I also posted over in nutrition, I wanted to make sure more people were available to answer. I really need to connect with someone who had a bad habit, and found themselves knee deep with no way out.

I know alot of us here have issues with sugar. I am curious if there is anyone out there who have actually kicked this habit.
I want to know if the cravings really do go away and how you got through the emotional addiction to the highs and lows.
Also, has anyone suffered from depression because of bad nutrition and sugar consumption only to see it go away once their nutrition was under control?
Lastly, what do you think you did different this time to really get a handle of the habit?

Hi Jody,

I just kicked my food addiction today. For Good. Once and For All. Here's what happened. I went to an "All you can eat" buffet. I ate two huge plates, and was totally stuffed. Then I looked around at everyone else in the restaurant. Half the people were as big as me, with a huge stomach. Obese. And I realized that I simply didn't want to feel this way, look this way, or be this way Any More. Later on I went to a store that had a full length mirror. And I was literally shocked to see the size of my gut. I thought WOW! If that is what I look like in the mirror, now I know how other people must see me. And just like that, my food addiction is over. Never Again.

Now Jody, you appear on your profile to be pretty young, and probably don't have the ten years of poor eating habits that I had. But here is what I do know about food addiction. Certain "Trigger Foods", ( Sugar for you?) release the endorphin and dopamine receptors in our brain, that make us feel good. These are the very same receptors that release feel good chemicals when we have sex. And for some people, they become addicted to whatever it is , ( food or sugar, etc. ) that releases the feel good chemicals from the brain.

So it is possible that you're not addicted to the food per se, but rather to the release of the feel good chemicals from your brain.

I believe that Sugar is a drug, just like alcohol. Because when you look at it, Alcohol, is nothing more than sugar that has been fermented and distilled. It is Sugar that makes Alcohol. And we know how addictive Alcohol can be.

To kick your food / sugar habit , I would encourage you to google, "Food Addicts Anonymous", a 12 step program. In a nut shell, you need to have a partner, or someone that can hold you accountable. Quit ing on your own will be tough. See if there is a F.A.A. meeting in your town, and go. Ask them for help. People are there to help, just ask. Be prepared to go through a time of withdrawl, as you abstain from sugar. Also see if there is a Bill Phillips Transformation Book Study group in your area. Very helpful in getting social support from other people. Know that you are not alone.

Anytime you give something up, there will be a void in your Life. Be sure you replace your food / sugar addiction with something to replace it. Going for a walk in the park, Going out at night to watch the stars, going to your gym, etc. Do something that is out of the ordinary that breaks your mind from thinking about your former habits.

Also be sure to get some Spiritual Energy from whatever source you believe in. Ask Spirit for help, it will be there, but you have to Ask.

I hope that helps. Take excellent care of yourself. Jasun

Hi Jody,
I am someone who has just realized at the ripe age of 39 that I am an addict. My entire life I have spiraled out of control with my eating, to pick myself up, follow some diet/program/meeting and feel AMAZING. It's a control thing. A self hatred thing. And a feel-good thing as Jasun talked about in his reply. I feel best when I'm in control over what I'm putting in my mouth. This is startling to me to realize this. I need to go to meetings, I need to connect with others who have this type of healing to do. How old are you? Have you been addicted to sugar your whole life?

What I can tell you from doing the Atkins diet a few times is this: once you rid your body of the sugar you will no longer crave it. The first weeks are brutal. You consume almost no carbs. Your breath will start to smell, you will break out from the toxins leaving your largest organ (your skin) and your eyes may be bloodshot. But afterward, you won't be hungry or crave sugar. It's a terrible way to rid yourself of the cravings. There must be another way. I like Jasun's advice of replacing the void with something healthy. Afterall, you have joined the community here and that is great. Have you found an accountability partner yet?

Juliette

[quote=juleslogie;558487]Hi Jody,
I am someone who has just realized at the ripe age of 39 that I am an addict. My entire life I have spiraled out of control with my eating, to pick myself up, follow some diet/program/meeting and feel AMAZING. It's a control thing. A self hatred thing. And a feel-good thing as Jasun talked about in his reply. I feel best when I'm in control over what I'm putting in my mouth. This is startling to me to realize this. I need to go to meetings, I need to connect with others who have this type of healing to do. How old are you? Have you been addicted to sugar your whole life?

