I had a huge sweet tooth all my life, until giving up sugar in my early 50s. I was finally able to quit sugar by replacing it with fresh fruit, and then, when my sugar cravings stopped, cutting down my fruit intake to a reasonable level. Also, it helped me a lot during the process to be able to eat with my eyes. I watched many episodes of The Great British Baking Show, Sugar Rush, and other baking shows.

Here's what helps me:

Eat a high protein breakfast (eggs cooked in oil with vegetables)

Do NOT sweeten your coffee. This triggers me to want sweets all day.

Hydrate very well.

Freeze grapes and have a handful of those when I want something sweet. Also switch to very dark chocolate.

I go through phases of needing more than other times. I've never completely gotten rid of my sweet cravings (even on Keto/whole 30) but I've reduced them.

Remember that if you are truly in the category of sugar addict, sugar attaches to the same receptors in the brain as heroine, and you will have withdrawal symptoms (not life threatening), but serious behavioral and mood withdrawal symptoms. Be prepared for it, so you can work through it; usually kicks in around day 2 or 3 and lasts a few days (really noticeable in sugar addicted kids btw). Also remember that alcohol is a sugar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the cold turkey PPs, do you also avoid very sweet fruits and dried fruits like grapes/raisins, dates, sweet cherries, dried apricots, etc.?

I’m an earlier PP who recommended going cold turkey but I don’t have a sweet tooth myself and don’t consciously limit sugar (just don’t eat it by virtue of what I like to eat). I don’t eat dried fruit, especially sweet dried fruit, because it’s so calorie dense. I barely eat fresh fruit at all and if I do it’s berries or clementines.

I once went cold turkey because my sugar consumption was out of control. I had started a few months prior at an office where there was candy and baked goods everywhere, every day. I only cut out processed sugar and not fruit, although I would never eat dates or other dried fruit anyway (if I'm going to eat that many calories/sugar in one item, it would be a cupcake). I didn't cut out any type of regular fruit. The first few days were really hard and I remember thinking "I finally get what addiction must feel like." The cravings do go away completely after awhile though.

I didn't keep it up and eventually began eating sugar again, but never at the levels I was before.

Anonymous wrote:I was like you and then when I was pregnant I developed gestational diabetes. I basically had to cut out all treats so I could use my carb allowance for regular food.

It was like a switch flipped. Even after I had my kids, my sweet tooth never came back. I don't think that's a practical strategy for most people but it worked for me.

I am the exact way. It seems like the blessing of gestational diabetes. I don’t crave any sugar, treats, candy, cookies, ice cream, or desserts at ALL. It’s strange but a good side effect. Glad to hear that I’m not the only one.

I love sugar. I have problems with sugary things at night. During the day, I am busy and can fight off the cravings.

What I find works to limit sugar bomb snacking at night is drinking apple cider vinegar. It kills my appetite for anything sugary and my appetite to snack in general.

I just ate some chocolate covered strawberries and then drank a shot of apple cider vinegar. It killed my appetite.

Keto diet completely frees me from craving or thinking about sugar. It’s amazing. I do it twice a year to reset because I have such a sweet tooth

Have more fruit, dates, or healthy carbs etc throughout the day and your body will not crave sugar as much.

Also, consistent exercise is known to reduce cravings.

How old are you? I stopped craving sugar in my mid thirties.

Anonymous wrote:For the cold turkey PPs, do you also avoid very sweet fruits and dried fruits like grapes/raisins, dates, sweet cherries, dried apricots, etc.?

I’m an earlier PP who recommended going cold turkey but I don’t have a sweet tooth myself and don’t consciously limit sugar (just don’t eat it by virtue of what I like to eat). I don’t eat dried fruit, especially sweet dried fruit, because it’s so calorie dense. I barely eat fresh fruit at all and if I do it’s berries or clementines.

I make an almond butter smoothie with fresh fruits and berries. Sweet enough and filling enough. And technically its all the sugar you need in one day.

For the cold turkey PPs, do you also avoid very sweet fruits and dried fruits like grapes/raisins, dates, sweet cherries, dried apricots, etc.?

Anonymous wrote:I just had to go cold turkey. There was no slowly cutting down, it was all or nothing. It was the best thing I ever did

Agree with this. The craving goes away after a week. And what I learned was that any amount of sugar triggers my sweet tooth - like an alcoholic. If I have a single cookie, that's it - I am consumed with eating sugar all day, as much as possible. So I've learned to give myself one cheat day a month where I eat whatever I want. I go crazy that day. Then, it's back to no cold turkey for the rest of the month.

Dr Mark Hyman writes a lot about this - YouTube, podcasts etc

Good luck

Anonymous wrote:I just had to go cold turkey. There was no slowly cutting down, it was all or nothing. It was the best thing I ever did

Can you explain why it was the best thing you ever did? Did you lose weight, gain tons of energy, etc.?