Post: #1

I'm addicted to sugar.

About 2-3 times a week, I'll go out to the convenience store and buy something sugary. Like about 200g of candy. And eat it on the spot. At that time, it's like I am a robot. The world is grey, and only eating sugar will bring back the color. Any addicts to anything will know what I mean.

So what can I do at that moment when I'm about to shovel sugar into my mouth?

It doesn't matter that I can go three days without sugar and that I don't have candy in the house. When I get the cravings, I'm on autopilot until it's satisfied.

No, it's not ruining my life, but it's preventing me getting six pack abs. Any tips appreciated.

Post: #2

Eat a whole piece of fruit or two. Not juice, not sauce. A real whole piece of fruit.

Post: #3

Never had much of a sweet tooth, but when I was quitting smoking I would go for a run if possible when I had a big craving. Takes your mind off it and the endorphin rush seem to lessen the need for dopamine stimulation.

Post: #4

(08-30-2015 10:38 PM)RawGod Wrote:  About 2-3 times a week, I'll go out to the convenience store and buy something sugary. Like about 200g of candy. And eat it on the spot. At that time, it's like I am a robot. The world is grey, and only eating sugar will bring back the color. Any addicts to anything will know what I mean.

It could be the side effect of a low carb diet, in which case, you need to rethink your body's fuel.

By giving in, you're training your body to pair the craving with the reward, and thereby strengthen both your addiction and the frequency of attacks.

Stop doing it. Occupy yourself with something else, or try substituting something healthier.

There's also the possibility that you're a Pre-Diabetic, and therefore more prone to developing full-blown Diabetes in future. Investigate with your doctor if you think that's likely.

Either way, the sugar is bad news.

Post: #5

Overeat on animal fat for a few days.

Assuming a low carb or keto diet, a few days of overfeeding on good food can get the cravings out of your system and you won't be as hungry. Try to eat some pizza or chips after you've eaten a bunch of eggs cooked in coconut oil, you won't be able to and you won't want to.

Taking lysine tablets or some MCT oil (maybe a table spoon or two) every day can help speed things along.

Lastly, drink plenty or water or diet soft drinks.

Post: #6

(08-30-2015 10:55 PM)AnonymousBosch Wrote:  It could be the side effect of a low carb diet, in which case, you need to rethink your body's fuel.

Yes I eat a wheat-free diet with regular intermittent fasting. The sugar binges basically negate that.

Have to reevaluate a few things there.

Post: #7

(08-30-2015 10:40 PM)IvanDrago Wrote:  Eat a whole piece of fruit or two. Not juice, not sauce. A real whole piece of fruit.

I can vouch for that. When I'm craving for sugar I just eat a fruit like an orange and then it's gone. And it's much more healthier.

Post: #8

I'm a huge sugar addict as well - chocolate in particular, or ice cream instead in the summer months, which while still terrible is at least a bit lower on calories than chocolate.
I've found no way to truly curb my sugar cravings with "lesser" substitutes like fruit (which I also enjoy very much and eat a few pieces of every day), only thing that has worked for me the few times in my life I've managed to quit chocolate/ice cream for an extended period of time (ie. several months), has been going cold turkey on anything sweet that's not fruit.

I'm attempting to do that again at the moment - easier said than done as usual - to lose the 4 kg I need to get rid off to be within striking distance of being ripped (another further several kilos before I'm there, but I start getting visible muscle separation at 75 kg).

When I was hooked on coke and amphetamine for a little less than a year in my early twenties I quit from one day to the next. Quitting chocolate has been an ongoing process for more than two decades.

Post: #9

You can gradually wean yourself off of candy and soda by substituting natural sugars.

I eat dried dates every day. They are loaded with sugar, I think, and as far as I know they're not harmful.

You can also eat a spoon of raw honey in the morning.

You can also try to eat very high quality chocolate. Once you've had the good stuff, you won't want to touch the junk candy again.

But you may just have to be hard-core and go cold turkey.

Post: #10

Quest bars are good when you are craving something sweet- they are basically chunks of protein and fiber sweetened with stevia that taste like candy bars.