What I can tell you from doing the Atkins diet a few times is this: once you rid your body of the sugar you will no longer crave it. The first weeks are brutal. You consume almost no carbs. Your breath will start to smell, you will break out from the toxins leaving your largest organ (your skin) and your eyes may be bloodshot. But afterward, you won't be hungry or crave sugar. It's a terrible way to rid yourself of the cravings. There must be another way. I like Jasun's advice of replacing the void with something healthy. Afterall, you have joined the community here and that is great. Have you found an accountability partner yet?

Juliette[/quo


Ugg Sugar!! I am a sugar addict my problem ICE CREAM doesnt matter what flavor or style it is my weakness even right now as i type this i want a bowl the bigger the better. I know that I must put this aside for the sake of my waiste line im trying to get back. I try not to think about it by making my plans for tomarrow what kind of workout im going to do what am i going to eat so on but it is hard because today is only the second day ive been on this. But with the lords help i am doing really well.

Hey Stacey hang in there and you will do fine. Have you an accountability partner yet or even in a group? We are all here for you my friend. Don't give up. =)
I know the feeling of wanting sweets and things of that nature but if you can try to replace it with an apple or orange or some type of fruit. It will help.
God bless
Jerome

Hi Jody,
Here's a link to my blog about sugar addiction. There's also a "Sugar Free" group here but it hasn't been too active lately. But check it out for some of the older posts.
Hope it helps!
http://www.transformation.com/sdknyc...on-info/119093
Susanna

I have been here for almost 6 weeks. I can tell you that as long as I follow the eating plan, I don't really have sugar cravings. In fact, I tried to have a "sugar free" caramel macchiato a couple weeks ago and it made me feel ill.

I pray to God every day to deliver me from the chains of my food abuse. So far, it's working. Hang in there, it does get easier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodybranch I also posted over in nutrition, I wanted to make sure more people were available to answer. I really need to connect with someone who had a bad habit, and found themselves knee deep with no way out. I know alot of us here have issues with sugar. I am curious if there is anyone out there who have actually kicked this habit. I want to know if the cravings really do go away and how you got through the emotional addiction to the highs and lows. Also, has anyone suffered from depression because of bad nutrition and sugar consumption only to see it go away once their nutrition was under control? Lastly, what do you think you did different this time to really get a handle of the habit?

I have

Now when I have I think it was easy!! Why didn´t I do this before?
I have changed my diet and both the cravings and depression are gone! After 25 year of low fat eating and getting more and more overweight, I am now eating natural foods that is healing my body and keeping my bloodsuger low. I am not hungry, I eat low carb and lots of fat and my body is shrinking. I feel amazing

Check out Dustys group:
http://www.transformation.com/forum/...-inspirationa/

Love ~ Helene

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodybranch I also posted over in nutrition, I wanted to make sure more people were available to answer. I really need to connect with someone who had a bad habit, and found themselves knee deep with no way out. I know alot of us here have issues with sugar. I am curious if there is anyone out there who have actually kicked this habit. I want to know if the cravings really do go away and how you got through the emotional addiction to the highs and lows. Also, has anyone suffered from depression because of bad nutrition and sugar consumption only to see it go away once their nutrition was under control? Lastly, what do you think you did different this time to really get a handle of the habit?

Jody,

High. Here is the way I used to start my day. This was 2 years ago.

M1: Cigarette, cigarette (no 2), coffee (2 sugars), turkish bread and jam
M2: Coffee (2 sugars)
M3: A giant fatty lunch + coke (always take-away),
M4: Chocolate bar + coke + potato chips + coffee
M5: Ok dinner plus a coke and icecream and chocolate for desert.

Here is the only way I truly have conquered this. It was not will power, it was so dam simple. I recognised that a sugar craving was a cry from my body for water and something healthy. I realised that a sugar craving was caused by me missing hunger signals from my body for something healthy. Once I started to feed my body every 2 hours and drink lots of water, the cravings were gone. To deal with the psychology of addictive withdrawl, I leaned really really heavily on my Free (binge) day and really really went to town. I broke what I called my weekly fast at midnight with 3-4 chocolate iceblocks etc and hogged down all day. By the end of the day, I felt ill, and detoxed for two days after it. Now, after 6 months (the last 4 weeks), the cravings are completely gone, and the only time they come back, is when I am neglecting to feed my body or I am not doing exercise.

