Sugar ADDICT HELP Me!

Updated on December 09, 2010
H.P. asks from Woods Cross, UT
19 answers

I am turning 30 next year and I am very overweight (50+ lbs.) But I have had the hardest time kicking my sugar addiction. I have 2 small children and I do NOT want them to follow in my footsteps in regards to my unhealthy habits. Do you have tips to knock a sugar addiction? I really want to get healthy before I turn 30! Sick of feeling depressed, tired, and crabby. HELP!!

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

Internal candida (yeast) makes me crave sugar.

I also crave sugar and carbs when my adrenal glands get fatigued.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

While I think you will have more energy, I think it is part of you. I don't care for sugar and can pass on most cupcakes and cookies. It must be very tasty for me to eat it. On the other hand, my husband will tear up the cupboards looking for something sweet. Give it a shot and see if you enjoy feeling better without the sugar. I bet you will.

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L.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am a total sugar addict too! This is what helps me with my cravings. Get some Blackstrap Molasses (from Whole Foods or similar store) - it's very good for you - tons of calcium, potassium and iron. Mix 1-2 tablespoons with 1 cup of nonfat or lowfat milk. I also add a teaspoon of turmeric which has cancer fighting properties and a a teaspoon of cayenne pepper which helps increase your metabolism. I usually drink a cup in the late afternoon around 4 pm when I typically get a huge sugar craving. It's a good snack and totally gets rid of my sugar craving.

Another thing that helps me for hunger in general not specifically sugar cravings is apple cider vinegar. Mix 1-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and add a teaspoon cinnamon (which also helps increase your metabolism). I drink this throughout the day - especially before meals - it really helps curb my hunger.

I know it all sounds a little out there but it really works for me and it's kind of fun. I have a couple of girlfriends at work that are doing the same thing and we take breaks throughout the day to mix up our little "cocktails". Just try it and see. Good luck.

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J.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

1- TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! There could be problems with diabetes, thyroid, etc....
2- CLEAN OUT YOUR PANTRY! Throw out all candy/soda/chips/cookies. Replace white rice with brown & wild. Replace white flour with 1/2 white, 1/2 whole wheat. Replace quick oats with old-fashioned or stone-ground. White sugar is fine in your cupboard, but not on your table (don't add to cereal!)- can reduce use of white sugar by learning to use other things like honey, agave, and stevia.
3- DO NOT BUY WHAT YOU JUST THREW OUT! Stay out of the middle of the grocery store All the healthy stuff is around the edges and in back. Avoid the ice cream/candy/soda isles. If you aren't by it, you can't buy it! I can't even go down those isles...
4- GET ACTIVE! I don't mean train for a marathon. Unless you want to. Volunteer at a school, play with you kids outside, read, paint, take a community or college class. If you are busy, you won't be by the fridge and your mind won't be thinking of food. I won't even touch chocolate while scrapbooking- dont' want to mess it up!
5- WALK OFTEN! Wear comfortable shoes. Brisk walks are best, but any is good. Do not join a gym unless you are committed to making it part of your life. Otherwise it is a waste of $$. Memberships won't help you lose weight.
6- PLAN TO EAT! Know ahead of time what you are after in the fridge or cupboard. Eat similar things for breakfast (lunch, dinner) every day. This helps with meal planning and preparation. Variety at dinner usually works best for us. Want quick results with energy? Follow the raw food diet. This is nutritious eating the way our bodies want it. The food comes from the grocery store produce section or your garden. Mostly. Natalia Rose (book author- The Raw Food Detox Diet) explains it very well and has a gradual step program based on where you are right now. J. Cornbleet is another author of a raw food "cook"book I really like. If diabetic, you'll probably need grains, not fruit for breakfast. That's why you need to see your doctor. I lost a lot of weight fast on this diet.
7- EAT AT HOME! Give yourself time to prepare something. Even 10 minutes. Just think of it as 10 minutes prep saving 45 minutes on the treadmill.... what a deal!
8- AVOID THE DRIVE-THRU! If you have to eat out, go inside. Avoid the fast food restaurant. I know with young kids it can be hard. You'll eat less if it's not on the run. Bring a bag of carrots in your car if needed. There are books called - Eat this, not that! They have a eating out one that is a great resource. I know what I always want at Wendy's from that book. It's about $10, or I have found some at the library....
9- DO NOT USE PILLS, POTIONS, OR MIXES TO LOSE WEIGHT! Focus on healthy, not skinny. Do you want your kids growing up thinking that is they want to be skinny they have to spend $60 on a month's worth of pills or hormone drops or 3 days of powdered meals? Healthy eating following the raw food diet leads to quick weight loss like a lot of advertised products do (I've lost about a pound a day), but your body is getting the nutrients it needs, not just reduced calories. Your metabolism speeds up when you eat right. You have more energy, so you want to be more active which helps even more. This diet is not vegan, but can be very easily. There are 5 levels, and the top one is vegitarian. I'm happy between levels 2 & 3, but not religious about it.
10- DON'T GIVE UP! Healthy eating is lifelong. Keep it up! If you get off track, get back on it. Not just for you, for your whole family. I have recently repented of an ice-cream sandwhich late one morning by making (& eating) a huge vegetarian lunch early that afternoon- no lettuce involved! I felt like I got right back where I needed to be. DON'T GIVE UP!

