This is something I've wondered about for a long time, mainly because my own behavior with sugar mirrors my experiences with alcohol........I can't seem to grasp the concept of moderation, it's either complete abstinence or total loss of control. When I'm not eating sweets, I feel very healthy and vigorous, but as soon as I fall off the wagon I literally eat every sweet thing I can get my hands on, and feel like death warmed over the next day: headachy, hung over, moody, and tired.
My sister has a theory about my problems being interrelated because alcohol does convert to sugar in the body, and both substances act on me in much the same way (except I don't get combative and roll around in the grass half-naked when I eat candy or cake). I'm not sure she's wrong. But all the research I've done is inconclusive.......seems that there are strong beliefs on both sides of the debate, with very little middle ground. Most of the so-called experts either totally deny the possibility that one can be physically and/or emotionally addicted to sugar, or make blanket statements condemning it as the worst poison on the planet.
What I'm looking for is not only hard science, but peoples' experiences. Are there others out there as messed-up as I am? How do you deal with the cravings, and how do you feel when you indulge? Have you learned to control your consumption of sweet treats, or are you always just one bite away from a binge? And do any of you who are recovering alcoholics like me find that you have a similar problem with sweets?
I'm looking forward to your responses, as I'm trying to face the fact that I need to give up sugar for good and I need to know that if I have to suffer, there's a legitimate reason!
For me it has to be all or nothing...I'm like the old Doritos commerical "can never have just one":roll
I'm going to give it up all together, I even like carob and soy bases chocolate so that won't work for me. I'm lucky I don't have a salt thing. I'm really sensitive to salt I can't stand it.
But let me say one thing, this isn't a New Years resolution for me, it's getting control of addictive behavior that I need to learn to live with out.
I am going to attempt to quit smoking here soon. I can see it now, not being able to handle all of this at once, breaking down and someone finding me in a closest, chocolate all over my mouth, a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other with a stupid grin on my face! :roll We'll see how it goes!
:roll :roll ROFLMAO:roll :roll
Lisa- you crack me up...that's about what i will look like too...make sure you look around the corners at school...you may just find me...darn tartan card that can be swiped at the machines!!! ughhh!
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Originally posted by iliel
For me it has to be all or nothing....
But let me say one thing, this isn't a New Years resolution for me, it's getting control of addictive behavior that I need to learn to live with out.
That's right, iliel!! I think you've shown the rest of us with sugar problems how to view it---not as a character defect, but as a dependency that can only be managed by avoiding the offending substance altogether.
Thank you for the "food for thought" (pun intended)
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Now my turn.
I too am addicted to sugar. Have been for several years, but was able to control it until I reached men-oh-pause. Then I literally craved dark chocolate cake with loads of fudge frosting on it. That was a food item I disliked before the Horror-moans began acting up.
I still managed to keep myself rather svelt though by on and off dieting, and daily exercise, with loads of water. Boy did I ever pee!
Now however I have a very different problem. Side effects from the meds I take. The tweo steroids I'm on in order to help keep me breathing, are causing osteoporosis, but taking medication for it is NOT an option for me. It would cause stomach ulcers, and they had increased my appetite literally ten fold, but at least that part is better now.
And some of the other meds cause me to crave sweets. Now I'm fat, flat, and waddly. I get around in an electric wheelchair, because I get too short of breath when I walk.
But the new me no longer wears a bra ahhhh! Because nobody would notice whether I'm wearing one if I did. Too fat and flat. So I have decided since I can't do a whole lot about the way I am, I'm going to be happy with me anyway, and enjoy eating whatever I want when the urge hits.
The very worst part is the salt free. UGH! Yep, definitely making lemonade out of lemons.
I am happy that I managed to get over the nightmarish craving for nicotine I had. It lasted for about 20 years with me, but I was always afraid to take that one puff that I craved so much, because I didn't want to be caught in that grip. I had withdrawl from that so badly, I literally had nightmares about going back to it. But when I woke up, I always breathed a sigh of relief. I did it the hard way too. Cold turkey. When my throat felt like it was constricting, I just inhaled fresh air deeply, and either had mint gum or sucked on a sugar free mint when I felt that way. It was what helped me. It sure feels good to have finally not have that craving anymore anyway.
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
By the way mj. I had to laugh out loud when I read the part of your original post about rolling around in the grass half naked.:chuckle :chuckle I can honestly day nicotine didn't do that to me; thank God. I sure did get moody and flew off the handle a lot back then though.