I see myself as someone who was a total and utter trainwreck, sleeping 3-4 hours a night with itchy skin and eyes, swollen glands, exhaustion, being too tired to walk up a flight of stairs and constantly out of breath, relying on coffee to keep me awake.

As I said to my wife, if I can do it, being such a terrible terrible case at age 39, anyone can. I believe you can do this, and I hope this post provides some sense that it is completely possible.

The thing I have done differently (now 7 months and going strong), is to work with my body, and be kind to my body, and feed it, and to work out how I feel over the next few hours etc after a meal. Once your body feels you nurturing it, it will want more of the same. It has been telling you for years that you are failing to feed it when it needs good food, and as a last resort is sayng, I need sugar and fat because I am breaking down.

Take good care of you and your body

PD (Paul)

The first step for me was recognizing I was an addict. And that recognition came from seeing a friend fall off the AA wagon and go back to alcohol. I saw how desperate he was for his vodka and may the gods & goddesses help us if he didn't get it. But then I saw how I was with a batch of cookies or box of crackers. I'd sit there holding the food close to me so no one else could have any and I'd DEVOUR it all.
What turned it around was I couldn't bend down to tie my own shoes because my joints were so inflammed from the crud I was eating. I also suffer from PCOS, and the only way to start to beat it is by cutting out all whites--sugar, starch, potatoes, and all grains & legumes.
The first few days are hard because you'll have detoxing headaches, but since you're transforming yourself, you'll be able to rise above the discomfort and cravings. Unless I'm positively STARVING, I can walk past a bakery and not even feel regret. You will get there, and when you do, you'll be thrilled with yourself and the results!

Randimir - what do you do for your carbohydrate portion then since you are cutting out potatoes, starches, grains, and legumes?

I am an addict working on recovering Sugar is a huge trigger for me and honestly the thought of not being able to eat what I want frightens me. I am working on uncovering the layers of emotion behind it all. I would love an accountability partner but I am still trying to find my way around

This is a strange post.

When I was pregnant with my third baby about 2 years ago (he's 19 months old now), I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I was given a diet to stick to, and and exercise regiment (mostly walking by the doctors, but I did some strength training on my own). I went through some horrid withdrawals for about 2-3 weeks, then quite suddenly not eating the sugary stuff was just as easy as eating it. Interestingly, when I did eat some (like during movie night at church), it wasn't as emotionally satisfying as I expected, and it was WAAAAY too sweet - usually didn't finish whatever goodie I had.

HOW did I do that? 1) Accountability: I had no less than 5 nurses and doctors on my case, not to mention the blood sugar monitor at least 5 times a day. 2) Motivation: I did NOT want to take some kind of drug to control my blood sugar because that drug would affect my baby. I went through hell in those withdrawals because I loved that little creature inside me more than I hated the withdrawals and loved the sugar.

This is the strange part of the post: After having the baby, I became addicted again. I don't have the accountability, I don't have the motivation. More annoying is that when I look around to find someone for accountability, I get laughs and snickers when I say "sugar addiction." As if it's not a real problem for me. More than that, I really don't look overweight (compared to all my friends), so they don't take me seriously. I bet I could drop 15-20 lbs., but that's tops. Still, that's 20 POUNDS!

With all due respect to people on this forum/site, if I can't see a "real" person - you know, someone I can see and touch who's in my face - you're not real to me. It's all virtual. And you're all way to nice . One thing that helped me was that my doctor(s) and nurses weren't always smiling at me when my sugar counts came back to high. So, computer accountability isn't the greatest.

Bill Phillips said that you have to start doing something good and stop doing what's bad. Is it possible for the good to push out the bad (kind of like weeds in the garden, just in reverse)? If so, what would replace sugar?