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My advice is to go without for a week...it will be hard but worth it. LAst year I went on the Flat Belly Diet in which you have a set menu to eat so I went for a week with no sugar. Its so weird but since then I have been OK with my sugar cravings whereas before this I would HAVE to have something sweet after every meal. Still like my sugar but don't feel addicted like I used to. Maybe that couple days off was enough to break the addiction, who knows.

The bad thing about sugar is when you eat it it is a ready source of energy for the body. And when the body is burning this it is not burning your fat. Thats why even a little bit is not so great if you are trying to lose weight.

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M.C.

answers from Anchorage on

Most everyone today is addicted to sugar.

First stay clear of any artificial sugars because they are far more addictive, all the processed foods have them and they add more of it than if they used Cane sugar plus artificial sugar is not processed the same, your body does not recognize it thus stores it as fat AND it doesnt shut off the thing that tells you when you are full.
Organic is best. It is best because it doesnt have all the artificial sweetners & dyes that are bad for everyone. You want just natural stuff.

Another thing is to switch out all the sweets with mostly fruits, they have natural sugar in them. You can buy organic chocolate to melt and dip them in if you like chocolate covered fruit.

Id also infest in cookbooks that are for sweets that you use portion control and are healthier/less cals. I recently bought "The Biggest Loser Dessert Cookbook" and I am in love with it! I have only tried 2 desserts but they were amazing and my 8 year old LOVED them both.

The brand "organics" is getting more and more easy items. Such as salad dressing, frozen waffles, crutons, meats, milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, broth, soups, chilli in a can, all tomatoes in cans, noodles, spaghetti sauce in a jar, cereals and so on.

Also fitness is a must. Eventually you will be less tired and feel energized!

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R.D.

answers from Kansas City on

Cold turkey. Get it ALL out of your house and do not bring it back in. No candy, soda, processed junk, or pre-sweetened anything. You might go through withdrawl as your body detoxes, but you will feel much better afterward. Good Luck!

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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

I recommend you replace your sugar craving and choices with a protein/veggie snack first.

Make sure you eat 3 healthy meals a day. Eat a power lunch with good protein and lots of veggies. This will help keep your blood sugar levels normal, you won't plunge in the afternoon and then need that sugar fix.

Get all the bad white sugar stuff out of your house and then splurge once in a while with your family. Buy a treat that you really like for your entire family. Learn to enjoy the sweets in a new moderated way, not an every day type of habit. For us it's a great pie or ice cream or brownies.

Right now there are a lot of Christmas cookies around. But they are all homemade. And b/c I choose to eat my healthy meal first I don't find myself sneaking cookie after cookie. I'm fine with just one, and maybe a half of another.

I'm going to try that black strap molasses drink for sure....it sounds very unusual.

