I love sugar and have struggled with eating too much of it most of my life (mid 40s now). I will easily binge an entire pan of brownies or box of thin mints. I have never been able to maintain cold turkey for too long. But like a pp, since I started doing intermittent fasting, I have found the cravings to be manageable. And even if I have some sweets, I can stop myself before I binge. Some days, I don’t have any cravings. It’s incredible. We’ve had Oreos in the house all week and I haven’t had a single one.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the suggestions. It’s been such a struggle. Going to talk to my PCP about ADHD meds and try out the podcasts and books PPs have mentioned.

DH and our tween have no issues with control. I asked them a couple of days ago to please not bring sweets or processed foods into the house for awhile. Guess what’s on the counter and in the fridge after DH’s trip to the store yesterday?! It wasn’t intentional to hurt me, obviously; he truly just somehow didn’t realize what he’d bought was problematic—likely because he doesn’t really understand the full truth of what I’m experiencing. Still tried cold turkey yesterday and binged while straightening the kitchen before bed. It’s like I had some kind of a nightmarish out of body experience that left me feeling horribly ashamed (and sick to my stomach) afterwards.

I recently realized I binge in the evenings. It happens because I make a dinner the kids will eat I don’t like (I have a kid with extreme picky eating who has been in and out of feeding therapy for years). We also eat about 4-5 hours before I go to bed so I’m an actually a little hungry. But I eat junk. It’s either nothing or a bunch, like an amount I’d be embarrassed for others to know about. I hate it. I have been thinking about maybe working with a therapist but getting the label of a binge eater would be really uncomfortable

I can relate to OP 100%. I can be fully rested, relaxed, full of high fiber healthy foods and protein and I will STILL crave sugar like crazy! It is truly an addiction. The only thing that helps for me is cold turkey but after a few weeks the cravings come back. It's a constant struggle

Cutting sugar 100% is nearly impossible because of how much hidden sugars are in just about anything we eat.

That said I reduced my sugar intake a lot by removing the obvious sugars from my diet. Example, I used to add agave to my coffee every morning, I started by eliminating that completely. Over time all of my other foods started tasting too sweet, so I was then easily able to eliminate those

Also, work on sleep. I wish I had my Oura Ring decades ago.

I wasn't so much a sugar but carb/baked goods addict.

When you're rested, everything is easier.

OP, can you be more specific about what sweets you are eating? Candy? Cookies? Ice cream? Fake healthy granola bars?

I'm a huge ice cream fan and now always keep Nick's or Halo Top in stock and it's hugely helpful.

I’m similar and what works for me is eating enough healthy carbs throughout the day. It is really that simple.

I eat very balanced meals (fat/protein/carb) including something naturally sweet like fruit at every meal if I want it.

I make sure my meals are filling enough to make it to my next meal and I avoid most snacking (unless I work out pretty hard) - this stabilizes blood sugar and reduces cravings.

On days when I do this, I do not crave sugar.

When there is a cookie or cake to be had at a party I eat it in combination with fat and proteins rather than try to completely avoid it.

OP here. Thank you for all the suggestions. It’s been such a struggle. Going to talk to my PCP about ADHD meds and try out the podcasts and books PPs have mentioned.

DH and our tween have no issues with control. I asked them a couple of days ago to please not bring sweets or processed foods into the house for awhile. Guess what’s on the counter and in the fridge after DH’s trip to the store yesterday?! It wasn’t intentional to hurt me, obviously; he truly just somehow didn’t realize what he’d bought was problematic—likely because he doesn’t really understand the full truth of what I’m experiencing. Still tried cold turkey yesterday and binged while straightening the kitchen before bed. It’s like I had some kind of a nightmarish out of body experience that left me feeling horribly ashamed (and sick to my stomach) afterwards.

I replaced with treats sweetened with stevia or artificial sugars. It’s not the best, cleanest option but it absolutely worked for me.

I used to have an extreme sugar addiction too, and I decided to completely cut it out of my diet when I was about 23 or so. I lived alone - no kids no spouse - and just completely cut out candy, cereals aside from plain oats, syrup on pancakes, etc. I have a difficult time moderating, but once I went for it I found it quite simple to completely abstain after the first week or so. I gave it up for 6 months, and never craved dessert or candy after that again. It truly worked to kick my sweet tooth.

Fast forward to now (I am 40). I gave up drinking 1.5 years ago and did that partly by replacing nightly wine with candy. Between that and my husband having type II diabetes, we need to get back on track. Changing diet is so much harder when I’m cooking for four people than when I lived alone. So I will be taking the helpful advice of the PPs to kick sugar again!

Anonymous wrote:Mark Hyman has a podcast on this.

Healthy fats and protein are very helpful.

You want to control glucose spikes. Spikes lead to more cravings. I recommend Glucose Goddess book and using continuous glucose monitor. There might be something spiking you that you didn't realize.

Good luck.

Today’s podcast episode is on this

I fixed my relationship with food. Maybe spiritually? I dislike the feeling of crashing and health issues caused by eating to much junk more so than being hungry. For me, Its like taming an animal. Treat it only on special occasions not routinely/weekly otherwise the cravings become hella stronger.

I can’t do all or nothing, because then I would fail on day 2. I allow some sugar and eat fruit and don’t sweat at sugar in processed foods much, like spaghsauce (though I eat low sugar Cheerios). I’m prediabetic due to genetics but a healthy weight size 4). I take metformin. I do want to ramp up exercise and curb treats and carbs this year.I never binged sugar but have kids and a husband who like candy etc. I’m just going make a mental rule not to stop by the amazing French bakery under my office. Help!

Mark Hyman has a podcast on this.

Healthy fats and protein are very helpful.

You want to control glucose spikes. Spikes lead to more cravings. I recommend Glucose Goddess book and using continuous glucose monitor. There might be something spiking you that you didn't realize.

Good luck.

A ton of protein and water. Like 3-4 eggs scrambled with vegetables for breakfast, Greek yogurt with berries and almonds for lunch, carrots and cheese for snack, veggies and meat for dinner.