Thanks for your ideas, and patience,
Naomi

Quote:

Originally Posted by naomik2263 This is a strange post. When I was pregnant with my third baby about 2 years ago (he's 19 months old now), I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I was given a diet to stick to, and and exercise regiment (mostly walking by the doctors, but I did some strength training on my own). I went through some horrid withdrawals for about 2-3 weeks, then quite suddenly not eating the sugary stuff was just as easy as eating it. Interestingly, when I did eat some (like during movie night at church), it wasn't as emotionally satisfying as I expected, and it was WAAAAY too sweet - usually didn't finish whatever goodie I had. HOW did I do that? 1) Accountability: I had no less than 5 nurses and doctors on my case, not to mention the blood sugar monitor at least 5 times a day. 2) Motivation: I did NOT want to take some kind of drug to control my blood sugar because that drug would affect my baby. I went through hell in those withdrawals because I loved that little creature inside me more than I hated the withdrawals and loved the sugar. This is the strange part of the post: After having the baby, I became addicted again. I don't have the accountability, I don't have the motivation. More annoying is that when I look around to find someone for accountability, I get laughs and snickers when I say "sugar addiction." As if it's not a real problem for me. More than that, I really don't look overweight (compared to all my friends), so they don't take me seriously. I bet I could drop 15-20 lbs., but that's tops. Still, that's 20 POUNDS! With all due respect to people on this forum/site, if I can't see a "real" person - you know, someone I can see and touch who's in my face - you're not real to me. It's all virtual. And you're all way to nice . One thing that helped me was that my doctor(s) and nurses weren't always smiling at me when my sugar counts came back to high. So, computer accountability isn't the greatest. Bill Phillips said that you have to start doing something good and stop doing what's bad. Is it possible for the good to push out the bad (kind of like weeds in the garden, just in reverse)? If so, what would replace sugar? Thanks for your ideas, and patience, Naomi

I have a food addiction. I choose who I share that with in real life very carefully since many people do not believe in the fact that certain foods can be an addiction.
It saddens me to read that people snicker when you look for support and say you have a sugar addiction. As you wrote 20 pds is 20 pds. The exterior of us can hide many things and when it comes to food/sugar addiction size does not matter. There are groups - aside from Transformation that help people with food addictions.

I think what will work for each of us is very individualized. I know having people constantly in my face would not work for me. It would feed the negative part of my mind and reinforce the old I am no good tapes. It would recreate too many memories and I WOULD EAT.

I have been in therapy for over three years and am still trying to answer what will replace eating wheat /sugar. One of the things my therapist said I was missing was support from people. So, I joined Transformation as part of a healthy way to break my silence about my addiction and be on a site that was supportive, informational, motivational and uplifting. I also go to OA meetings. I have a long journey but I know I will make it. I do not know if any of this helps you. I believe you will break your addiction! Sandy

The best solution for sugar addiction is greysheet overeaters anonymous. It is for people who cannot metabolize carbs and sugar in a non-addicitve way. It works. You can google it and get some contacts and meeting places and times and there is a personal contact component to the program-so you get support.
Best of luck to you. And just fyi-everything in life is hard at times, no one gets a free ride, though we delude ourselves into believing they do.
Mimi

Sandy, thank you for having the courage to share about your food addiction. It helps the rest of us to speak honestly about ours also. Sue

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodybranch I also posted over in nutrition, I wanted to make sure more people were available to answer. I really need to connect with someone who had a bad habit, and found themselves knee deep with no way out. I know alot of us here have issues with sugar. I am curious if there is anyone out there who have actually kicked this habit. I want to know if the cravings really do go away and how you got through the emotional addiction to the highs and lows. Also, has anyone suffered from depression because of bad nutrition and sugar consumption only to see it go away once their nutrition was under control? Lastly, what do you think you did different this time to really get a handle of the habit?

Just wanted to chime in and encourage you. Yes, yes, yes you will reap all the wonderful benefits of quiting sugar. No more highs and lows. No more 2:00 p.m. "Oh my gosh, I'm falling asleep at my desk". No more cravings that send you to the pantry to eat semi-sweet chocolate chips - yuk! I made up my mind to abstain from candy and pop. I love them dearly but realized they made me miserable. It's so nice to go out and not have that horrible conversation in my head, "do I or don't I buy that candy?" I don't even see it anymore. Another beauty is how sickening overly sweet things become. You start cutting your sugar and you don't stop. All my Starbucks are now sugar free. I love it, I can actually taste the coffee!

Be careful to not replace your sugar with something negative. Also, my sense of humor was key. I told my friends how Peeps were my heroin and how I was abstaining from all candy. Many truths are said in jest! However, now that they know, it keeps me accountable.

I have fallen a few times and it was just like what everyone says-not as great as what you remember. You can make mistakes and still conquer your goals! You do not need to be perfect to achieve something you want. Falling down and picking yourself back up is empowering and part of the process.

