I would like to see what people have to say about sugar addiction. People that don't have it, treat it like a joke. When you do have it it makes you feel miserable, ashamed and depressed.

Sam,
I definitely have had issues with sugar addiction and take it very seriously. It wasn't always evident just how the sugar was affecting me. Before BFL I had made several trips to the doctor about my fatigue. I'm an active person, do not immediately turn to meds as a fix for health problems and was frustrated that there was no diagnosis even to begin helping myself. I just didn't understand.

I used to drink cola like it was necessary to live. It was nothing for me to drink over 2 liters in a day (maybe even a meal). I never paid attention to the sugar content of anything. And I was also a binge eater and sugary food was definitely a big component of the mix when I went on a stress/emotional eating foodfest. I never made myself get sick, I just ate enormous amounts of food as a way to "numb" myself or hide from things I didn't want to face.

As I started developing the eating habits of a BFLer my energy increased. On a free day that I consumed sugary foods my energy plummeted. That wasnt' enough initially for me to stay away from it. Transforming is a process, sometimes a slow process and it took a while for me to break clean of cravings and wants of the sweet stuff.

I'll never forget after I had been "clean" for some time and had stopped to have a blizzard from DQ with the kids after having had cake at a birthday party. When we got home, I was upstairs with the kids and Jonnae had repeated something to me three or four times and I couldn't stay coherent long enough to hear her finish. It really scared her. I was "drunk" on sugar. It was a really crazy thing. I've had a few "sugar coma" episodes and it's a real awakening to how bad the stuff is for you, not to mention for your definition and leaness

I'm happy to report, I rarely ever want the things that I used to work so hard to stay away from. I would never have believed it if you had told me in the beginning that that would be the case. I encourage everyone to keep with the program and see just how many amazing surprises you will experience as a result of transforming.

Sam
Never let anyone make you feel like that! Great to Learn as much as you can on the topic and TEACH THEM! LOL,,Denise 's info it great ! I think sugar addiiction is more common than others think mainly due to all the fast type foods out there and out lack of reading labels and understanding labels..sometimes I can't even read them! LOL..But you are nbot alone and this week I am going to put my best foot foward eating CLEAN & I am SURE I wioll find I have a sugar addition as well! But with the info all over this site and Denise's help her you will conqure it I am sure! Remember anything worth doing is a little hard at first and what could be more importtant than your HEALTH! Then you can point out to others the signs of sugar addiition and how to make the change! Hang in there ,I am sure as days goes on it WILL get easier! Hugs,Laura

Many people do not treat sugar or food addictions like a true addiction but they are wrong. It is very serious and very hard to kick. Sugar in high levels can deplete the vitamins in our system and can aggrevate other conditions such as hypogycemia, diabetes and depression

The herb Gymnema Sylvestre may be helpful in helping kick the sugar habit

I have sugar addiction, and its hard, its like a life long struggle.
Eating like BFL helps me though, the close meals and a lot of protein (less carbs, but still enough carbs - its a balance).
But on my free days I have to be careful what I eat, sometimes I can eat a little bit of sugar or fast carbs, and sometimes I cant, but I never really knows before..
It also hard to avoid sugar completely, since it is hidden in so many kind of food.

kathytnt:
What is Gymnema Sylvestre? How does it work? Is it in capsules? Do you know anyone who has tried them?

It is an herb sometimes you can get it in a liquid. I have not used it mainly because the label had a cmment about not suingif you have diabestes of hypoglycemia. I have a tendency toward hypoglycemia. It is supposed to help you lose your taste for sugar. THings will taste less sweet so you will lose desire for them

I'm a sugar addict. I live for free days when I can eat sugar. I'm not eating the amount of sugar anymore cause I feel gross, awful, sick, afterwards. I also know that I feel tons better by eating the BFL way. I may not be losing fast, but I'm consistently losing. Eat the BFL plan and the sugar addiction will decrease. It has for me. kennie

How's Jonnae? How's the party going? I think a movie of her life in powerpoint pics might be fun. kennie

I kicked a life-time sugar habit only recently after stumbling upon an article on the internet that talked about "cravings" and what they really meant. The article suggested that our bodies crave the "quick energy" of sugar when what our bodies really needed was the slow burn energy of protein. The very next time that I craved sugar (generally candy) I consumed one of Bill's "Right" shakes (20 to 30 grams of protein)......within 10 minutes the sugar craving was gone. And I mean really "gone"....... Try it and see what happens. The protein will not sound good but tell yourself that 15 minutes after a protein shake if you still crave sugar....that you'll have it....... good news is....10 minutes after the shake, you'll no longer want sugar.

Great Advice David. I've been a sugar addict all of my life. I've also been very low on protein since I've never preferred eating meat. I have noticed too that protein helps keep the sugar addiction in control. I'm not always successful - it's a process, but protein definitely satisfies.
Carbs - especially refined ones pick you up and then dump you. They play havoc on blood sugar/insulin levels and leave you only craving more. I stay away from them as much as I can (left for free days).

