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!
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Very interesting!! It's making more and more sense to me to quit eating sugar for good........up until a couple of days into my diet, I couldn't even imagine giving up sugar completely and forever, but now I don't see any way around it. I've fought alcoholism for a dozen years, and I know that since I quit drinking I've had more and more trouble controlling my intake of sweets. Now I realize that I'm only lying to myself when I think I can "control" my sugar consumption........as I did for years with my alcohol consumption.
I mean, just because I don't eat an entire box of chocolates or bag of cookies EVERY time I get into the sweets, doesn't mean I've got a handle on it; I used to think the same way about ETOH since I sometimes stopped after one or two drinks. Eventually, however, I always went back to overdoing it.......and the only cure for it was to stop consuming it entirely.
And so, I fear, it must be with sugar. I'm not going to make promises I don't know if I can keep, only that I'm going to take it one day at a time, one HOUR at a time if need be, just like I've done with the booze all these years.
Well, could this be the reason that people tend to gain weight when ending an addiction of varying kinds? Etoh, cigs, etc?
It's a substitute addiction.
Lisa, hon.......you can do it! Just had my 1 year anniversary of quitting cigs.
Of course it's not the first time I've "quit smoking", but this time it's the last! Seriously:chair:
Thank you HomeNurse4Kids. :kiss
I am hoping that I can stay away from gaining weight when I quit. I have an appt. w/my doc next week to talk to him about Wellbutrin. I think it will do me good.
I have quit smoking before, many years ago, and the withdrawal was HORRENDOUS! Sweats, stomach cramps...I kid you not! Like I was a heroin junkie! I have heard the addiction to nicotine is worse. I concur.
Congrats on your 1 year off smokes. I wish you many, many more years smokeless and healthy!
I have heard the addiction to nicotine is worse. I concur.
VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN
22 Articles; 9,996 Posts
Very interesting!! It's making more and more sense to me to quit eating sugar for good........up until a couple of days into my diet, I couldn't even imagine giving up sugar completely and forever, but now I don't see any way around it. I've fought alcoholism for a dozen years, and I know that since I quit drinking I've had more and more trouble controlling my intake of sweets. Now I realize that I'm only lying to myself when I think I can "control" my sugar consumption........as I did for years with my alcohol consumption.
I mean, just because I don't eat an entire box of chocolates or bag of cookies EVERY time I get into the sweets, doesn't mean I've got a handle on it; I used to think the same way about ETOH since I sometimes stopped after one or two drinks. Eventually, however, I always went back to overdoing it.......and the only cure for it was to stop consuming it entirely.
And so, I fear, it must be with sugar. I'm not going to make promises I don't know if I can keep, only that I'm going to take it one day at a time, one HOUR at a time if need be, just like I've done with the booze all these years.