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D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

do you have low blood sugar?? it may explain the need for sugar

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

me/

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M.K.

answers from Denver on

You might try the Weigh Down Workshop. http://www.weighdown.com/
:0)

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T.O.

answers from Dallas on

I CAN HELP YOU! I tried everything with little or no results & then finally found an amazing solution not only for my life-long sugar & coffee addiction, but also for losing weight safely, naturally & keeping it off. Please call or email me:
T. O' Connor 214 - ###-###-#### ____@____.com

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L.M.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Me too!! Sugar is so enticing, darn it! The things that I do (though not often enough) are sugar-free sodas, and small hard candies or candy canes or gum. These things last a long time, make you feel like you've had your sugar. Also, keep hydrated. It seems that if I feel full of water I don't want to put anything in my mouth. Good luck, sorry about the coming holidays :)

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I.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try looking into Overeaters Anynomous. You'll get the tools and support you need to kick the addiction.

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J.P.

answers from Denver on

Hi--
A sugar addiction like you describe can be caused by a systemic yeast infection, and it can also be caused by lots of stress (your adrenal glands crave sugar when you are tired.) There are some natural ways to treat both issues, and I can help if you are interested in learning more. The sugar addiction is a symptom of an imbalance in your body. If you fix the imbalance, while you will still enjoy sugar, the craving for it will go away.
Let me know if you'd like to learn more about the natural remedies to which I alluded.
Good luck!
J.

C.G.

answers from Denver on

I have to agree with Mitzi. Organic eating is the way to go. We committed to organic foods and within two weeks I'd lost 5 pounds and completely lost my craving for sugar. All you need to do is eat 3 servings of fruit, veggies, and protein a day. You'll be full all day long and lose weight. I've lost 21 pounds since September and didn't change much else.

I also quit smoking two weeks ago with the help of Welbutrin - which kills cravings for just about anything!

I would also recommend using Psyllium (fiber) as part of this. It's a soluble
fiber that you take every day. It 'cleans you out' and we generally don't get enough fiber in our diets so this is a simple way to do it.

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R.L.

answers from Denver on

Hi Mom,

There are many foods and beverages that promote the want for more sugar, and most are prepackaged or previously prepared, sooo

If you really want to make a change, the first step is giving up soda, even diet soda induces the want for more sugar shortly after the bottle/glass is empty. Honestly it really is the devil's advocate when wishing to loose and maintain weight loss.
Next, cut out the doughnuts, just walk on by them, and stray away from the convenience and grocery aisles filled with prepackaged goodies. Years ago I would stop every morning on my way to work (teacher at the time) and get a large cinn roll doughnut from a local convenience store.Sure I noticed the pudge developing, but ignored it due to a medical thing. Needless to say, within time, I put on some unwanted and too much weight. So just as a thought, I started to eat a whole grain breakfast, and began to drive past that store each morning to avoid that glorious case of Doughnuts, and ya know what, I lost over 10 lbs. in a few weeks, just by giving up those Doughnuts!

Keep in mind that if you have a sugar addiction, most likely so will your kids, as you are a primary role model. Sure overcoming any addiction is difficult, yet if you were to forfeit those prepackaged and previously prepared in favor of homemade treats, made with much less sugar and start eating more filling healthy foods (bananas, plain yogurt mixed with honey, instead of cookies, candy bars, soda) you'd still get your fix, just a much heathier one.
I have recently written a little cookbook, that might just help you replace all that prepackaged sugar-saturated treats, with the goodness of real food.
Titled: Love More, Feed Less---and it was written to help parents help their kids live more better more fulfilling lives, rather than those potentially ill from being too overweight!

Lastly know that the tired cranky felling come from the sugar rush--crashing down---hence the desire for more sugar. Same effect happens to kids, they get a sugar rush, and then about an hour later or so that rush begins to crash---hence effecting thier ability to stay focused, get cranky, fidigity, and too tired to do their tasks---and only want more sugar.

If you want contact me, I am here to help!
R./The Muffin Lady

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

I do think quitting cold turkey is best. Eating a lot of raw vegetables for a couple of days will speed up the detox. You will have a splitting headache for a couple of days. Taking a good B complex supplement will help tremendously. Let me know if you want to know which one I use.
Good luck and God bless.
Victoria

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G.B.

answers from Boise on

Do you have hper/hypoglycemia? Usually someone who's body cannot control blood sugar appropriately will self medicate-IE have a STRONG urge and need for glucose to the brain. Sugar and soda pop do this quickly and the person wil 'feel better'.

Blood sugar deregulation is a direct result of adrenal gland malfunction.

A 24 saliva cortisol test can show loss on a diurnal pattern- this proves adrenal/HPA disease.
Email me if you wat more info

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