I am new here, and haven't done a forum in probably 15 years (?) but I need some support... outside of my mom.

I am 34 years old, and am at my heaviest weight of 209 pounds (started off at 215). Since the end of January, I have slowly cut out certain foods from my diet (fast food, bread, pasta, etc). I wasn't doing it for the weight loss at that moment, but for the preparation of starting my clean eating adventure (I have a husband and a 3 year old and this was tough). Every other diet I have tried (self proclaimed serial dieter), I would fail on the third day. So much restriction, and if you tell me I can't have something, I want it even more! I decided to stop 'regularly' eating certain foods, and allow myself to have them every once in awhile and it has worked.

On Monday, I started clean eating, and I have to say that when Wednesday rolled around, I was not feeling the pain . I knew my preparation was totally worth it!! My problem is, I have iron deficient anemia and I am a sugar addict. Giving up sugar has been the toughest part of my process, but seeing that I have lost 6 pounds (since Monday!!!) keeps me going. Water weight/fat weight: a pound is a pound.

Around 2pm, I hit that low energy point in my day. Where I would normally go pick up a cookie or something with sugar, I won't do anymore and I am struggling. Any suggestions on what to eat to pick my energy back up without the sugar? Fruit maybe?

We're about the same age, and height and I started at 209! Congratulations on your weight loss already! That is amazing

I'm a sugar addict too. I actually am doing a low carb diet.. and it has GREATLY improved my addiction. However, I still find myself needing something sweet. I've gone to buying a bar of Godiva dark chocolate a week. I allow myself one (maybe 2) squares a day. It's bittersweet, and tends to curb the craving, while still giving me satisfaction. It's about 4g of carbs or so.

Good luck in your venture!! Keep going strong! Join us in the daily weigh-in thread. Honestly, it helps to see how others are losing (or gaining) weight in the week, and it keeps you motivated and not as frustrated when the scale slows down.

Hello there! My name is Ronja and I am a sugar addict. I am currently two weeks into eating primal and I have very little, if any, sugar cravings, but I am not saying I managed to overcome my addiction. Ask me in a year, for now, I am just so fricking HAPPY I can go entire day without thinking of a cookie or a piece of chocolate even.

I too have a husband and I have slightly larger family than you (5 kids bellow 5). Before I started eating primal, I was LIVING off of sugar. Cookie for breakfast, chocolate bar or two after lunch, same for dinner when the kids finally sleep. This (and three pregnancies in 5 years) is also why my original weight was 250. I am now on 240 and beginning to see the difference.

Another thing we have in common is anaemia. I have been suffering with that ever since puberty. Having twins twice, and breastfeeding them all, didn't help with that, oh boy it did't! Curiously enough the answer for both sugar craving and iron replacement is same for me - dates. I have three or four dates whenever I feel I need sugar. They are sweet, healthy and packed with iron. Granted, they are also packed with calories so you need to watch out for that, but it is still far healthier than a cookie. I don't really count calories, I just adhere to my primal eating while trying to be reasonable. This is not saying you should do the same - we are all different, But yes, do dates, dates are good!

My first go round (4 significant accidents and a chronic illness has brought it back - and then some) I lost 60 lbs with the mantra of "pizza every week and chocolate every day" I had a higher calorie allowance then and also better ablilty to stop at just a little bit but I did so much better with 1 dove dark or 15-20 dark chocolate chips or something small pretty much every day.

I am moderate carb, but I still do better with a tiny bit of high quality chocolate regularly so I dont dive face first into something more significant. I also find that a tiny bit of sweet triggers a "meal is over" mentality.

One caveat - my major weakness is fat, not sugar, so it may not be the same issue.

I have a lot in common with you... I have also tried every diet under the sun, and would fail reeeeaaallly quickly if there was too much restriction involved. I'm also a sugar addict. In fact, I even tried the 21 day sugar detox multiple times, and it backfired every time. Like a few of the women who have already commented here, I have found that including some sugar leads to longer results that are sustainable.

For my afternoon snack, I include some carbs (sugar) to give me some energy, just because that makes me feel better. Then, at night, I eat a pretty low carb dinner.... to balance it out a bit.

Lately I've been eating a dark chocolate square with a serving of nuts (sweet and salty!), or an apple with peanut butter. If I'm at work and it's someone's birthday, I let myself have the piece of cake or sweet treat for my snack... that way I don't fee deprived and I have the rest of the day to use up that extra energy. (But keep in mind, I always bring my own snack! I get in trouble when I have no plan and get stressed out.)

Hi there!

If you know you'll get low around 2:00, maybe at 1:30 or so you could eat a protein snack (I often have one of those mini-tuna cans and an apple) which will hopefully kick-in by 2:00?

Low carb lunches and breakfasts help keep away my 3pm slump. When I have sweets, I'm always tired half and hour later I always have 85% dark chocolate, though, on hand for cravings management. Also - it's high in iron

Hi MaryamK, Congrats on your success so far! Almost every afternoon I have the same exact situation - and if I don't make a conscious effort, it turns into a huge calorie episode! What I do almost every day to avoid this is have a blended shake with fruit. Vanilla protein powder, frozen fruit, crystal light powder and almond milk. It is so cold and invigorating and filling! Good luck!

Congratulations on your decision to get healthier!

Up your fat, have moderate protein, and keep net carbs at 100 g. Too much fruit isn't good either, 2-3 servings at most. Try for 2:1 vegetables to fruit, but non-starchy, so no potatoes, corn, etc.

I know it's hard but you will lose your taste for sugar. I eat Quest bars or mission 1 quest style bars (WalMart), premier protein chocolate shakes (Costco), enlightened chocolate bars which are high protein (once in a while). After not eating normal processed sugary snacks for a while, they will taste gross to you. I tried a piece of a cinnamon bun my husband bought and instantly regretted it, it tasted like pure sugar, so strong that it felt sickening. The same thing will happen to you with salt once you drop the processed foods, everything will taste too salty.

I also have full fat ice cream once a week. I share it with my husband. I never get my own. The ice cream does nothing. Cake and the like make me gain.

I'm late 30's, 5'5" and 118 lbs, if that helps.

Good luck! Pm me with any questions.