Addicted to SUGAR!!!!

[Soph8]

I know I sound a bit dramatic by saying this, but I geniuinely believe I am addicted to sugar?! Had such a bad week this week due to the fact that when I eat one sugary treat, I can't stop. I must point out I don't usually consume sugary 'treats', but do consume it through many other ways like fruit. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can stop this addiction?!

[stuggles63]

Hope this doesn't sound off-the-wall but ( love it or hate it ) Marmite might work! Just reach for a cream cracker and marmite instead of anything sweet or fruity. You need a strong taste and savoury is better than sweet. Good luck!

[szymcia1980]

I have BIG problem to,when i get home i eat my dinner or no, and then i eat sugary stuff eat eat eat like stupid till i feel sick, dont know how to help my self,getting bigger and bigger

[Windswept1]

I suspect its like most 'addictions' you just have to want to give up and probably avoid it in all forms of sweetness for a while. I hear what concerned is saying but might be easier to ditch sugar if you substitute savoury for a while. Good luck

[Soph8]

Thank you for all your advice. I'm going to try and go cold turkey for a few days, and then gradually introduce natural sugars from fruit. Fingers crossed this will help to curb my cravings! Oh and I love marmite, so that sounds like a good option for me!!

[TheEditor]

Find out how to cut down on sugar in your diet:

nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pa...

[spadhnik]

You said that you are getting sugar from fruits - but isn't that much better than the granular white sugar?

I always liked to eat chocolate and related treats, but one day just decided to stop... I might eat that sometimes but definitely not going on and on with it... I take a piece and keep rest of the box out of sight.. Before that I stopped taking sugar in tea/coffee. Rather now I like it without sugar..

Its hard but slowly slowly cutting down one thing at a time worked for me...

And yes, I have stopping storing sugary snacks at home - I don't buy them for me anymore but just few for my kids...

[Penel]

It can be tough to cut out sugar if you are on a diet, too. It took me several goes to finally beat my cravings. I went cold turkey, and stopped even drinking ordinary tea for a while. It took more than a few days to curb the cravings.

As Spadhnik said, it's the added sugar that's bad for you and not the fruit (unless you are eating a very large amount?). Good idea to cut out all "white" foods as well. I can't eat marmite so went for nuts instead.

[chay]

I've decided to give up 'recreational sugar' for lent. Even being a Christian, I don't believe in lent. It just seems to be a time in the year when I can give something up and no-one questions it. The first dayI had to count it through in 3 hour intervals just to get through. I survived each one and could tick it off. I lost 2 pounds in a week. That was all I changed. I can't fill the day with enough calories. I'd say I have a pretty serious addiction too.Recreational sugar is anything outside fruit veg milk pasta etc that's just not necessary.I do t drink hot chocolates or jam etc butI will have ketchup.there's no point cutting out sugar that's good for you. This is an addicts way of defining - I can give this up forever,without giving up food generally. i hope this helps.

[Muto_Bear]

It is indeed an addiction, but don't feel worry. You just need to manage your addiction better. Try and go for six tablespoons of sugar a day (new WHO guidelines). Any easy way to do this is to find the amount of sugar in a product and divide it by four. It is difficult; but this helped me - as it didn't get sugar completely out of my diet but it helped me reduce it. Try to reduce it through manageable steps though!