Sugar Addiction - please HELP!

[mom2jandm]

 I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to kick a sugar habit?  I am trying hard to cut down (ideally out) a lot of sugary things that I consume.  My problem is my cravings.  I am not the type of person who can "just have a little...don't deprive yourself".  If I start, I don't stop.

I am athletic and healthy over-all, although my diet needs some adjustment.  How can I stop "needing" sugar?  I go so long without it, but then feel like I "have" to have it...that I can't satisfy that feeling until I eat whatever-it-might-be full of sugar!

I've tried fruits and gum when I start craving, but that only seems to last so long.  Can anyone offer some advice?  Please?

[neha525]

I have had sugar cravings my whole life. I have recently started supplementing with a greens product (there are many out there I think, I have only used one and I love it) and the nutrients that it has given me has helped to cut the cravings. I was told that if your body has what it needs, it won't crave but i didn't believe it. They were right.

I actually now feel weird when eat many sweets. I used to be able to down 4 pieces of brownies and now after one I feel very satisfied and have no invlination to having another.

I guess just try to make sure that your body has the vitamins and nutrients it needs...cravings usually mean you are lacking something.

[mom2jandm]

 

Quoting neha525:

I have had sugar cravings my whole life. I have recently started supplementing with a greens product (there are many out there I think, I have only used one and I love it) and the nutrients that it has given me has helped to cut the cravings. I was told that if your body has what it needs, it won't crave but i didn't believe it. They were right.

I actually now feel weird when eat many sweets. I used to be able to down 4 pieces of brownies and now after one I feel very satisfied and have no invlination to having another.

I guess just try to make sure that your body has the vitamins and nutrients it needs...cravings usually mean you are lacking something.

 What can you tell me about this?  I am not sure what a greens product is.  4 brownies???  If I am lucky it's 4!  LOL

[neha525]

I'll PM you the details. I don't want to break any board rules or anything so just in case....pm coming your way!

[mom2jandm]

 

[AussieMum2]

I am a carb and sugar addict.  I used to buy M&Ms in the 6 or 7 lb bag and would constantly be walking past the pantry and putting my hand in to get more.

I no longer have chocolate in the house and it was my birthday Sunday and I requested the 7 layer Costco chocolate cake.  Well I didn't even get through half of a very thin slice. 

I have a post on how I gave up sugar and about agave (what I now use instead of sugar) on my blog  AussieRebecca (dot) com - look under Health and Wellness in the categories.

The other thing that helps is I take a natural supplement that helps me with my energy and sugar levels so I am nowhere near as hungry.   I find that the longer my sugar intake is low the less I crave it. 

Let me know if you have any questions.

Rebecca

[crwspringer]

Do you use artificial sweeteners?  if so, did you know that your body reacts the same to them as it does to regular sugar, which creates that whole sugar crave cycle.  Also cut back on the high sugar fruits like bananas.  Go with berries.  Do you drink lots of milk... lots of sugar... get your calcium from cheese.

[neha525]

Milk and bananas are bad?? Oh NO!!! I drink at least 2 glasses of milk a day and usually eat at least one banana a day. is that much ok?

[dawn001]

bananas are high glycemic, so if you are trying to cut out carbs they are one of the first fruits to go.  Milk also has a lot of sugar in it, so that gets cut too. I just cut my portions of these things in half when I do eat them. I feel like if I am getting my carbs from bananas and milk instead of refined sugar then I am doing a lot better. :)

[dawn001]

as far as the sugar addiction goes, though, I do have to cut out a lot of stuff most of the time, and the craving goes away. Once I have some, then I want more, so I have to keep close track of how much I eat so I don't go overboard.

[onthegomommy]

I know Vitamin B helps with food cravings, so it may also help with your sugar cravings.  Make sure you're taking a good quality multivitamin and also B Complex.  My B Complex releases B's throughout a 12-hour period, so it's helping me with food cravings (and stress) throughout the day.