, don't bring it in the house, don't even go down the aisle at the store if you don't really need something down there. Buy unsweetened cereal, like cheerios, shredded wheat, puffed wheat or puffed rice.

I also love sugar! And I will do the same thing to find it and eat it, even if it's not in my house. So I guess that makes me an addict. What I have done to decrease it's draw for me is to switch to drinking tea with agave nectar. It's very sweet, and has the same calories as sugar, but a different glycemic index. This means it does not raise your blood sugar levels and then drop them abruptly so that you crave the sugar again. I thought this was nuts until I tried it - it's true for me. I stopped craving a lot of sugar when I started this habit. It meant I stopped drinking fattening coffee drinks with sugar added too, it dropped my craving a great deal! Therefore, I was breaking the vicious circle of "have some, need more".

I also discovered that often when I A. hungry, I need protein and complex carbs rather than simple carbs. So I have switched to eating things like a can of tuna for lunch with some green salad. Or a scrambled egg with some veggies mixed in. Amazingly, I don't even crave salad dressing any more - which has oftentimes a large amount of sugar in it. I A. so full and satisfied after this, it's great! And no crazy sugar cravings an hour or two later. Once you start the cycle of more protein, less simple carbs, you will find that you will eat more beans, veggies, and actually crave those. I have yet to crave meat, but I do like it (no vegetarian here). I have even tried tofu and enjoy it!

The other thing is that I need to eat smaller, more frequent meals. Or have a snack at the ready for when I get hungry. Usually a cheese stick will do it.

If I do pick up a slice of bread, though - it's all over for me. I start the bad cycle of sugar cravings again.

Good luck to you!

I have the same exact problem!!! I just eat it though....

I don't know where you live, but Forest Park in Everett has a sugar hypnosis "class" that I've been tempted to try... Good luck!

First get into a support group that you can meet with every week. In addition to that, see a counselor every week (maybe he/she can recommend one for you. You need support to conquer this problem, and at this stage you need it frequently. Look on the internet to find a support group near you.

When I got off the salt habit it took me three weeks to stop craving it. I don't know if this will happen with sugar, you might have to battle it your whole life long, but with support and knowledge you can do it.

You know, it is so hard, I A. right there with you, but there are good substitutes for sugary foods, that help with that craving, like natural sugars (fruits), and dried fruits. You just need to find some things you like and start substituting them. I have found that I eat less sweet things this way, cause I don't crave the fruits like I craved the sweets. Sugar is an addictive thing....sugar actually is proven to make you want more of it...so it is hard to eat just a little bit...kinda like any other addictive thing! If you struggle with it, you need to cut it out completely. I have done it, it is possible. When feeling that craving, drink tons of water in place of your sweets. You need to develop a new habit. You can do it!

You need to read "The 30 Day Diabetes Miracle Diet" to understand what is going on in your body. It is an excellent book for anyone, not just diabetics. It is about changing to a vegatarian diet which we did for a week but now have brought meat back into our diet but in much smaller portions and have increased our fiber intake by a ton. Anyway it really explains how releasing insulin all of the time can cause problems in your body and how the standard "eat 6 small meals a day" that all doctors says is not good advice if you are diabetic/pre-diabetic and have belly fat (it makes those worse). If you must use a sweetner in coffee or tea then use stevia/truvia and use fructose for baking not sucrose because it is easier on your body. Not High fructose corn syrup just fructose, you can get it at Fred Meyer in the bulk section. My husband and I both felt better while eating this way, he is diabetic and a simple carb addict and he did not have cravings for anything. The biggest habit I A. getting him to break is not having a snack after every meal, he is so used to that. Good luck to you, oh and for the PCOS, make sure you are getting enough zinc and magnesium, they sell it as a supplement. Make a change now in your diet before permanent damage occurs and you go down the road of losing pieces and parts of your body due to a high sugar diet. Kidney failure, blindness, loss of feet/hands. My husband has lost his gall-bladder and his vision gets fuzzy when he has eaten too much sugar and he is on 7 insulin shots a days and other pills for his diabetes, don't go down that road, I have been told a long time ago that I will be a single parent if he doesn't change.

I have had the same problem. I have also found that if you even think about trying to go back and eat a bit of sugar then you just want it more. I would suggest a low gylcemic diet. In case you are interested we do have classes her in Oregon. My business partner and I teach these classes. There is no obligation to go but you can call her to sign up for an overview of the classes. There are a lot of options. We also have a website membership that you can sign up for that is only $9.95 a month. It is great because you can track your progress and there is no calorie counting. It does result in weght loss, decreased BMI and loss in inches. In the classes you will go through a cleanse in the first week. We also have supplements that can help with stablizing your blood sugar levels. If you are interested give me a call ###-###-####. I will help you in whatever way I can as I have been overweight with a lot of medical problem and this does work. C.

Hi, I sympathize with what you are going through. I also have two kids from 06 and 08 and I struggled to get back in shape as I teach yoga and felt pressure to get back fast. I really battled with sugar after my second babe was born but waht I found personally was that when I got myself and my kids on a schedule that included good sleep at night,daily excersize, regular mealtimes and tons of protein, my cravings lessoned. I still like sugar and have it a couple of times a week but I don't always feel like I have to have it. Good luck!

Well, I have diabetic parents...so we've had to learn how to eat less sugar, but to also eat it in a more healthy way. It is true that you should always pair a sugar with a protein. It binds up your system and slows down the sugar release in your body so that you don't have that sugar crash that just makes you crave more sugar. Also, you should grab a piece of sweet fruit, more and more often. The more natural, unprocessed sugars that you get will help to kick your reliance on candies and sweets. Finally, my best idea would be to replace your real sugar with an artificial sweetener, like Splenda. I have had ONLY Splenda in my house for years, and I don't miss sugar one bit. I've even found some GREAT sugar-free recipes to replace the sugar-loaded ones. Just try googling some alternate ideas to replace the sugary treats with a sweet substitute. I wish you luck. Just remember, this isn't a temporary solution, but a lifetime commitment to the health of you and your family.