Hello everyone..I'm new to the site and I came across this topic and said this is so much like me!!! I am a binge eater. I have never said this to anyone before, but after reading your comments, I realized that I am. I met a wonderful guy who I've been dating now for almost a year and he loves to cook. He is a healthy eater, and has been teaching me to cook and prepare better foods to help with my goals of losing weight. I will go a couple of weeks eating really good...no junk food, no take out, and no soda...I just eat good wholesome foods and drink lots of water. But every so often I get the urge to inhale a bag of chips, or...eat candy....but I do so good for so long!!!! What advice cane you give me to stay on track? I don't want to fall into the life I used to have. I was miserable and unhappy......I love what everyone is saying. You are a great support team!!!

Another sugar addict here. This year I have been determined to kick my cola habit - I was up to 8 cans a day! I had been having recurring ear infections for some time; once I stopped the colas the infections stopped. Perhaps they were caused or aggravated by other ingredients in the colas but I'm betting that sugar was a contributing factor. Denise is spot on in her description of "sugar coma" and being "drunk" on sugar. There are several books out that clearly document the dangers of sugar - unfortunately I am at the office at the moment and do not have the names but if you do a search on Amazon the most popular ones will come up.

Wow, what a great thread. I did not realize that sugar addiction is an actual addiction. I had heard the term before but always in a joking manner. Well, I just learned something ELSE I did not know. I am very grateful for this thread because I will add splenda in large quantities to things to get past a sugar craving. I joke about how I like a little green tea with my splenda. Normally, I can eat sugar by the spoonful. I love the stuff. It's rare that I find something that is too rich or sweet for me to eat!

NOW...I realize that I am just masking the problem and I need to fix it! That's okay, I 'm up for the task. I am working on a lot of other things anyway! lol

I had my first real "free day" this past Sunday. I ate what ever I wanted, including white bread with butter and chocolate coated butter cookies, and they tasted great. But, about an hour later, I felt miserable. Tired, down, fatigued, depressed, bloated, pretty much like I had just finished a Thanksgiving food orgy. So, I know that I can't just do that because I am not like other people who can handle sugar better. I will still enjoy my "free days", but I will try to make sure that I eat enough protein with it so that I have a little more balance.

I accidently skipped a meal today, and I have had cravings to go with it. It started in the mid afternoon and during the dinner. I went to Sonny'sBBQ, and I ordered clean- chicken breast, sweet potato, and green beans- but then I wanted the "sweet" bbq sauce. I allowed myself about a tsp, but I was left wanting that sweet, cornsyrup ladden flavor...

I am managing, but I noticed then I wanted diet soda to take the place for the sweet instead of the water... I just kept struggling with this today.

Hang in there Lastearthling (what a great name!)! Sugar really is a demon - I am constantly battling the wretched stuff. Be strong!

This is definitely a GREAT place for me to visit and get support.. Being such a sugar addict myself! It's something I fight very often. Starting the day with protein and lower carbs and not skipping a meal works. It's the ONLY way to curb my daily cravings. Using very little Splenda and other non-sugar sweetners is helpful as well. Just too much sweetness can create a craving. We CAN conquer the SUGAR DEMON!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam I would like to see what people have to say about sugar addiction. People that don't have it, treat it like a joke. When you do have it it makes you feel miserable, ashamed and depressed.

You are absolutely right, processed sugar is addictive, people don't put it in that category because it fools them with its sweetness. Scientific studies have been done where rats have been administered shots of sugar at different stages for a period of time and have been carefully observed after it's been taken away from them and their reactions were identical, they all showed widthrawl signs and other similar symptoms (as in the shakes) as the one a drug addicts exibits. I run into a good link that talks about that once, I would have digged it out now if I wasn't pressed for time. The link also talked about the different chemicals used in processing sugar to give it that sparkling white before it's put out on the market. They made a remarkable comparaison between the way sugar was processed and the way illegal drugs were, from what was put out, one could most definitely see that there is a common ground between the two. If you bump your thread, I will find it tomorrow and post it here, or you could just google it and see, you'll have bunch of links that break that down.

I am not here to impose upon you or pressure you to buy anything, but a while back I started to have nerve pain that I know was linked to sugar abuse (at the same time my legs were getting cold, hot and num too), I read an old book titled "lick the sugar habit" by Nancy Appleton Ph, D. the book talks about how sugar abuse attacks and destroys the body's systems including nervous and immune systems, and man, did that motivate me to quit it. I did, and all my symptoms went away (for the nerve pain that I had for 2 or 3 months, I took powerful anti oxidants that I learned from WebMD.com that they eliminate the free radicals released by sugar that are responsible about the distruction) . There are of course other books just look around and do the needed reading to help you quit it. You can do it believe me, if I did, so can you.

This is such an important topic. For me, my resolve to stay away from sugar melts when I am either tired or lonely. In the past several months I have been working to spend more time with family and friends and get a full 8 hours of sleep every night. It seems for me, when I have a full slate of activities and work at my relationships the urges to binge on cookies, etc...is so weak I forget that I am addicted to it.
Not sure if this is a sign of maturity on my part or finally coming to terms with the reasons why I turned to a substance like sugar in the first place.

What is Gymnema Sylvestre? How does it work? Is it in capsules? Do you know anyone who has tried them? I know a dozen people who have tried Gymena Sylvestre for sugar control. In fact many of the sugar balance formulas use Gymena Sylvestre as it's primary ingredient. Gymena is an herb that has shown to decrease sugar cravings. Combine this with Cinnamon and eat on your higher carb meals to control your sugars.