Cleaned up my diet but still eat sweets

[Anonymous]

I would say 90% of my diet is clean and healthful. Lots of vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, whole grains, unprocessed, home-made food. No alcohol. But I eat ice cream and chocolate every day too. Does that negate everything? I don’t add sugar to my other meals but I can’t stop craving sweets. I exercise 1-2 hours a day, am training for a marathon, and am pretty thin. I keep hearing sugar is bad, however, and wonder if I should give up these pleasurable treats.

*as I debate a 4th piece of almond roca today.

[Anonymous]

How old are you?
The sooner you stop the better.
If you are in your twenties with good lab work, A1C and morning glucose level you might be ok for now.

[Anonymous]

Don't listen to the fool above. There is no reason to give up sweets. Enjoy them in moderation.

Do you eat lower carb at other times? Maybe that is why you crave them? I also think a lot of cravings are really just things we have made habits. Like "needing" something sweet after a meal or in the afternoon when we are feeling tired and sluggish.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is wrong with eating sweets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are you?
The sooner you stop the better.
If you are in your twenties with good lab work, A1C and morning glucose level you might be ok for now.

Oh, the sugar police! Unless OP is eating boxes and cookies and bags of candy per day, she is fine. Stop being insane.

[Anonymous]

Sugar makes the brain work better.

[Anonymous]

I could’ve written your post. Healthful, low carb, high fiber, mostly vegetarian diet, at least an hour of exercise a day. But I eat dark chocolate in some form basically every day. My bloodwork has always been great. I’m slim and fit and I’m in my 50s. Every now and then I try to reduce my dark chocolate consumption but I don’t worry too much about it.

[Anonymous]

I mean if that said you debate a 4th can of almond roca that might be an issue.

[Anonymous]

I’m the opposite of you. The only things off-limit for me is sweets (excepting special occasions) and empty calorie snacks like chips & pretzels. So I eat dairy, carbs, meat, including pasta, etc. I’m also thin, but not concerned about missing out on nutrients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the opposite of you. The only things off-limit for me is sweets (excepting special occasions) and empty calorie snacks like chips & pretzels. So I eat dairy, carbs, meat, including pasta, etc. I’m also thin, but not concerned about missing out on nutrients.

No sweets, chips or pretzels?!?
Omg I wouldn’t make it. I want life (and eating) to be FUN!

[Anonymous]

Of course it’s fine op. Restricting too much usually backfires.

[Anonymous]

How do you know OP is ok without blood work.
People with Pre-diabetes Usually feel fine.

[Anonymous]

Op how old are you? I had your diet and exercise habits until my mid thirties. Then exercise declined and diet got a little worse. At that point I couldn’t get away with eating all the sugar any more.

[Anonymous]

I am in my 40s, have always had a sweet tooth, and continue to enjoy chocolate, ice cream, baked goods, etc. They bring me so much joy. And they don't seem to impact my weight -- I've weighed about the same since my early 20s (about 115, at 5'5"), even after a pregnancy. There is nothing inherently bad about sweets or sugar. The main criticism is that they are "empty calories", in that you don't need sugar but sugary foods can be high in calories. But if your weight isn't an issue, that doesn't matter.

So enjoy, OP! Make sure to take care of your teeth, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know OP is ok without blood work.
People with Pre-diabetes Usually feel fine.

OP here. I am early 50’s and peri menopausal. I just got my blood work back and no diabetes or other problems whatsoever. Great HDL levels, low triglycerides, pretty good LCL (a wee bit high but doc said HDL levels balance it). Blood pressure is great. Weight is low. I don’t really restrict carbs bc I run so much. But I eat carbs that are plant-based or whole grains. Except for the chocolate and ice cream cravings. I didn’t always have a sweet tooth until recently.