As a reformed sugar addict (who recently feel off the wagon during the holidays) I would like to share my experience with you of how it felt to give up sugar.
It was damn hard. Two weeks of Phase 1 on SBD, very similar to Atkins induction. BUT, after I finished those two weeks and was allowed to reintroduce some low glycemic carbs (like strawberries, apples and such) I DID NOT crave really high glycemic sweets. I believe it is because the fructose in those low glycemic fruits acts ever so much more slowly in ones system than shoving straight glucose into your bloodstream (chocolate syrup IV, anyone? LOL).
So, while thinking one may have to give up sugar entirely...I think it depends on how you yourself react to various "good" sweets as you would reintroduce them (gradually, one at a time) back into your diet.
Were any of you also aware that dark chocolate, in moderation, is not such a bad thing? Think about this treat...strawberries dipped in dark chocolate instead of a candy bar. It satisfies my "sweet tooth" without setting up the viscious "eat sugar, crave more and more sugar" cycle.
Sorry, but I cannot entirely live without chocolate or fruit. I guess what I am getting at is that I can safely eat low glycemic sweets and carbs without causing the major fluctuations in my blood glucose that some things like candy bars and cookies do to me, and still enjoy the taste and feel satisfied. If this is possible for me, I think it is possible for others willing to experiment a little.
My $.02!
(Still not hiding in the closet, but then again, I haven't quit smoking yet, either! :chuckle I am VERY nicotine addicted )
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Iliel........this site is AWESOME!!! Thank you so much!!:kiss
I read through some of the information, and immediately connected with it, especially the connection between ETOH problems and sugar addiction. That's me in a nutshell. It also adds credence to my sister's theory, and she's not even a nurse, but she's lived with alcoholics of one sort or another for most of her life and seen how their eating patterns and drinking patterns tend to mirror each other. My BIL is a 6-12 beers a day drinker, and when he doesn't drink, he eats sweets......and vice-versa. It was the same with me: when I was in one of my drinking binges, I didn't eat sweets, in fact I couldn't drink Jack Daniels and Coke, it made me sick, but Jack Daniels and Diet Coke were terrific together. Guess I shoulda known then.....but how smart is the average practicing alcoholic when it comes to matters of health?
Once again, thank you! I've put this website in my Favorites file and will undoubtedly refer to it many times in the weeks and months to come.
Since my husband stopped drinking beer two years ago he now indulges in sweets alot. He likes those Little Debbie treats so I buy a few boxes every week and also keep sweetened cereal on hand for him.
I haven't had any sugar/salt cravings since I cut down on my carbs a few months ago. I now experience a HA if I eat a chocolate bar- something that never happened to me before I cut down on carbs.
Here is an excerpt from an article that addresses sugar addiction:
I don't relish being a food policeman. We should all do our own self-policing if we are going to kick the sugar habit. This initial period of withdrawal is sometimes tough because sugar is as addictive as any drug. In fact, I have a hunch that the same hereditary susceptibility that leads to alcoholism may be involved in sugar addiction. Virtually all recovering alcoholics become carboholics. One study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that alcoholics don't consume that much sugar until they withdraw from alcohol. And another study recently showed that alcoholics favor high-sugar beverages at three times the rate of nonalcoholics. Many of my patients who are "carboholics" have a family history of alcoholism. "I don't drink alcohol, Dr. Hoffman. We've had enough of that in our family." Yet, they are addicted to sugar.
Just sit in any AA meeting and observe the amount of sugar that members pour into their coffee. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a link between sugar addiction and alcohol addiction. A search of the internet will reveal research into the association between hypoglycemia and alcoholism. Some of the newer nutrition-model alcohol treatment centers make this relationship the foundation of their treatment.
Quail
P.S. I love my caffeine with lots of sugar. Gave up alcohol years ago.
Yep, definitely making lemonade out of lemons.
It sure feels good to have finally not have that craving anymore anyway.
iliel
849 Posts
For me it has to be all or nothing...I'm like the old Doritos commerical "can never have just one":roll
I'm going to give it up all together, I even like carob and soy bases chocolate so that won't work for me. I'm lucky I don't have a salt thing. I'm really sensitive to salt I can't stand it.
But let me say one thing, this isn't a New Years resolution for me, it's getting control of addictive behavior that I need to learn to live with out.