You will find your way and it will all be worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie1970 Just wanted to chime in and encourage you. Yes, yes, yes you will reap all the wonderful benefits of quiting sugar. No more highs and lows..

Wow, what a powerful 1st post - Thanks for sharing with us!

There are many people who have overcome it in the manner as expressed here and there are many more of us who confront it, but have not yet succeeded.

I do share the "when you fall, you find it is not as good as you remember," Senario, yet I waffle back & forth.

I am grateful for those who have done this and do believe some day I will be one of them!

Welcome to the community...you are going to love it here!

I ate junk food all day long up until about 2 years ago. Back in 1994 I kicked the habit for about 2 years on the Atkins diet. I lost about 55 pounds and kept it off with exercise and a commitment to keep the weight off and never be 245 pounds again. I had a bout with cancer and had very toxic chemotherapy injections, prednisone and I don't know how many other drugs for almost a year. I could not eat the Atkins diet as I was sick to my stomach all the time. I could not exercise and I gained all my weight back in 2001.
I lost about 15 pounds after that with a lower carb (half hearted Atkins) diet. in 2002.
Just happy to be alive and focus on family, work and church ministry, I eventually drifted back up to 245 in 2008. And YES, SUGAR and PASTRIES were my main downfall.
In 2008 I saw a picture of myself, shirtless holding a HUGE FAT bass fish I had caught.
But what I saw was a HUGE, FAT, A$$ of myself ! !
I went back on the Atkins about 85% dedication and lost 30 pounds. Again overcoming the sugar and Carb ADDICTION, but not completely. I would frequently BINGE on wedding cake, ice cream, cookies, ANYTHING in my PATH. If I didn't see it, I'd be ok for a while. But of course, eventually I would be presented with plates of the stuff and say "Oh, I'll just have one or two". Then I would say, well I'll just binge this one time and make up for it. By the end of the evening I'd eaten as much as I could stomach and felt GUILTY, sickened and weak.
A vicious circle for sure.
I had found Bill Phillips' "Body for Life Book" (BFL) in 1999 and thought it was amazing after skimming through it but busy with life I did not go for it. Then cancer etc...
A couple months ago a friend of mine was starting to work out a lot and all I had been doing was walking a couple times a week and noticing my sugar eating habit on the rise. I thought I could up my exercise and again try to overcome the SUGAR CARB CRAVINGS.
That;s when I remembered the BFL book. I ordered it online and read it cover to cover the last 5 weeks while vacationing. I immediately decided I should try it. Fearful of failure as usual, I cautiously practiced the workouts on vacation and began to plan the food buying and purging what little sugar and carb junk we had in the house. Then we began planning and cooking the 6 nutritious, portion controlled meals. (1, 2 or 3 of which are usually protein shakes). For the first 3 weeks we were pretty good, but being on vacation, we ate too little and drank some margaritas or vodka and cranberry juice at the happy hour. I don't usually drink more than 4 or 5 glasses of wine a month and 2 or 3 scotch on the rocks monthly but being on vacation we decided to be lax. No big deal.
I do not remember eating ANY sugar once we started the 6 a day meal plan for that 3 weeks except a couple tiny bags of airplane sweet peanuts as I was ravished and it was a meal. (HA ! ) And I did not miss it at all.
Now I have started my personal 12 week BFL challenge and I have not missed a single workout and I am on day 2 of week 2 today. Sunday was my "day off " I thought I would not stray from the 6 a day but we had a big birthday party and my wife made red velvet cake with cream cheese icing and cake balls. I ate 2 cake balls and 3 pieces of cake in 12 hours.
OK so I DON"T feel completely guilty because it is my "day off "
HOWEVER...Just want to admit that sugar addicition is a VERY TOUGH ONE.
I had a drug addiction which God delivered me from many years ago that I COULD NOT do myself. JESUS did it for me. That was amazing. I am going to go to a SOZO ministry healing in the near future and bring God my chains of bondage in all areas of my life.

Thank you for the forum because only after writing this do I realize that sugar is still one of the strongholds in my spiritual and physical life that I need to bring to throne of God and ask HIM to help me cast it off.
Blessings, David.

One of my gratitudes is for threads like this. For all of you who share about the struggles with addiction. For all of you who give me hope, encouragement, support and acceptance. Thank you.

Namaste,

Sandy