[CurvyNerd]

I had a breakthrough in my thinking and took a break from dieting. I've been reading for a week but not posting while I think about what I need to do for myself. I am new to this. I have a problem with emotional eating and binging. I'll do okay for a while and then I'll have stressful things going on and eat pretty much everything. I have a big problem with sweets especially. I crave them like I haven't eaten in a week. I'm tired of living like this. I'm looking into OA and trying to learn how to stop the cause of my weight problem.

I am contemplating going sugar free for the month of July. This is going to be very hard for me because I can't have artificial sweeteners. I will only be able to drink plain water. Flavored waters make me gag so it'll have to be plain water. There will be no cakes, cookies, cokes, etc. My husband wants to do it with me. There will be coke and tea in the house for the rest of the family but I won't be buying any other sweets. I am kind of scared to even try. I have failed at dieting so many times. I'm going to let myself eat anything other than sweets. The exception would be things like chips and crackers that are also binge problems for me.

What do you think? Do you think this could help me avoid trigger foods?

[Milly1]

Good on you. You are going into it knowing it won't be easy so that will help. How brilliant that your husband is supporting you. I too am an occasional binge eater (a lot better than I used to be) especially sugary things. There a good thread resurrected on here re binge eating, can't remember which one but if you search I think the name was Gene Roth ( maybe someone could confirm that?) that would be worth reading! There is also a website with forum dedicated to being sugar free, don't know of I can mention it but if you like to pm me, that would give you access to people on a similar journey. What is working for me MOST of the time is moderation. Trying to go completely without made my binges, cravings worse. I have something sweet everyday preferably in the evening and fit it in to my calorie allowance. Trying to be 100% at something has never worked for me.

[Exhale15]

Hi Curvy, I think a sugar-free July would be awesome. I'll give it a try, too.

The only thing is - what are you going to do instead of sugar? See, if you drop something it has to be replaced. So, if we're not eating sugary foods, we have to have a plan for when we're 'hungry'. Have extra chicken breasts or something like that on hand to deal with 'hunger'. Green smoothies are good, too. Any real food will do.

For beverages, have you tried plain home-made iced tea? It's really good. Or black iced coffee.

It won't be easy, but every sugar-free day is a healthier day. My bad thing is Hershey's miniatures and I've been slipping and sliding into my local bakery lately, too. Always feel bad physically afterwards.

Sugar (fatty sweets and drinks, not natural foods) is BAD. Don't think of it as dieting, think of it as a new life, cleaning up your act, being kind to yourself.....

[princessbgirl]

Delighted that your husband is so supportive. For me, it makes a huge difference when I am surrounded by folks who understand and make an effort to provide foundation for my needs. I am assuming, from your post, you mean to cut out processed sugars. Cutting out natural sugars is pretty tough.

I know that when I am able to cut out sugar entirely, I always have more energy, better skin and am better able to moderate my hunger. The challenge is that I am never able to sustain it and after a processed sugar fast, my cravings and consumption of processed sugar roar back into action. Good luck - I am rooting for you.

[CurvyNerd]

I moved this over to Chicks up for a Challenge because I thought it belonged there.