Post: #11

(08-30-2015 11:04 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:  You can gradually wean yourself off of candy and soda by substituting natural sugars.

I eat dried dates every day. They are loaded with sugar, I think, and as far as I know they're not harmful.

You can also eat a spoon of raw honey in the morning.

You can also try to eat very high quality chocolate. Once you've had the good stuff, you won't want to touch the junk candy again.

But you may just have to be hard-core and go cold turkey.

Switching to high quality chocolate has never had any effect for me other than quadrupling the cost of my bad habit.

Switching to very dark chocolate (also a common recommendation) doesn't make me cut back on the volume, it just makes the taste experience a little less pleasant (over 70% cocoa and it starts getting slightly bitter).

Eating healthier alternatives that are still very high in sugar will probably work as a stepping stone for some people. I just start eating a ton of that instead, and I'll still be stuck with the same extra sugar calories.

Switching to a moderately or very low carb diet (I also love bread, cutting back heavily on that at the moment, which is fortunately a lot easier than the sweets) with just a few daily pieces of fruit as the only sugary treats, has been the way to go for me.
Still takes a lot of will power to get past the sugar cravings the first couple of weeks. Skip my dose of chocolate for more than a day and my brain starts coming up with excuses and explanations for why just one more time is surely not going to be a problem and that I can easily quit tomorrow instead. Just like the brain of a drug addict.

Post: #12

I felt the same way a few years back when I was trying Atkins. I'll again urge a little fruit. You would be suprised at how few carbohydrates are in berries , apples, peaches and pears. I felt 10 years younger after I cut out Atkins and quest bars and started eating real food.

Post: #13

Post: #14

A "sweet craving" for me is now taken care of with two piece of 100 percent Cacao and a tablespoon of full-fat whipped cream. I used to love Cokes and sugar.

Post: #15

(08-30-2015 11:01 PM)RawGod Wrote:  

(08-30-2015 10:55 PM)AnonymousBosch Wrote:  It could be the side effect of a low carb diet, in which case, you need to rethink your body's fuel.

Yes I eat a wheat-free diet with regular intermittent fasting. The sugar binges basically negate that.

Have to reevaluate a few things there.

My whole family, bar me, is Diabetic, so I learnt to eat Low GI foods to avoid developing diabetes. These are foods that release their energy slowly, rather than spiking you quickly, which results in a 'crashing' sensation later. If you eat the wrong sort of High GI food, you will suffer voracious, uncontrollable cravings and binge eat to balance yourself back out, which sounds like what you're describing. It can still happen to me if I slip up. (The worst one I can think of offhand is, of all things, Jasmine Rice).

Quintus' recommendations of Dates is spot on: they're a great low GI fuel source, though you usually want to snack on paired protein and carb sources at the same time to keep levels even.

Yeah, I know, you're thinking "Carbs are bad!" but eating low GI delivers insulin slowly: you feel more energised for longer periods of time, you'll have less cravings for food, and this process encourages your body to burn more fat, (otherwise, the body is busy producing massive bursts of insulin to burn of the excess glucose in your blood instead of using your fat reserves).

There are plenty of resources online to look into Low GI eating: it's largely avoiding pre-processed foods, other than a few naturally bad foods, like Potatoes.

It worked brilliantly for me. I have no sign of Diabetes at 44; and I'm still, for the most part, as fit as a bull. Also: I haven't slowed down yet. I always have energy to keep on the go, barring illness. (If anything, I have too much energy, which is why I sometimes forget to eat. No hunger).

Meanwhile, everyone else in my family continually bomb themselves down to levels of sloth-like inactivity due to their high-sugar, high fat diets and can barely function in their homes or workplaces. Their lives are a constant waddle back and forth to the fridge to graze on more foods that will only temporarily-satisfy them. They never, ever believe me when I refuse food and say "I'm not hungry", due to the way this constant need for sugar controls their life.

Look into it. I'm convinced it's your issue.

Post: #16

(08-30-2015 11:46 PM)trian1 Wrote:  A "sweet craving" for me is now taken care of with two piece of 100 percent Cacao and a tablespoon of full-fat whipped cream. I used to love Cokes and sugar.

The last time I drank regular full-sugar Coke I found it to be excessively sweet. I used to put regular Coke down like water when I was fat and didn't lift. It's amazing how malleable a person's sugar tolerance is.

Post: #17

(08-30-2015 10:38 PM)RawGod Wrote:  I'm addicted to sugar.

About 2-3 times a week, I'll go out to the convenience store and buy something sugary. Like about 200g of candy. And eat it on the spot. At that time, it's like I am a robot. The world is grey, and only eating sugar will bring back the color. Any addicts to anything will know what I mean.

So what can I do at that moment when I'm about to shovel sugar into my mouth?

It doesn't matter that I can go three days without sugar and that I don't have candy in the house. When I get the cravings, I'm on autopilot until it's satisfied.

No, it's not ruining my life, but it's preventing me getting six pack abs. Any tips appreciated.

Haha, I laughed at that robot part.

I smoke sometime, but I want to stop. One thing that has worked for me a few times is to just stop in front of the store where I'd buy cigarettes from and wait a few minutes. Eventually the craving goes away, I get bored of staying there and I just go on my way.

Post: #18

Lots of great advice about nutrition on here it's great. You might be restricting your carbs too much and your body might be fighting it, especially on IF. I had the same issue for a little while, and I gave up some of my fat intake to put back some Carbs from fruits and it worked like a charm.

While I'm not sure, I'm starting to think that it's the combo of Fat and carbs that can make you blow up and gain weight. I know it works for a lot of people, but for me to be lean year round is to virtually have no fat in my diet other than on a cheat day here and there. Tried keto and my metabolism nearly shut down and at the same time I can pretty much abuse fruits and vegis and feel great with IF.

Post: #19

(08-30-2015 10:49 PM)ordinaryleastsquared Wrote:  Never had much of a sweet tooth, but when I was quitting smoking I would go for a run if possible when I had a big craving. Takes your mind off it and the endorphin rush seem to lessen the need for dopamine stimulation.

What I did for that is this: I always have nuts on hand, usually walnuts for wakefulness but yeah, In the mornings I get fruit, nuts, water, the convenience stores have fresh chopped pinapples, so I Just get a small carton of that, some nuts, water, and sometimes yougurt

I have nuts throughout the day, and lots of water, also green tea helps too (the actual bitter stuff, not the stuff with all the sugar in it)

but yeah I usually drink water throughout the day. I think really though that the piece of fruit + nuts+ water in the morning really cuts through all the cravings, as I really don't get them anymore.

Post: #20

Here's what you do:

1. Eat 2 squares of Dark chocolate (at least 85% cocoa)

2. Eat a nice handful of raw almonds

3. Eat a small handful of berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc)

4. Take 1 or 2 sips of extra virgin coconut oil

Craving gone.

I have a frozen yogurt shop literally right across the street from me so I use this, trust me it works.

Also, kefir is a godsend.

Post: #21

(08-31-2015 08:06 AM)VincentVinturi Wrote:  Here's what you do:

1. Eat 2 squares of Dark chocolate (at least 85% cocoa)

2. Eat a nice handful of raw almonds

3. Eat a small handful of berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc)

4. Take 1 or 2 sips of extra virgin coconut oil

Craving gone.

I have a frozen yogurt shop literally right across the street from me so I use this, trust me it works.

Also, kefir is a godsend.

I don't get it; wouldn't the list above have quite the calories? Especially the coconut oil.

Post: #22

(08-31-2015 08:18 AM)scrambled Wrote:  I don't get it; wouldn't the list above have quite the calories? Especially the coconut oil.

Less calories than 200g of candy.

Post: #23

Omit the sugar (much of the carbs too) and eat fattier foods.

It might take a while for the sugar cravings to dissipate but they will. Mr. Money Mustache has a pretty neat article on it - http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/04/1...-nutrient/